Our Catholic fl eritage in T e:xas
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a chief, the principal governor of Coahuila, who gave him to us as a hostage of our truthfulness and the peace we have promised. He is to be instructed and baptized together with the eight others who wait upon him, all of whom wish to receive this blessing." 11 They declared further that they wanted Father Fray Juan Larios and his co-workers to be sent to teach their people. "With them we will return to our lands, where we will serve them as our spiritual fathers and teachers, whom we have come to seek in virtue of the Christian faith which some of us already profess and many more long to accept." 12 For three months the envoys of the nations of Coahuila- remained at the Franciscan monastery in Guadalajara, where they were carefully instructed in the doctrina. The eight who had not been baptized were given special attention and prepared to receive this sacrament. When they were sufficiently instructed, the friars invited the most distinguished citizens of Guadalajara to act as godfathers. They all accepted with great joy and on the appointed day, they brought their godchildren the most expensive and elegant clothes they could get for the occasion. The entire city attended the ceremony and was much edified at the deep joy and great sincerity displayed by the Indians during their baptism. 13 In the meantime both the civil and the religious officials of the city were busily making plans for the extension of missionary work on the frontiers of Coahuila. The eloquent and sincere petition presented by the Indians in the name of the chiefs, and their willingness to be con- gregated in pueblos made a profound impression. The Real Attdiencia authorized the Justicia 111ayor of Saltillo, Francisco de Elizondo, to proceed to the Sabinas River with a detachment of soldiers, where he was to receive the submission of the Indians to the Spanish crown, and to distribute to them in the name of His Majesty the necessary land to establish a pueblo. The Provincial appointed Father Larios superior of the new mission field and named Father Francisco Pefiasco de Lozano and Brother Manuel de la Cruz his assistants. The appointment of the three missionaries was duly approved by the Bishop of Guadalajara and sanctioned by the royal Audiencia of the city on November 16, 1673. 14 11 Informe de los Auttos que se hicieron para la mission de la Provincia de Quahuila este aiio de 1673, MS. San Ff'ancisco El Grande A,-c/,ive, I, 5-6. "!but., p. 6. UTanto de los Auttos e Informacion . . . San F,-ancisco El Grande A,-chive, I, 44. 14Tanto de la Rela Provision. Comision de! Rvdo Obispo de este Obispado de la Nueva Galicia, y Patente del Muy Rdo. Pe. Prov! de la orden de Ntro Pe. San Franco en esta Prova de Xalisco. MS., San Francisco El G,-ande Archive, I, 12-26.
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