Tlze Beginnings of ivlissionary Activity, 1670-1676
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Fatlzer Larios aud !tis companions re tum to Coahuila. Seldom if ever have proud conquerors been given a more solemn and sumptuous farewe11 than was accorded to these three humble missionaries. On November 28, 1673, at three o'clock in the afternoon, the entire community of the Convent of the Province of Santiago de Jalisco formed in stately pro- cession at the gate of the old monastery that looked toward the road leading to Anako, a nearby town. In addition to the regular members of the Franciscan house, four distinguished officials were present. Chief among these was the Most Reverend Bishop of Guadalajara, Doctor Francisco Verdin y Molina, member of the Royal Council of His Majesty. Here, also, were the Very Reverend Father Fray Alonso Guerrero, the Commissary Visitor of the Province at this time, the Reverend Father Fray Francisco Trevino, Commissary General of all the Franciscans in New Spain, and Father Fray Diego Fregoso, Guardian of the Convent of Santiago. In the center of the procession came the three missionaries who were going forth to bring into the fold of the Church the thousands of Indians that roamed the vast expanse beyond the northern frontiers of Coahuila. With them, sharing the post of honor, were the twenty Indian warriors and chiefs, who had come from distant lands to solicit instruction in our faith, some of whom had but recently been baptized. With the solemnity befitting the occasion, the procession began to move down the road, while the Bishop and the Commissary Visitor stepped to the side and watched them file past. The two officials then entered their carriage and drove to Anako to await there the arrival of the procession. As soon as the river that flows by the outskirts of the city of Guada- lajara was reached, the friars began to sing the Te Deum Lau.da,,ms, which they continued to chant until they arrived in Analso. Just outside of the little town, His Excellency the Bishop and the Reverend Com- missary Visitor joined the community and marched with it to the door of the chapel of the Hospital of Saint Joseph. Entering the church, the Bishop said his prayers before the altar and then made an eloquent address to the zealous and courageous missionaries, who were about to set out to convert and civilize the natives of distant lands. He urged them to be diligent and to carry to all the nations of the north the blessings of religion. He then blessed them and wished them Godspeed. To the twenty Indian chiefs he recommended that they guard and watch over the welfare of the missionaries, who were going to their lands at their bidding to save their souls. The community again formed in solemn
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