Our Catholic Heritage, Volume IV

Our Catlrolic Heritage i1i Texas

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hundred and twenty horses, six hundred and ten head of cattle, and twenty-two hundred sheep and goats. According to the records of the mission it had baptized seven hundred and ninety-two persons since its establishment, of whom five hundred and fifty-eight had been given Christian burial. At this time there were fifty- eight families living in the mission, who together with the orphans and widowers, made a total of two hundred and seven persons of both sexes and all ages. They were chiefly members of the Pajalat, Tacame, and Sanipao nations. In charge of the mission were Fray Guadalupe de Prado, and Fray Pedro de Parras.' Mission San Juan Capistrano. This mission was located a little less than three leagues (seven or eight miles) from San Antonio de Valero, almost due east, and had not made as much progress as the others because the land allotted to it was not sufficient for its cattle and horses and the raising of the required crops. No separate church had as yet been built, religious services being held in a large room twenty-five varas long in th~ monastery. Adjoining this room was a smaller one used as the sacristy. The room used as a chapel had three altars: one of the Nazarene, one of San Juan Capistrano in the center, with a beautiful gilded tabernacle, and one of Our Lady of the Rosary. Each one of the three had an unusually well carved image of their respective saint. Furthermore, each altar was graced by a number of good oil paintings. In the sacristy there was a baptismal font with its silver shell, two anointers, twenty- two candlesticks, two censers, six small silver bells, a copper crucifix mounted on a staff, two chalices with their patens, and a ciborium, all of silver, three missals and three manuals for the administration of the sacraments. For the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass it had twenty-one vestments of silk and damask, two copes, twelve surplices, fifteen pair of altar cloths, and many other ornaments needed for the. ·observance of the various religious feasts and rites. All these things were kept in the sacristy in closets and drawers. There was also a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Sorrows with its costly tunic and a silver crown and sword. The monastery or friary had several cells and two rooms for offices or storage, besides the two that served for the chapel and sacristy already described. Each one was furnished with taste and devotion. The gallery that ran along the side was flanked by a graceful arcade. As in the other

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