Our Ca_tliolic fl eritage in Texas
Fray Lizarrana. An idea of the wealth in cattle and stock possessed by this mission may be gained from the number listed in the inventory. One thousand two hundred four head of cattle, six thousand nine hundred sheep. and over nine hundred goats, besides eight hundred thirty-five mares, two hundred twelve horses, and one hundred one mules. The Indians living at the mission were counted and found to be one hundred eighty-five, including men, women, and children, all well instructed in the tenets of our faith. All those over seven years of age went to con- fession and received communion at least once a year. They were all provided with sufficient clothes and some had good overcoats and jackets. All had shoes and stockings which they wore when they went to church on Sunday. They were not only well instructed in the Christian doctrine, but they all had been taught a trade and were skilled farmers and trades- men. As in the case of San Juan Bautista, Captain Rodriguez paid tribute to the industry, patience, and love of the missionaries of Queretaro, who in the course of years of painful toil had been able to convert and civilize these Indians and to administer their interests so efficiently for their welfare. 10 The Marques de Rubi, who was not free with his compliments and who viewed the work of the missionaries rather coldly, could not help but describe the missions of San Antonio as "opulent." Both San Jose. administered by the apostolic missionaries of the College of Zacatecas, and the other four missions of the College of Queretaro had attained a remarkable success in view of the many vicissitudes and adversities that befell them from the beginning. "Why?" asks Captain Rafael Martinez Pacheco in a special report made to the viceroy, "did the Marqus de Rubi call them the 'opulent missions of San Antonio?' " And he answers : "Because of the apostolic zeal exercised by the missionaries, who did not spare fatigue or discomfort at any time of the year to solicit with fervor the increase of the spiritual and temporal welfare. Religiously and constantly the.y labored, going persistently in search of new converts and apostates, visiting gentile tribes to bring new recruits for their pueblos. Many times a lonely Padre would set out, accompanied by only two neophytes, because the military commander refused to give him an escort, and he would make his way to the Lipan-Apaches in search of runaways. In July of this year [ 1772] Transfer of the missions in San Antonio. IOTestimonio de la Entrega de la Mlssl6n de San Bernardo del Rio Grande de! Norte. A Jos Rds. Pds. de la Santa Prova. de Xallsco. Ano de 1772.Sallillo Arcltives, Vol. 3, pp. 34-74.
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