Famous Missions of California

Article of the week: Northern California Coast

The Famous Missions of California

by William Henry Hudson

Lately Professor of English Literature at Stanford University,

To Bonnie Burckhalter Fletcher

With Affectionate Recollections of California Days

London, England, 1901

Contents.

I. Of Junipero Serra, and the proposed settlement of Alta California.

II. How Father Junipero came to San Diego.

III. Of the founding of the Mission at San Diego.

IV. Of Portola's quest for the harbour of Monterey, and the founding of the Mission of San Carlos.

V. How Father Junipero established the Missions of San Antonio de Padua, San Gabriel, and San Louis Obispo.

VI. Of the tragedy at San Diego, and the founding of the Missions of San Juan Capistrano, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.

VII. Of the establishment of the Mission of San Buenaventura, and of the death and character of Father Junipero.

VIII. How the Missions of Santa Barbara, La Purisima Concepcion, Santa Cruz, Soledad, San Jose, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel, San Fernando, San Luis Rey, and Santa lnez, were added to the list.

IX. Of the founding of the Missions of San Rafael and San Francisco Solano. Sunset on the Santa Barbara Mission California picture

X. Of the downfall of the Missions of California.

XI. Of the old Missions, and life in them.

XII. Of the Mission system in California, and its results.

Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura, California picture Translation of the Names of the Missions

San Diego.--A Spanish form of Saint James, who is the Patron Saint of Spain.
San Carlos.--Saint Charles. Mission San Carlos and the Royal Chapel of Monterey were so named in honor of Saint Charles the Patron Saint of King Carlos III under whose reign the mission was founded.
San Antonio De Padua.--St. Anthony of Padua.
San Gabriel.--St. Gabriel (the Angel of the Annunciation.).
San Luis Obispo.--Saint Louis, Bishop.
Nuestra Senora de Los Dolores.--Our Lady of Sorrows.
San Juan Capistrano.--St. John Capistrano.
Santa Clara.--Saint Clara.
San Buenaventura.--Saint Bonaventure.
Santa Barbara.--Saint Barbara (whose feast is commemorated on December 4, the date of the foundation of the Mission.)
Purisima Concepcion.--Most Pure Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary). This feast is celebrated on December 8, the day on which this mission was founded.
Nuestra Senora De La Soledad.--Our Lady of Solitude. (In the Catholic Church the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated under this title to commemorate her solitude from the time of our Saviour's death until His Resurrection).
Santa Cruz.--Holy Cross (so named in honor of Our Saviour's Passion).
San Jose.--Saint Joseph.
San Juan Bautista.--Saint John, Baptist (whose feast occurs on June 24, the day this mission was founded).
San Miguel.--Saint Michael.
San Fernando, Rey De Espana.--Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
San Luis, Rey De Francia.--Saint Louis, King of France.
Santa Ynez.--Saint Agnes.
San Rafael.--Saint Raphael.
San Francisco Solano.--Saint Francis Solano.