California Missions and their Saints
The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Christian faith among the local Native Americans. The missions represented the first major effort by Europeans to colonize the Pacific Coast region, and gave Spain a valuable toehold in the frontier land. The settlers introduced European livestock, fruits, vegetables, cattle, horses and ranching into the California region; however, the Spanish occupation of California also brought with it serious negative consequences to the Native American populations with whom the missionaries came in contact. The government of Mexico shut down the missions in the 1830s. In the end, the mission had mixed results in its objective to convert, educate, and "civilize" the indigenous population and transforming the natives into Spanish colonial citizens. Today, the missions are among the state's oldest structures and the most-visited historic monuments. There are 21 missions.
| Spanish Name | English Name |
|---|---|
| La Purísima de Concepcíon | The Immaculate Conception |
| Nuestra Señora de Soledad | Our Lady of Solitude |
| San Antonio de Padua | St. Anthony of Padua |
| San Buenaventura San Buenaventura | St. Bonaventure |
| San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo | St. Charles Borromeo (of Carmel) |
| San Diego de Alcalá | St. Didacus of Alcala |
| San Fernando Rey de España | St. Ferdinand, King of Spain |
| San Francisco de Asís | St. Francis of Assisi |
| San Francisco Solano | St. Francis Solano |
| San Gabriel Arcángel | The Archangel Gabriel |
| San José de Guadalupe | St. Joseph |
| San Juan Bautista | St. John the Baptist |
| San Juan Capistrano | St. John of Capistrano |
| San Luis Obispo de Tolosa | St. Louis, Bishop of Toulose |
| San Luis Rey de Francia | St. Louis, King of France |
| San Miguel Arcángel | The Archangel Michael |
| San Rafael Arcángel | The Archangel Raphael |
| Santa Barbara | St. Barbara |
| Santa Clara de Asís | St. Claire of Assisi |
| Santa Cruz | Holy Cross |
| Santa Inés | St. Agnes |
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St. Eugene de Mazenod
Eugene de Mazenod was born on August 1, 1782, at Aix-en-Provence in France. Early in life he experienced the upheaval of the French Revolution. None the less, he entered the seminary, and following ordination he returned to labor in Aix-en-Provence. That area had suffered greatly during the Revolution and was not really a safe place for a priest. Eugene directed ... continue reading
St. Joseph of Cupertino
St. Joseph was born at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples, in 1603. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave himself up entirely to a life of humiliation, mortification, and obedience. He was ... continue reading
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St. Genevieve
St. Genevieve was born about the year 422, at Nanterre near Paris. She was seven years old when St. Germain of Auxerre came to her native village on his way to great Britain to combat the heresy of Pelagius. The child stood in the midst of a crowd gathered around the man of God, who singled her out and foretold her future sanctity. At her desire the holy Bishop ... continue reading
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St. Gabriel, the Archangel
The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty." It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament. The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks. His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Henoch. He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptizer. Finally, he ... continue reading
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