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Juan Capistrano
Little Chapters
Chapter IV
Little Chapters About San Juan Capistrano
Chapter IV: Church Buildings
At the Mission there have been various buildings used for
divine service. The oldest one used for that purpose and which
still stands is the long building, 115 feet in length, on
the east side of the patio commonly known as "Serra's
Church". This is probably the oldest part of the Mission.
It was used for divine services before the completion of the
big stone church, on September 7, 1806, and after its destruction,
on December 8, 1812, but ceased to be used about the year
1890, when the present chapel was put in condition for use
and the objects moved into it from the old church. The present
church was not originally intended for a church or even a
chapel, but was the quarter occupied by the living rooms of
the two fathers in charge. The south end of the chapel was
the room occupied by Fray Gerónimo Boscana, who wrote,
most probably in that very room, a historical account of the
origin, customs and traditions of the Indians at the Mission,
whom he calls the Acagchemem Nation. The fourth place of worship
was a chapel for the accommodation of the sick, and stood
some fifty feet from the north wall of the building that lines
the north side of the patio, between it and the infirmary,
which was situated a little beyond. Nothing now remains of
this chapel except a few broken tile, which can be seen scattered
about the field. Before the building of this, a room of the
infirmary which stood near the road that passes in the rear
of the Mission, a part of El Camino Real, was used as a chapel
for the sick. The first chapel of all was probably a mere
ramada, or rude little hut made of boughs.
Most of the objects in the present church were used in the
great stone church before it fell, in 1812. In the earthquake
which detroyed it, only the nave was shaken down, thus leaving
the transept and sanctuary intact, so that the statues, pictures,
candlesticks and other objects there were uninjured and have
been preserved. The old statues are all carved from wood,
and were brought from Spain for the Missions. The old manner
of coloring may be seen in the statue of St. Dominic, who
is recognized by the rosary he holds in his hand. The other
statues are: The Blessed Virgin, upon her altar, San Juan
Capistrano, in his military-religious habit, bearing a sword
and banner, and St. Mary Magdalene, holding the nails of the
crucifixion in her right hand. The statue of St. Antony on
the side altar, opposite the entrance, was originally a San
Juan Capistrano, as may readily be judged from the character
of the habit he wears and the attitude of the figure. The
little Madonna and Child on the wall at the epistle side of
the sanctuary is the best preserved and most beautiful of
all the statues.
The Stations of the Cross, of which the twelfth is missing,
are undoubtedly Spanish paintings of the 18th Century. The
large picture of the crucifixion over the altar is signed
"Francisco Cervantes 1800." The figures in the picture,
beisdes that of our dying Saviour are, of course, His holy
Mother on the left, St. John the Evangelist on the right,
and St. Mary Magdalene kneeling at the foot of the cross.
The white-metal candlesticks are all of silver, as are also
the frames of the altar-cards, bookstand, processional cross,
and the two large torches. The six silver candlesticks on
the altar of the Blessed Virgin are especially to be noted
for their simple and beautiful design.
The sacristy, which is not open to visitors, contains the
Mission vestment-case with many old vestments which are still
in use, the baptismal font, a painting of San Juan Capistrano,
a bell-wheel and various other relics of the early mission
days.
Next: Chapter V
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