266 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF CHAPTER LVIII The Exemplary Death of the Venerable Father Juntpero. ‘PON receipt of the letter of the Reverend Father President, in which he asked me to go to Monterey, although he did not ask me to come quickly, I decided I had better go by land as the vessel would be delayed in sailing. I arrived at the Mission of San Carlos on the 38th of August and found his Reverence very weak indeed, although he was up and around, though with a heaviness on his chest. But for all that he did not refrain from going to Church in the afternoon to recite the Christian Doctrine and the prayers with the neophytes, con- cluding the vespers with the tender and devout hymn which the Vener- able Father Margil had composed in honor of the Assumption of Our Lady, in whose Octave we happened to be. On hearing him sing with his usual natural voice, I said to a soldier who was standing by and speaking with me, that the Father President did not seem to be so very sick. To this the soldier replied (he had known him since the year 1769), “Father, we must not be too confident; he is sick, but this Saintly Father, when it comes to praying and singing, is always well; but he is almost finished.” ‘The next day, which was the r9th of the month, he charged me with the singing of the Mass in honor of the most Holy Patriarch, Saint Joseph, as he was accustomed to do every month, saying that he was not well enough to doit. I did so, but his Reverence did not fail to take his place in the choir, and sing with the neophytes, and repeat the seven “Qur Fathers” and the usual prayers. In the afternoon he did not fail to repeat the prayers and to sing the verses of the Virgin, and on the next day, which was Friday, he took part in the usual exercise of the Stations of the Cross in the church with all the people. ‘We took up, one by one, the points which he had called me to discuss with him while we were waiting for the arrival of the vessel. But he always caused me to fear his death was near at hand, because, whenever he entered into his little room or cell, which was made of adobe, we would find him very much absorbed and quiet, although his companion toldPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 267 me that he had been that way ever since the Faculty to Confirm had expired, which, as I have said, was on the same day in which the vessel anchored in the port of these establishments. Five days after my arri- val at Monterey the packet-boat came in. Immtediately the royal surgeon came out to the Mission to visit the Reverend Father President, and finding him so distressed with his chest trouble he proposed to apply some plasters in order to draw out the humor which had gathered in his breast. He replied that he might apply as many of these kinds of medic- aments as he pleased. He did so without any other effect than that of adding to the pain of the afflicted body, but neither this strong remedy, nor the other pains from which he suffered, produced from him the slight- est indication of any feeling, and he went about as if he had none of these maladies and were quite well. As there had been brought out on the vessel some cloth for the supply of the Mission, he set about cutting it with his own hands and distributing it among the converts to cover their nakedness. On the asth of August he mentioned to me how sorry he felt that the Fathers had not come from the two Missions of San Antonio and San Luis Obispo and that he feared that the letters had been delayed. Immediately I sent to the presidio and the messenger came back with the letters saying that they had forgotten to send them. As soon as I had informed myself of their contentsand saw that it was to invite them to come to bid him farewell, I sent off a messenger with the letters, add- ing in the postscript that they must come as soon as possible, as I feared that it would not be long before our beloved Prelate would leave us, judging from his great weakness. Although both of them set out as ‘g00n as they received the letters, they did not arrive in time, as the one from the Mission of San Antonio, which is twenty-five leagues distant, arrived after his death but in time for the funeral, while the one from San Luis, fifty leagues distant, arrived three days later and was only able to be present at the Memorial Service which was held on the 7th. On the 26th he arose more exhausted, saying that he had passed a bad night and that he wished to make disposition of himself in order that God might dispose of him. He passed the whole day in retirement with- out admitting of any distraction whatever, and, at night, he repeated with me his General Confession in many tears, but with complete know!- exige of himself, as if he had been entirely well. When this was finished, after a little time spent in meditation, he took a cup of broth and lay268 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF nal saying that he did not wish any one to remain with him in his At daybreak on the ayth I went to see him and found hi with his breviary in his hands, as he was always accustomed to begin Matins before daybreak, and when he was on the road he used to begin them at daybreak. In reply to my question how he had passed the night he replied that he was all right, but that it might be well to consecrate a Host and to keep it in reserve until he would let me know. ‘This I did, * and when the Mass was over, I returned to advise him and he said that he was ready to receive the Most Divine Viaticum and that he would go to the church to receive it. I told him that this was not necessary, that we could adorn the cell as attractively as possible and that His Divine Majesty would come to visit him there. He replied in the negative, saying that he preferred to receive it in the church, seeing that as he could walk, there was no reason why his Lord should come to him. Thad to yield and to carry out his holy wishes. He went by himself to the church (a distance of one hundred yards) accompanied by the Commander of the garrison, who had come to the ceremony, with some of the troops, which he had joined with that of the Mission. All the Indians of the village or Mission accompanied the devoted sick Father to the church with extreme tenderness and affection, On arriving at the steps of the presbytery his Reverence knelt by the side of a little table which had been prepared for this service. I came out of the vestry robed, and approached the altar. While I was preparing the incense in order to begin the religious ceremony the ardent servant of God intoned the verses which begin with the words: “Tantum ergo Sacramentum,” * with his natural voice as sonorous as when in good health, though the tears in his eyes showed his emotion: I administered to him the Holy Viaticum with all the ceremonies of the ritual and when this most devout function had been concluded, which I had never seen under such circumstances, his Reverence remained kneeling in the same posture, giving thanks to the Lord. When he had finished he returned to his little room, accompanied by all the people. Some of them were weeping from devotion and tenderness, and others from grief and sorrow, because they feared they were to be deprived of their beloved Father. He remained alone, and going to his cell, seated himself in the chair by the table and fell into deep abstraction. When I saw him so withdrawn within himself I did not allow any one to go in to speak to him,PADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 269 I saw that the carpenter from the presidio was about to go in, and when I stopped him, he told me that the Father had sent for him to have him make the coffin for his burial and he wished to ask him how he want- edit. This affected me very much but I would not allow him to go in to speak to the Father, but told him to make the coffin just as he had made the one for Father Crespi.. His Reverence passed the whole day in absolute silence and profound recollection, sitting in his chair and taking a little soup only once in all the day, and without lying down. At night he felt worse and asked me for the Holy Oils. This Holy Sacrament he received seated on a little stool made of rushes, and he re- peated with us the Litany of the Saints with the Penitential Psalms. He passed the whole night without sleeping, the greater part of the time Inecling and leaning his breast against the boards of his bed. When I asked him why he did not lie down for a little while, he replied that he felt a little easier in that position. At other times he was seated on the floor, leaning against the breast of some one of the converts, who were all night long in the cell, attracted by the great love which they had for . him as the Father who had begotten them in the Lord. When I saw him so greatly exhausted and leaning upon the arms of the Indians I asked the surgeon how he thought he was. He replied (as he seemed to be much aggravated) that it appeared to him that the Venerable Father was anxious to die upon the floor. I went in soon after and asked him if he wished Absolution and the application of Plenary Indulgence. He replied in the affirmative. He prepared himself for it, and then, getting on his knees, he received Ple- nary Absolution and I applied to him the Plenary Indulgence of the Order. ‘With this he was greatly comforted and spent the rest of the night in the manner I have described. ‘The next day was that of St. Augustine, the 28th of August, and he seemed somewhat better, with less of suffocation in the chest, although during the whole night he had not slept, nor eaten anything. He spent the morning seated in his little rush chair leaning against the bed. This consisted of a few hard boards roughly hewn and covered with only a blanket, which he used rather to cover himself with than to soften his couch for resting, and he did not even have a sheep skin as is the custom in the College. He always slept this way when on the road, stretching out on the ground a blanket and a pillow and lying down upon them to get the necessary rest, sleeping always with a Cross upon his breast which he held in his arms. It was about a foot imlength270 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF and he had carried it since he lived in the novitiate of the College and had never left it behind, but always took it with him on his journeys together with the blanket and the pillow. In his Mission, and in other places where he stopped, as soon as he arose from bed he would put the Cross upon the pillow. So it was on this occasion, as he had not wished to lie down during the night nor during the next morning of the day in which he was to yield his soul to his Maker. ‘About ten o'clock in the morning of St. Augustine’s Day the officers from the frigate came to see him. They were the Captain and Commander, Don José Caftizares, very well known to his Reverence since the time of the first expedition in the year 1769, and the Royal Chaplain, Don Christobal Diaz, whom he had also known in this port in the year 1779. He received them with every mark of esteem, order- ing that the bells be rung in their honor. He stood up to give each one a close embrace, just as if he were quite well, meeting them with all the compliments and ceremonies befitting their rank, and when they were seated, his Reverence occupying the little stool, they told him of the voyages which they had made to Peru since the time he had seen them, in the year 1779. After having heard their story he said to them: “Well, Sirs, I am thanleful that after so long a time in which we have not seen one another and in which you have made so long a voyage that you have been able to come to this far distant port in order to place a little earth upon my body.” When the officers and all the rest of us who were present heard this we were quite surprised, because we saw him sitting there in his little chair and yet we heard him use this very expression. They said to him (scarcely concealing the tears which they could not keep back), “No, Father, we trust in God that you may yet recover and continue your work of conversion.” The Servant of God replied (who if he had not had revealed to him the hour of his death, could at least say that it was very near at hand): “Yes, yes. Please do me this charity and work of mercy of throwing a little earth over me and I shall be very thankful to you.” And then fixing his eyes on mehe said: “I wish you to bury me in the church next to Father Fr. Juan Crespi, for the present, and when the stone church is built, you may place me where you will.” When my téats could be controlled enough to allow me to reply, I said to him: “Father President, if it is God’s wish to take you to himself, it shall be done as your Reverence desires and in that case IPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA aqr ask your Reverence for the sake of the great love and affection which you have always had for me that when you arrive in the presence of the most Holy Trinity, you will offer adoration in my name, and that you will not forget me nor to pray for all those who dwell in these establish- ments, and especially for those who are here present.” “I promise,” he said, “that if the Lord in His infinite mercy shall grant me this everlasting felicity which I in no wise deserve on account of my faults, that I will do so for all, and that He may grant the conversion of all these pagan people whom I am leaving unconverted.” Not long after he asked me to sprinkle the room with holy water. This I did, and when I had asked him if he felt any pain he said “No.” But he asked me that I would do it that he might have none. Then he remained awhile in profound silence. Suddenly he spoke to me as if much frightened and said: “I have come under the shadow of a great fear; I am very much afraid. Read tome the Recommendation for the Soul and please speak loud that I may hear it.” ‘This I did, attended by all the officers from the vessel, as well as by his companion, Fr. ‘Matias Noriega, the surgeon, and many others from the vessel and from the Mission. I read the Recommendation for the Soul, to which the dying man made the responses as if he were well, sitting on his little stool, and moving all our hearts to tenderness. ‘As soon as I had finished he burst forth quite full of joy, saying: “Thanks be to God! Thanks be toGod! He has quite taken away my fear! Thanks be to God, there is no fear now, and so let us go outside.”” We all went to another little outside room with his Reverence and all were astonished and filled with joy at seeing this new spirit in him. The Captain of the vessel then said to him: “Father President, you see what my Patron Saint, San Antonio, can do. I have asked him to make you well and I expect that he will do it and that you will be making some more voyages in behalf of these poor Indians.” The Venerable Father did not reply to this, but with a little smile which he gave he made us all to understand that he did not expect such a thing, nor did he think he would recover. : He sat down in the chair by the table and taking up the Divine Office book began to recite the prayers. As soon as he had finished I reminded him that it was after one o'clock in the afternoon anid asked him if he would like a cup of broth, and when he had assented he took it. After giving thanks, he said: ‘Let us now go to rest.” He went on foot to272 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF his little room, where he had his bed of boards, and taking off only his mantle, he lay down upon the blanket which covered the boards, taking his Cross as before described, in order to compose himself for sleep. We all thought it was to sleep, seeing that in all the night he had not closed his eyes. ‘The officers went out to dine, but as I was somewhat solicitous for him I returned after a few moments, and going up to the bed to see if he was asleep I found him just as we had left him a little before, but now asleep in the Lord, without having made any sign or movement of the agonies of death, his body showing no other sign of death than the cessation of breathing. He seemed to be asleep, and we all devoutly believe that he slept in the Lord a little after two in the afternoon of St. Augustine’s Day, in the year 1784, and that he has gone to receive in heaven the reward for his Apostolic labors. His laborious life came to an end at the age of seventy years, nine months and four days. He lived in the world sixteen years, nine months and twenty-one days, and as a religious fifty-three years, eleven months and thirteen days. Of these latter, in the exercise of his Apostolic ministry, he passed thirty-five years, four months and thirteen days, in which time he accomplished the glorious deeds which we have seen, in which his merits were more numerous than his steps, having lived in continual activity, always busy in virtuous and holy exercises and in peculiar achievements, all directed to the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. He whowith so great labor worked for others, will he not have done even more for the saving of his own soul? I might say a great deal, but the subject demands more time and more repose. If God will permit and if it be His Will, I will not neglect the labor of writing something concerning his heroic virtues for the sake of edifying and encouraging others. As soon as I had made sure that we had all been left orphans through the departure of our Venerated Prelate, who had not fallen asleep but who in reality had died, I motioned to some of the neophytes to make the announcement with the bells. As soon as the double tolling spread abroad the sad news, the whole people came flocking in, lamenting the death of their beloved Father who had begotten them again in the Lord, and who had loved them more than if he had been their natural father. All desired to see him in order to relieve themselves of the sorrow which oppressed their hearts through the tears that flowed from their eyes. So great was the crowd of people, both of Indians and ofPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 273 soldiers and marines, that it was necessary to close the door in order to put him into the coffin, which the day before his Reverence had ordered made. And in order to prepare him for burial it was not necessary to do anything more than to take off his sandals (which became the keep- sakes of the Captain of the packet-boat and the Father-Chaplain who had been present), and he remained with the same shroud as that in which he died, namely, with his habit, hood and cord and without an inner tunic, as the two which he had for his journeys he had sent to be washed six days before he died, together with a change of under-clothing which he did not care to put on again, as he wished to die with only his habit and hood, with the cord. As soon as the body had been placed in the coffin, with six candles lighted, the door of the cell was opened. The sorrowful neophyte In- dians were already there with their bouquets of flowers of every color which they had gathered from the fields to adorn the body of their lamented Father. The body was left in the room until evening and there was a continual flow of people who came and went, some of them repeating prayers, others touching his Venerable hands and face with rosaries and medals, crying out in great lamentation: “Holy Father!” “Blessed Father!” and using other epithets which were born of their great love for him, and in manifestation of the heroic virtues which they had seen him exercise, when alive, in their behalf. ‘As night came on we took him to the church, in procession which ‘was formed of all the neophytes, soldiers, and the sailors who had re- mained. After placing the body upon a table, surrounded by six lighted candles, the service was concluded with a Responsorio. ‘Those present begged me to leave the church open that they might watch over him and sing the Rosary for the Soul of the Deceased, renewing the watch at set intervals and so spending the whole night in continual prayer. I yielded to them in this, but placing two soldiers to act as sentinels, in order to prevent any indiscreet act of piety, or pious theft, as all were very anxious to secure some little thing which the deceased had used, especially the sailors and the soldiers who, on account of their larger Imowledge of things, and because they held the late Venerable Father in very high esteem on account of his virtue and sanctity, as they had had dealings with him both on land and at sea, kept asking me for little things which he had used. Although I promised them that I would grant them their wish after the burial, this was not sufficient to prevent274 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF them from cutting off little pieces from his habit, taking them from the under side that it might not be noticed, and also a part of the hair of the crown, when they could do so without being seen by the sentinel, if, indeed, he did not become an accomplice with them and a partici- pant in this pious robbery, for all were very anxious to secure some keepsake from the deceased, although such was their great esteem for him that they called them relics, in spite of my efforts to correct them and explain, etc.PADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 275 CHAPTER LIX Solemn Burial of the Venerable Father Juntpero. ‘HE poverty of the land and of the people who inhabit it made it impossible to give the blessed remains of the Venerable Father Junfpero the burial and the funeral honors with the pomp which his heroic virtues deserved, as we were reduced to simply a little detach- ment of troops from the presidio which was a league distant from the Mission, to the small guard located at the Mission, and the Mission converts who composed the congregation, the whole number not exceed- ing 600 persons of all ages. It was also impossible to have present many priests as there were no chaplains at the presidios and in each Mission there were stationed only two Missionaries and these far apart, so that it would be natural to expect that in the burial of any of the Missionaries, his companion who would be left alive would be the only one to take part in the ceremony and there would naturally be no larger concourse of people than the converted Indians and the little squad of five soldiers with their corporal. But God saw fit to honor his Faithful Servant (who had so con- stantly labored in order to create these establishments in which the Lord is praised and who had been equally anxious to separate himself from every earthly honor) by permitting that his death should occur at the time when the vessel was anchored in the port of Monterey, which is only during the short time each year when it stops to leave the cargo, so that we had the privilege of having with us at that time some Spanish people. So that the funeral took place in the presence of the sailors and the soldiers from the royal garrison and was conducted by four priests, and later in the memorial service, five were present, of which I shall speak later. ‘The burial took place the day following his death; that is, on the agth of August, which was Sunday. In the morning the Reverend Fr. Buenaventura Sitjar arrived at the presidio, coming from the Mission of San Antonio, twenty-five leagues distant. As soon as he had received my letter, of which I have already spoken, he sent it on to San Luis,276 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF twenty-five leagues farther, and then started out without loss of time, but had not been able to arrive before the death of the Fr. President. On arriving at the presidio and learning that he had died the previous afternoon, he remained there long enough to say Mass and then came on to the Mission, accompanied by the Lieutenant-Inspector of both Cali- fornias (in the absence of the Governor) and by the Commander of the presidio with almost all the troops, leaving behind only a small number, necessary toactas guard. A little later the Captain and Commander of the packet-boat arrived, accompanied by the Chaplain and other Naval Officers, together with all the crew, except a few left to keep watch on board, and also to take charge of the firing of a cannon every half-hour, to which another cannon at the presidio responded (and in which exercise they were engaged alll day long). These shots, being heard at the Mission and being accompanied by the double tolling of the bells, melted the hearts of all. When all the people had gathered in the church, crowding it full in spite of its ample size, a Vigil was sung with the greatest solemnity, and then I immediately celebrated High Mass, attended by the officers who carried lighted candles, When this was concluded Libera was sung, then the act of burial was left until the afternoon, all the people remain- ing in the Mission, employing the time in viewing the remains, saying prayers and touching the holy body with rosaries and medals. Bells continued to toll, a¢companied by the artillery of sea and land, as if it were the death of some General. At four o’clock in the afternoon bells called the people together again and they gathered in the church, where a procession was formed, preceded by the cross and candle bearers and composed of all the people, converted Indians, sailors, soldiers, and officers (these latter with can- dies), in double file, and at the head the Missionaries, the same who were present in the morning. After the singing of the Responsorio they took up the body and carried it out, the pall-bearers changing at intervals, as all the officers, both from the army and navy, wished to have the honor of having borne him upon their shoulders. The procession made a circle around the plaza which is quite large. Four stations, or stops, were made and at each one the Responsorio was sung. On returning again to the church the body was again placed upon the same table at the foot of the step of the presbytery. The burial then took place, Lauds being sung with all solemnity in accordance withPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 277 the Manual of the Order. He was buried within the railing of the presbytery on the Gospel side, and the service was then finished with the singing of the Responsorio, although the tears and sobs and wailing of those present almost drowned the voices of the singers. His children were mourning the death of their Father, who had left his own old father and mother in his native land and had come this long distance for no other purpose than to make these his children and the children of God through Holy Baptism. The flock was lamenting the death of its Shepherd who had labored so assiduously to provide them with spiritual food and who had delivered them from the claws of the infernal wolf. His faithful subjects were mourning the loss of their Prelate, the wise, the prudent, the courteous, the diligent, and the model leader, as they all recognized how greatly he would be missed in the develop- ment of these Spiritual Conquests. ‘As soon as the ceremony was over the people crowded around me, asking for some little thing which the Father had aforetime used; but as the things which the Father had had for his own use were so very few, it was not at allleasy to satisfy them. In order toavoid the clamor of the crowd in their demands, I brought out the under tunic which the Father had used (although he had not worn it at the last, for as I have said he died wearing only his habit), and I delivered it to the Commander of the packet-boat, telling him to divide it up among the members of his crew in order that they might make from it scapulars, and to bring them that I might bless them on the 4th of September, as, upon that day, which was the seventh day after his death, the Memorial Service was to be celebrated in honor of the late Father. With this they all went away satisfied. To the soldiers of the troop and other particular friends I gave pieces of the under-clothes, cutting them up for this purpose, and I also gave away two handkerchiefs. One of these was given as a legacy to the Royal Surgeon, Don Juan Garcia, not only as a return for his services, but because of the long acquaintanceship and the peculiar affection he had for the deceased. A few days later, when he returned to the Mission, he thanked me for the little piece of cloth and said: “With this little piece of cloth I expect, to cure more people than with all my books and bottles. I had in my hospital a sailor who was suffering from very severe pains in the head, which allowed him no rest at all. I left off administering medicine and tied up his head with the handkerchief, He fell asleep and the next278 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF morning awoke sound and well. I hope,” he said, “that this little cloth will accomplish more than a whole drug-store.” Such was the esteem in which he held the Venerable Father Junipero. No less highly were his virtues esteemed by Fr. Antonio Paterna, who had known him since the year 1750, when he came out from Spain to the same Mission, although coming in the second section. He was for many years in the Missions of the Sierra Gorda at the same time that the Venerable Father President was there, and since the year 1771 in these Missions, being located at present at the Mission of San Luis Obispo. I sent to advise him, as I have already said, that the Reverend Father President was very sick and that he desired to see him before he died. On receipt of my letter he set out in great haste, spurred by his desire to reach him before he died. But in spite of the great haste which he made in traveling all day and part of the night, he was not able to arrive in time even for the burial, arriving three days after his death and able only to take part in the Memorial Services, as I shall relate in the following chapter. On account of the fatigue of the journey for this brother of sixty years of age, who had been sick nearly all the way, and was much affected by the heat, which is excessive in the mountains of Santa Lucia in the month of August, he was taken seriously ill a few days after his arrival. This illness was so severe that we were all much alarmed, as was also the Royal Surgeon who said that it was some kind of colic. The doctor did all his profession could suggest and then told us that as it was serious the Father had better prepare himself for death, as indeed he fully ex- pected to follow our Venerable President Fr. Junipero. Upon seeing how exhausted he was from the pains, I said to him, “Father, do you not wish to gird yourself with the hair-cloth of our Venerable Father President? Perhaps God may be pleased to grant you relief.” “Yes, Father,” he replied, “bring it to me.” He girded himself with it, and very shortly felt great relief, so much so that I refrained from administer- ing to him the Viaticum. He went on improving and was shortly quite well, so that when I left that Mission to come back to this one, he was able to say Mass. The object in relating these incidents is not that I purpose publish- ing them as miracles, nor in my judgment did these keepsakes have any such miraculous virtue, as it may have been in each case the result of natural causes or simple coincidence. It is not my duty to investigatePADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 379 or make any scrutiny of them, but simply to repeat the protest which I made at the beginning of this book; so that in this particular, as in everything I have written in this Historic Account, and in what I may say hereafter, I keep within the limits of the Brief of His Holiness, Pope Urban VIII, published on the sth of June, 1631, and of the other Pon- tifical decrees. I have related these cases simply for the sake of showing what was the general opinion as to the virtues of the Reverend Father Junfpero and the esteem in which his exemplary life was held by all kinds of people, and especially by those who had known and dealt with him for many years, so that his fame and the public report of his virtue made them greatly covet some little thing which the Father might have used, as well as led them to be present and to honor his memory after his death, as we shall see in the following chapter.