From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
July 19th - Servant of God Francis Garc=C3=A9s and Comp.,Martyrs
(c. 1781)
Government interference in the missions and landgrabbing sparked the
Indian uprising which cost these friars their lives.
A contemporary of the American Revolution and of Blessed Junipero
Serra, Francisco was born in 1738 in Spain, where he joined the
Franciscans. After ordination in 1763, he was sent to Mexico. Five
years later he was assigned to San Xavier del Bac near Tucson, one of
several missions the Jesuits had founded in Arizona and New Mexico
before being expelled in 1767 from all territories controlled by the
Catholic king of Spain. In Arizona, Francisco worked among the Papago,
Yuma, Pima and Apache Native Americans. His missionary travels took
him to the Grand Canyon and to California.
Friar Francisco Palou, a contemporary, writes that Father Garc=C3=A9s was greatly loved by the indigenous peoples, among whom he lived unharmed
for a long time. They regularly gave him food and referred to him as
"Viva Jesus," which was the greeting he taught them to use.
For the sake of their indigenous converts, the Spanish missionaries
wanted to organize settlements away from the Spanish soldiers and
colonists. But the commandant in Mexico insisted that two new missions
on the Colorado River, Misi=C3=B3n San Pedro y San Pablo and Misi=C3=B3n La Pur=C3=ADsima Concepci=C3=B3n, be mixed settlements.
A revolt among the Yumas against the Spanish left Friars Juan Diaz and
Matias Moreno dead at Misi=C3=B3n San Pedro y San Pablo. Friars Francisco Garc=C3=A9s and Juan Barreneche were killed at Misi=C3=B3n La Pur=C3=ADsima Concepci=C3=B3n (the site of Fort Yuma).
They have been declared martyrs for the faith by the Catholic Church.
The cause for his canonization has been officially opened by the
Church
Comment: In the 18th century the indigenous peoples of the American
Southwest saw Catholicism and Spanish rule as a package deal. When
they wanted to throw off the latter, the new religion had to go also.
Do we appreciate sufficiently the acceptable adjustment our faith can
make among various peoples? Are we offended by the customs of
Catholics in other cultures? Do we see our good example as a
contribution to missionary evangelization?
Quote: On a visit to Africa in 1969, Pope Paul VI told 22 young
Ugandan converts that "being a Christian is a fine thing but not
always an easy one."
Bible Quote:
Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded nor to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God (who giveth us abundantly
all things to enjoy) To do good, to be rich in good work, to give
easily, to communicate to others, To lay up in store for themselves a
good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on
the true life.=C2 (1 Tim. 6:17-19) DRB
Saint Quote:
"For He came to save all through means of Himself--all, I say, who
through Him are born again to God--infants, and children, and boys,
and youths, and old men."
--Irenaeus, Against Heresies,2,22:4 (A.D. 180),
<><><><>
=C2 Lord, teach me to know the obstacles
=C2 =C2 'Lord, teach me to know the obstacles that,
=C2 consciously or unconsciously, I am placing in the
=C2 way of Thy grace in me. Give me the strength
=C2 to put them aside, and if I am negligent therein,
=C2 vouchsafe Thyself to remove them, howsoever
=C2 I may suffer thereby. What wouldst Thou have
=C2 me to do for Thee this day, my God? Show me
=C2 what it is in me that displeaseth Thee. Teach me
=C2 rightly to value the Precious Blood which Thou
=C2 didst shed for me, of the sacramental or spiritual
=C2 communion by which we are enabled to drink
=C2 that Blood from the wound of Thy most loving
=C2 Heart.
=C2 =C2 'Make me, O Lord, to grow in love of Thee.
=C2 Grant that our inner conversation may never
=C2 cease; that I may never separate myself from
=C2 Thee; that I may receive all that Thou dost deign
=C2 to give me; and that I may not stand in the way
=C2 of the grace which through me should be
=C2 poured out upon other souls to give them light
=C2 and life.'
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)