Mission Espada is a historical landmark located on the southern most part of San Antonio. It is visited mainly on Sundays for mass at church, but it also holds much historical value which attracts the community as well as tourists. In addition to its beautifully constructed buildings, it contains a dam and aqueduct which makes it unique in comparison to the other missions.
Being the first mission to arrive here in 1731, Espada started in Mississippi, then moved to Austin, and finally came to what is now called San Antonio. Since all of San Antonio used to be plains and green lands, the Spaniards decided to build where there was a resource of water. This supply of water is now known as the San Antonio river which is where all the other missions are located by.
I learned a great deal about Mission Espada. The natives, though hunter/ gatherer nomadic, were still civilized in that they were an independent, organized group, just not as developed as the Spaniards. But the Natives had no choice but to succumb to this sugar-coated slavery known as converting to Catholicism. Though they were offered shelter from Comanches and Apaches, these Indians still sacrificed beliefs, dignity, and freedom. The activities of the Indians became routine and habitual as opposed to the spontaneous lifestyles that they were used to. In a culture where eating, sleeping, and loving occurred on impulse, these Indians were now being summoned by the church bell for just about everything. The Spaniards introduced the natives to such things as irrigation, looming, and religion where many of them would ultimately intertwine these teachings into their own culture. But then, they were reluctant and very seldom were any of them sincere in the practices they were encouraged to engage in.
The Church played a major role in the missions, though it was not the mission itself and merely a part of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good handful of the Natives were actually active and sincere about the new belief that had been introduced to them. I know that when I first stepped foot into the church building at Mission Espada, I felt a presence that was almost pulling at my very soul. Without sounding superstitious or crazy, it was alluring and irresistible yet gentle and calming, so perhaps there was a genuine faith incorporated and cultivated among the inhabitants of this land. Nothing is for certain, since man sees the outside, but God sees the inside.
San Francisco Mission de Espada is about much more than just old ruins of a historic landmark; rather it’s the origin on which we Mexican Americans base our traditions and beliefs. Such a valuable piece of the past has done nothing short of paving the way for future generations to come. Hopefully they will not soon forget the distinctive roots from which they stem from. As for me, its clear to see how deeply impacted I was after having had little knowledge of this mission site or any of them for that matter. My hope is that your interest in the matter would be deeply reawakened.
Being the first mission to arrive here in 1731, Espada started in Mississippi, then moved to Austin, and finally came to what is now called San Antonio. Since all of San Antonio used to be plains and green lands, the Spaniards decided to build where there was a resource of water. This supply of water is now known as the San Antonio river which is where all the other missions are located by.
I learned a great deal about Mission Espada. The natives, though hunter/ gatherer nomadic, were still civilized in that they were an independent, organized group, just not as developed as the Spaniards. But the Natives had no choice but to succumb to this sugar-coated slavery known as converting to Catholicism. Though they were offered shelter from Comanches and Apaches, these Indians still sacrificed beliefs, dignity, and freedom. The activities of the Indians became routine and habitual as opposed to the spontaneous lifestyles that they were used to. In a culture where eating, sleeping, and loving occurred on impulse, these Indians were now being summoned by the church bell for just about everything. The Spaniards introduced the natives to such things as irrigation, looming, and religion where many of them would ultimately intertwine these teachings into their own culture. But then, they were reluctant and very seldom were any of them sincere in the practices they were encouraged to engage in.
The Church played a major role in the missions, though it was not the mission itself and merely a part of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good handful of the Natives were actually active and sincere about the new belief that had been introduced to them. I know that when I first stepped foot into the church building at Mission Espada, I felt a presence that was almost pulling at my very soul. Without sounding superstitious or crazy, it was alluring and irresistible yet gentle and calming, so perhaps there was a genuine faith incorporated and cultivated among the inhabitants of this land. Nothing is for certain, since man sees the outside, but God sees the inside.
San Francisco Mission de Espada is about much more than just old ruins of a historic landmark; rather it’s the origin on which we Mexican Americans base our traditions and beliefs. Such a valuable piece of the past has done nothing short of paving the way for future generations to come. Hopefully they will not soon forget the distinctive roots from which they stem from. As for me, its clear to see how deeply impacted I was after having had little knowledge of this mission site or any of them for that matter. My hope is that your interest in the matter would be deeply reawakened.
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