Chimes of Mission Bells | Page 2

Los Dolores.--Our Lady of Sorrows.
7. San Juan Capistrano.--St. John Capistrano.
8. Santa Clara.--Saint Clara.
9. San Buenaventura.--Saint Bonaventure.
10. Santa Barbara.--Saint Barbara (whose feast is commemorated on December 4, the date of the foundation of the Mission.)
11. Purisima Concepcion.--Most Pure Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary). This feast is celebrated on December 8, the day on which this mission was founded.
12. Nuestra Se?ora De La Soledad.--Our Lady of Solitude. (In the Catholic Church the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated under this title to commemorate her solitude from the time of our Saviour's death until His Resurrection).
13. Santa Cruz.--Holy Cross (so named in honor of Our Saviour's Passion).
14. San José.--Saint Joseph.
15. San Juan Bautista.--Saint John, Baptist (whose feast occurs on June 24, the day this mission was founded).
16. San Miguel.--Saint Michael.
17. San Fernando, Rey De Espana.--Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
18. San Luis, Rey De Francia.--Saint Louis, King of France.
19. Santa Ynez.--Saint Agnes.
20. San Rafael.--Saint Raphael.
21. San Francisco Solano.--Saint Francis Solano.

Chimes of Mission Bells
Tribute to Junipero Serra and the Mission Padres.
By Maria Antonia Field.
Read at the Crowning of the Serra Statue, Monterey, Nov. 23, 1913.

The fickle world ofttimes applauds the rise Of men whose laurels are but vainly won, Whose deeds their names could not immortalize For their soul-toils were wrought for transient ends; But heroes of the Cross, they truly great Shall live, their halo shall no hand of fate
Have power to rob, albeit oblivious years May veil the radiance of their glorious works, Or slight their excellence, their light appears But brighter, statelier in its splendor calm, Or like the flowers that sleep through winter's snow To bloom more fair, their lives' pure beams shall glow
With greater brilliance and sweetly gleam As lodestars in the firmament of worth; Such is the memory whose holy stream Of noblest virtue, valor, truth and Faith, Illumes our path and stirs our souls today, Immortal Serra by whose tomb we pray!
What peerless aureole wreathes his saintly brow? What stately monument doth bear his name? Let this admiring thousands tell us now! Let youthful lips pronounce his name with love! Let California proudly sing his praise! Let scions of fair Spain their voices raise,
And tell of him to whom so much we owe, Tell of his interceding power with God, His strong and lofty soul his children know, His prayers where Carmel's River flows so clear; O this his aureole, this his monument, The lasting kind which ne'er will know descent.
Another lesson must the worldly learn, From him who sought nor praise nor fame; His birth, ten score agone, and still we turn To him in reverence, his name is sweet As vernal bloom, his life shows forth God's might, Through him this soil received Faith's warm sunlight!
This beauteous land was strange, unknown and wild, Spite all its treasures, lordly trees and flowers; For tribes with pagan rites its wastes defiled, Till came Spain's noble band of godly men, Explorers true and zealous priests who gave Their lives' best years, forgotten souls to save!
'Tis just we venerate each hallowed stone Which rears the wond'rous "Temples of the West"; The tears, the toils, the nightly vigils lone; The pilgrim-journeys of Saint Francis' sons, The rescued souls by lustral waters cleansed, The wealth of hospitality dispensed.
All this and more if but their walls could speak, Would tell this day; and we in whose veins flows The fervent blood of Spain, to us each streak Of light which doth reveal a picture true Of gentle friar and lovely vanished times Is tender as the Angelus' sweet chimes.
Well may each Mission have a holy spell, And Serra's name become a household word, What marvels can each yellowed archive tell Of him and of his martyr-spirit band. O faithful, dauntless hearts! What brilliant sons Of that great galaxy of Spain's brave sons!
We love their saintly lives to ponder o'er, While childhood's fireside tales come back to us, And memory unfolds her precious store, The bygone glories of the Mission towns, The grand old hymns sung at sweet Mary's shrines The Spanish color rich as luscious wines
Of Mission vineyards, and the festive hours So full of life yet innocent and good, When blessings seemed to fall as welcome showers, The Indian tribes were ruled with Christian love, And shared the sons and daughters of Castile Their loved Franciscan Fathers' patient zeal!
But still we love each altar and each cross Of these dear fanes; e'en as departing rays Of sun doth kiss the crags outlined with moss, We love to linger by their altars' light. But oh fair Carmel, she of Missions Queen What guarding spirits hover here unseen!
Sweet Carmel, center of the hero-band, What holy treasures hold thy sacred vaults? Junipero and others! Here we stand In awe of all thou hast been and art still! Cruel times took glory, splendor, power From Missions