The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-18
TIE LEaENp OF PADRE JOSE.
rCeatury M1gazsne.1


TIA. you viii find in sll the country for miles
around. It grows upon an odd corner Of
waste land-.hst very lii ely was the convent
garden couple Of hundred years or SO ago
and behind it, across the broad sweep Of
the tree-clad valley, the blue Sierra raises its
Jagged crest against the bluer sky.
Instinctiyely you know, as you look at
this beautiful pslm-with its waving, festh-
cry branches reared high toward heaven, and
its deep-set roots drawing strength from the
ground that the good fathers long ago made
holy by their prsyers-thst it has story Of
some sort TO tell; that meaning attaches to
its presence beside the convent wall, that it
came there, back ID the misty past, by no
mere idle chance. But among the gentlefolk
of Monterey, you viii ask in vain for this
solitary palms story. Culture and re6ne-
ment somehow are at war with the sweet
traditions which modestly, along quiet ways,
come down to US from times of old. And
80, if you would know the story you must
seek it smOng the humble jewellers in the
town: the eargadores, who carry heavy loads
Of other peoples goods upon their shoulders;
the serenos, who watch over the safety of the
city in the still, dark hours of night; the
patient lenadores, who briI z in wool. loaded
up0n yet more patient buFros, from the
mountains near st hand, or other of tire
children of toll; for all CT these, knowing not
Of books, and busying themselves not with
the serious thoughts and concerns which vex
the souls oftheir betters, are learned in leger-
dairy lore. In these simple, trustful minds, IL
Illuminating with light that brightens the
dark places of weary lives, the old stories
live en- through the centuriesi passing from
lip to heart, from heart to lip, snd so to heart
again, yet gaining always a more mellow
besuIy with the passing years. Therefore,
IT must be among the lowly folk of Monterey
that you search for the story of the stately
palm; snd If your search be well sped, you
hear told. in the gracious Spanish of NJ axico
which IS richer and softer, even than Is the
rich. soft Spanish of Spain-.his legend of
the Padre JOss..
Padre Jose was not bred 20 the Church
from his youth. He was the son of the gal
LIANT soldier, Don Diego de Vargas, end his
procession was that of his father the sword.
When Don Diego vas ordered up iato the
rebelli0us northern cOuntry-bsek in the
yssr 1902 this was, before the father of the
Oldest man ow living was born-Dol Jose
went also. And THU although the day was
nsmtd icr the w dding, and the Dons Ana
dc Ons;e. most beautiful Of ali the mAiiens
in lie Tea ia Of New Span, wss waiting to be
rs bride. As ell the world knows. there
rs hsld fighting during that campaiyn.
For dozen years the revolted PdeblOs had
stood cut against there Spsnish masters, and
even Den Diego, with all his gallentry aud
with al his soldisrly skill, could not in q
moment conquer them. There were battles
a. Santa Cruz de IL Canada, at San Ylde-
fonsO, st Taos; even under the very walls
of Ssnts Fe. But the campaign ended, and
Don Diego drew bis forces southwark again
fer rest while the winter lasted, and yet the
SpanisTGs we're not conguerors. 1t was about
the blessed Christmas seasol-she noche
buena-that the Sad news came down 20
Dora Ana, in the city of Mexico, that in one
of these battles her lover had been slain.
And so, DO joyfulness being left in life, she
entered the stern order Of the Capuchinas
Passing into and so beyond the grsve-ss
wss that orders wont-she 10 he world was
dead.
Through that new year. and through the
great part Of the next, DIN Diego ba.tled
with the Pueblos; and finally, having SUBJ
dued them, he came gsllantly home; and, a
siIsrge t1ingl with MIN came DJn Jose,
alive aid WE'LL Being taken prisoner in the
fight on the mesa before San Yldefonso, he
had been carried of into the mountains Of the
Ssngre &c CrlsiO and there held tor near two
wkOle years He was a dresry Homecoming
fer hif promised bride was welded to the soly
ChurCh, srd so was Lost to him utterly.
There vas no light of hope left for MIN In
tie world 81 al. Terrible was Don Jose's
Tsging sgony. At last, in his dercs despair,
he cursed the holy Church for severiag
him from his love. Bu. God was
meIciiul 10 the sinner, and, instead Of con-
suming him in a moment in Wzathful fame,
sent TO him messenger of peace. TnSt
night the blessed SAINT Francis ap-
peared TO him in 3 vision and told him that
his dread sin would be psrdoned snd even,
in the end, rest from his fierce sorrow would
be given him, if he would devote his life to
Coos service in saving hesthen souls.
Therefore, Don Jose entered the order of the
Frsneiscsns. Nor did he, as IL the won't of
these who enter tho religious Ii e. change
his name. As jose, he said, he had sinned;
and as Jose he would work out, in deeds
meet for repentance, his full forgiveness.
And as jose is name most holy, a1d
most beloved in the Churcc, there was none
to csvil.
Because there were few heather there
abouts, but more because he felt that he
could be stronger in his faith and work If
widely separated from his dead yet living
love, Padre Jose asked TO be sent ont from
the City Of Mexico into some far corner of
the land. And 50 it fell out that Padre Jose
WAS sent 70 mako his home in the old Fran
ciscsn convent here in the city of Mon
tersy. Even in the first year Of his service
many were the wandering souls that his
love and geutleness and great compassion
brought safe to shelter IN the good care Of
God.
Yet for long while there was only sor-
row in the heart of Padre joe. His good
works glsddened others, bat himself they
made not glad; for always rose up be.
tween him and happiness the memory Of his
lost love. His was gentle, elinging nature
albeit . most gallant enc, as his brave
deeds Of arms time and again had shown
and the need for personal love WAS
strong within him. There was holy COM
fort in his love Of the good God, and in bis
love Of working for His dear sake; but this
touched only the spiritual side of his ma
ture, and left his human longing for some
thing real, that he might tend and cherish
and, if need be, spend his life for, al unsst.
isfed. While this blank in his being re-
manned untitled there was nothing to check
the return Of his love to the dear one who