The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-05-12
THE PRIESTS BRIDGE.


be hard to find, in any cline or generation
under whatsoever conditions, a soul Of greater
purity and self abnegation, creature in
whom the flesh and its concomitant evils and
vanities were more completely subjugated
by the domination Of "A serene and lofty
spirit.
Juan de Nava was n man of gentle birth
and breeding; his right To the title OF Don
was absolute and heritage not casual nor
honorary. He had been reared in atlluence,
with every advantage Of environment ana
culture existent in his day; and he had some
years attained his majority when he en-
braced the priestly calling. He entered the
clergy with calmness, deiberation and sys-
tenn, MS he was wont to apply these traits To
every act and situations and none ever knew
what motives mpclled him-whether strong
religious convictions and irresistible spiritual
promptings, or the residual bitterness of
some worldly distress or disappointment
The fact remained, Juan de Nava made over
all his worldly goods to the guild Of his
election when he was gowned in Salamanca,
and devoted his life TO the comforting Of
souls and the doing Of charities Simple, I'M
assuming, retiring as he was, his fame spread
NIll'i anu lbl 'iiN VI Hhiii'i 'hn 'i'''l' ~
generous heroism he was decorated by the
king with the Cross of Calatrcva.
It was shortly after this that the whole
city was unalTectedly heart stricken by the
news that the beloved priest had solicited,
and after much protest and rcmonstrance,
had obtained, from his ecclesiastical su-
periors, permission TO 90 across the seas 10
the capital of New Spain. There was in
cvitubly much conjecture rs TO the object or
motive of such departure. Some main
tanned that the priest, 10y nature modest, re
firing, aud self deprecIative, was shocked
and abashed by the publicity and honors
that had been laid upon him Of lale Others,
If the more romantic faction, asserted that
he lied 10 Mexico 90 escape contact with one
who had been chiefly concerned in his re
nunCiatiou Of the world and entrance 90 the
priesthood Still others, practical souls, ex-
Pressed their belief that the good father was
actuated solely by churchly zeal; and surely
this opinion seemed TO he justified by the OK
isting conditions. The conquered Mexicans
were neglected and abused, body and soul,
by their conquerors, who looked upon them
rs so many chattels for profitable service
Moreover, from the clerical standpoint, an
assignment to Mexico was looked upon as
about the most undesirable of benefices, in
deed, tantamount to an cxile-a penalty.
so that here, il anywhere in world Of sor-
rows, was field of promise for missionary
labor
Juan de Nava crossed the ocean, and was
lost TO those who had known him, save when
from time to time came back reports of his
sanity life and Jealous ministrations.
In Mexico ii soon came 10 pass that this
man was regarded as almost more than hui
man. So holy was his life that all the pre-
lates in Mexico, deans, canous, the oidores OF
the Inquisiton, all the magnates confessed to
lin, aud what slight curb was put upon their
license was the rrsultsof his admonition. But
with his spiritual ministrations ceased Juan
de Nava's relations with the class which com
pri,ed his social equals He lived with and
for the poor and lowly, and dwelt among
them As his worldly goods had accrued TO
the church with his taking Of orders, SO he
bestowed upon his wretched charges what
ever rever ed to him of fees or fittings, and
very often he found himself without a penny
townrd provision for tho morrow; and then
This man, who lad been the guest Of royalty,
turned his steps to the dwelling of some cit-
zen. and asked for food like any mendicant,
IN all simplicity.
il was ia great measure this poverty that
determined his place of abode The Spanish
conquerors having RACED the Aztec city,
filing up the canals with it's debris, had
marked out for themselves a district, out
lined by deep cutting called La Tra2a,
the which was spanned by few bridges
leading to the outlying quarters, where
dwelt the Indian population, who, for fear of
treachery or insurrection. were forbidden TO
remain within La Tra2a after certain hours
Of the evening The good priest Juan de
Nava, lived beyond the Traza, among the In
dams. who were his chief interest," this
partly for the sake of the influence TO be
maintained by constant association, and
partly because Of his extreme poverty, which
precluded his dwelling within the city. he
passage OF the bridge was open to him at all
hours, and he came and went mt midnight
fearessy, rs he moved through the most
disreputable and dangerous quarters Of the
city, which had by this time come to have n
quite unenviable reputation. The lowest and
most vicious of the people bent before him,
and ran to Kiss his hand as he passed among
them, full Of reverence for his spirit that
shrank not from their most dreadful or re-
voting features.
And, save the light of his own charities
and heroisms. there was no brightness in the
life Of Juan de Nava till the day that Beatriz
de MILAN came to him He stood in miry
street, admonishing with gentle severity an
Indian who had been beating his donkey,
when the child approached, "A slender, deli
cate creature, and timidly asked an aims.
The priest looked long in her face as he ques-
toned her. The story she told, IL sad enough,
was simple She had lived In a great city,
different from this, and less ugly. Snc had
come in a great ship, and her mother had
died on the water. Her father had been with
her for time here In Mexico, but one day
he had gone away, and she had not been able
10 find him Juan de Nava took the child by
the hand, and led her to where simple, whole
some food was set before her. and when she
had satisfied her bitter hunger, he took her
across the Traza, to his own poor home, that
should be hers thereafter.
There was somewhat Of a change came into
his life from this day. He spared himself no
more than of old, but be varied his labors.
He returned to his home at such hours as
we're most suitable for tho hearing OF lessons,
and the training he gave TO Beatriz was dssp