Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-28
THE PRIESTS BRIDGE.

under Whatsoever conditions a soul of greater 4
purity and self abnegation, "a creature in .
whom the flesh and It's concomitant evils and
vnnities were more completely subjngated
by the domination Of serene and lofty
spirit
Juan dc Nava WINS 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 afiuence,
with every advantage Of environment and
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, elaboration and sys-
tenn. as he was wont 10 apply these traits to
| every act and situation; and none ever knew
what motives impelled 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 10 tho guild OF his
election when he was gowned in Salamanca,
and devoted his life 70 the comforting of
souls and the doing Of charities. Simple, I'M
assuming, retiring as he was, his fame spread
apace, and for one OF his numerous deeds Of
generous heroisn he was decorated by the
king with the Cross of Calatreva.
Ii wns shortly after this that the whole
city was unaifectedly heart stricken by the
news that the beloved priest had solicited,
and after much protest and remonstrance,
had obtained, from his ecclesiastical SUI
periors, permission to go across the seas to
the capital of New Spain. There was in
evitably much conjecture as to the object or
motive of such departure Some main
tanned that the priest, by nature modest, re-
firing. and self depreeiative, was shocked
aud abashed by the publicity and honors
LAX. I.tl Ia.
At the more romantic faction, asserted that
he fled to Mexico To escape contact with one
vino had been chiefly concerned In his re-
nunciation Of the world and entrance 10 the
priesthood Still others, practical souls ex-
pressed their belief that the good father was
actuated solely 10y churchly zeal; and surely
this opinion seemed Ia he justified by the ex-
isting conditions The conquered Mexicans
were neglected and abused, body and soul,
by their conquerors, who looked upon them
as so many chatteis for profitable service.
Moreover, from the clerical standpoint, an
assignment to Mexico was looked upon Is
j about the most undesirable of beneilces, in
= deed, tantamount To an exile--a penalty
: So that here, il anywhere In world Of sor
rows, was "a field Of promise for missionary
' labor.
N Juan he Nava crossed the ocean and wa.
y lost To those who had known him, save whet
from time TO time came hack reports Of hi
sanity life AMI zealons ministrations.
In Mexico II soon came To pass that thi
Sc man was regarded as almost more than hu
/ man. So holy was his life that all the pre-
h lates in Mexico, deans canuns, the oidores o
: the lnquisition, all the magnates confessed I,
him, and what slight curb was put upon thei
license was the result:of his admonition Blu
with his spiritual ministrations ceased Jua,
a
prsed his social equals lie lived with an
for the poor and lowly, and dwelt ANON
them. As his worldly goods had accrued 4
the church with his taking Of orders 50 n
q bestowed upon his wretched charges what
ever rever; ed TO hin. OF fees or fittings, am
very often he found himself without a penn
toward provision for the morrow. and the
this man. who had been the guest of royait,
, turne, his steps to the dwelling of some cit
~ zen and asked fer food like any mendicaut
As in all simplicity.
lie Ii was in great measure this poverty tina
I'd determined his place OF abode. The Spanis
In conauerors, having razed the Aztec cit,
= filling up the canals with its debris ha
marked out for themselves n district, ou
Se iined by deep cutting called La Trazs
Id the which was spanned by few bridg,
ne leading To the outlying quarters, whel
III iwelt the Indian population, who, for fear {
/, traachery or instruction. were forbidden
"a remain within La Tran after certain houl
es of the evening. The good priest Juan
nd Naya, lived beyond the Traka, among the Il
10 dams. who we're his chief interest; tn
"A partly for the sake Of the influence to
!. maintained by constant association, an
. partly because of his extreme poverty, viii,
ck pr,cluded his dwelling within the city. II
sc massage of the bridge was open to him Mt q
er hours, and he came and went at midnigl
lie fearle~Ssly, as he moved through the mu
- disrcputable and dangerous quarters OF Il
~ city. which had by this timo come To have
ep quite unenviahle reputation The lowest al
OF most vicious of the people bent before hir
ei '" s..n - -, 80 W -. -
ne - -, -, ,b.,,,. ~, 5.s..t,,,i -.
ng 49,, s,,t,,r.,s
K. Al -. ~, t;,-h, =, "a. 49,, .h..i,,
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-, a,,n,o,,isbi,, with 1san,l. .ey.r;,,.
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~ 80 ~ tn, s,., ,,lb n al -.
- sin,ni. shs hod by,.l ~ n rrr,,at -,
Iiry,,,.nf frop, this ma lsss molly M. i,
conn. In a great shin. and her mother b
died ON the water. Her father had been vi
her for time here in Mexico. but one d