The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-29
| CATHOLIC LANDMARK
IN AMERICA

OLDEST CHURCH IN THE UNITED
STATES IS SAN MIGUEL IN
SANTA Re, NEW MExlco--BuILT
IN 154o-sTlLL sTANDINe-oLp
BELL AND VENERABLE PIC.
TUREs.
So intimately is the history of the
Church interviewer with that of our
country that it is impossible to sep
arate the two, writes John Nicholson
in THE Rosary Magazine" The
Catholic Church did not begin her
history after colonies were formed.
When Columbus revealed to Europe
the existence Of new lands across the
waters, the priests, spurred on by pure
zeal for Gods glory, were among the
first to explore the coast and to pene-
trate into the interior The altar is.
indeed, older than the hearth in our
country, for Mass was said to invoke
Gods blessing on the work of convert
ing the natives before even the first
steps were taken toward erecting hui
man habitations. The Cathedral Of
Seville preserves today as one of it's
greatest treasures monstrance made
of the first fruits of the precious
metals of the New World.
An interesting question has arisen
as to which one of the many affairs
reared to God in the New World may
claim to be the oldest.
If God Our Lord is pleased that
you find large town where it seems
to you that there is good opportunity
for establishing convent and send
ing religious to be employed in the
work of conversion, you ought to adj
wise me by Indians or return in per-
son to Culuacan." Such were the in
structions given in the year 1888 by
the then Viceroy Don Antonio de Men
doza to Father Mark Of Venice, an IL
lustrious Franciscan.
On March z, 1889, obedient to the
command, Father Mark, together with
q brother franciscan, a lay-brother
and few Indians. set out on the peril
Gus journey. But presently Father
Honoratus fell ill, and Father Mark
iourneyed on without him. 'Sayota,"
man from heaven"-the Indians
whom he met hailed him. Soon ru-
mors were brought to him of tribes in
the north, who dwelt in large towns
and possessed great riches. Father
Mark at once sent the lay-brother
northward, instructing him, if he found
any important place, to send back a
cross by the Indians, it's size to be
in proportion to the greatness of the
town he might discover. In a few
days messengers arrived announcing
that within thirty-days' march was a
province called Cibola, where, under
the government of one lord, there were
seven great cities, the houses of which
were of stone, three or four stories in
height. The people, they said, were
clothed in rich garments and possessed
a wealth of turquoises and many YES
sells of pure gold.
Receiving confirmation of the story,
Father Mark left, urged by fresh mes
sengers to come with all speed On
the way he met Indians who had Wis
tied Cibola and had there obtained
buffalo hides and rich turquoises.
These stones were greatly priced in
Mexico, where they were used by the
Aztecs both as jewelry and money.
Travelling northward, Father Mark
again received confirmation of the in
telligence of the Indians, who assured
him that in a certain province the men
even wore wooden goods like that of
the Fathers habit. Everything point
ed, indeed, toward most happy real
ization of the plan, when suddenly
came a messenger spent with fatigue,
bearing a tale of disaster. The lay
brother when within a days march of
Cibola had sent the chief some tokens
of his coming, but the Indians had re-
fused to accept them and had threat
ened to kill him if he approached
nearer. But the lay-brother persisted,
and finally reached Cibola. He was
not allowed to enter, but was placed
in house without the town and strip
ped of everything he carried. The
following day he and his companions
were attacked, the messenger alone
escaping to carry back the news.
Undismayed, Father Mark resolved
to push on, hoping at least to rescue
the survivors. He came in sight of
Cibola, and succeeded in planting a
cross, but was finally forced to return.
The point reached by him was one of
the towns of the Pueblo Indians of
New Mexico and Arizona, whose re-
markable dwellings and progress in
civilization he was the first to make
known. Encouraged by his reports,
the Viceroy ordered Francis Coronado
to advance with considerable force,
Father Mark accompanying the ex-
petition as guide. Crossing the des-.
ert, the explorers reached Cibola, a
town defended by two hundred war
riors, some of whom sailed forth to-
check the invaders. Coronado sent
forward one of his men, with two of
the missionaries, to explain their
friendly intent, but the Indians only
replied with a shower of arrows, one
OF which pierced the habit of a priest.
Eventually the seven towns were
taken; but after their capture it was
discovered that the account of the
riches and high state of cultivation
OF their inhabitants had been greatly
exaggerated. While the invading
force was encamned near the Cibolal