The Catholic bulletin., 1921-11-12
FELIPE DE NEVE,
GOVERNOR

E y. i - :
Father Junipero Sierra was an op.
timist in the best sense of the word.
No matter how the storm clouds of ad-
versity might lower overhead, the
cheering starlight of peace and hope.
never faded in the bosom of the saint:
ly friar, while his smile of sweet COM;
posure would ever radiate warmth and
vigor on those who had cast their lot
with him. For every problem he had
a solution; over every obstacle he
knew a way; against every hurt he
found a balm. Indeed, he may have
sighed at times beneath the heavy
burden that Divine Providence had,
placed On his shoulders. The stolid,s
tickle, and carnal-minded Indian may
have often put his patience to Sc
we're test. His own bodily infirmities
may have sometimes elamored for, the
comforts. of civilization. The hard,
ships and trials he beheld his fellow
missionaries undergoing may have
wrung from him an occasional tear of
deepest sympathy. The unfriendly at
titude of the military heads and the;
vicious conduct Of the soldiers may
have caused him many sleepless
hight. But what in his mind were all
these things other than the final on
slaughts of Satan against the king
dom of God, the spread of which, in,
California as elsewhere, he was bent
on defeating. But God was still over.
head, the Ruler of hearts and the:
Shaper of mems destinies, mightier
than the powers of darkness and faith
full to all who place their trust in Him.
Then why fa1ter? Why nourish sad
hess and despondeney? God would
not forsake him in the hour of need:
To Him he would ever look for guild.
ance and strength. Beneath the shad-.
oW of His wing he was safe and con-
tent. Thus, where worldly ambition,
false presumption, and merely human.
resources would have failed, the op-.
timism of Father Sierra, born of faith
learning, and experience, scored glo-.
rious victory. &
Hence it was, that ever since!
his return to San Carlos Mission. he
| ed attitude. of Comandante Rivera, who
had made life SO: bitter for the mis-
sionaries during the past year. Thought
Father Crespi and his two confrerest
were less optimistic, their Father;
Presfdente interpreted Rivera's un-I
wonted friendIiness as a sincere de-.
sire to atone for his past indiscretiOns
Surely the friar would say, g twas
a dark and stormy period. But what
of it? Ills over now, and we are no
worse for the wear. See. having re-.
course, as was his wont, to Sacred;
Scripture, winter is now past, the!
rain is over: and gone. The flowers:
have appeared in our land; thetime Of
pruning is come. Arise, my love, and
come; for"-his ceuntenance all radi-i
ant with joyous contentment-"" new
era is dawning of peace. and prosper
| ity."
One afternoon about the middle Of
January, 1777, corporal of the Mon
terey presidio arrived at San Carlos
Mission and asked for Father Serra
The Indian boy whom he addressed
pointed to the rear of the chapel We
can imagine the officers surprise
| when he found the venerable mission
ary kneeling on the ground before a
pile of clay and showing the Indians
around him. how to make adobes.
"Buenas dias, Padre Presidente. A
note with best wishes from Senior
Rivera and more amused, perhaps,
than edited, the officer dismounted
God bless you. Gabriel Father
Sierra replied. while one Of the Indians
HELPED him to his feet. "All well at
the presidio?''
Yes your Reverence, thank youn