California Mission
Pilgrimage(8)
Day Ten: Divine Mercy Sunday
Mission San Juan Capistrano
After driving home on Saturday, we
went back to Mission San Juan Capistrano on Divine Mercy Sunday to finish our
pilgrimage. After attending Mass in the
new basilica, we visited the old Mission.
We had been there numerous times, but it continues to be a special
place.
First of all, this Mission has more to
see, in terms of artifacts and buildings, than any other Mission, with the
possible exception of La Purisima. There
are also some really incredible places here.
One is the Old Stone Church. This church was a labor of love, built by the
padres and Indians in the beginning of the 1800s. You can see little sea shells mixed in with
the stones, that had been added by Indian women just so they could contribute
something of personal value to the place.
After only eight years, the church collapsed during Mass on December 8,
1812, during an earthquake. The ruins
have been retrofitted, and the new basilica is a larger model of the Old Stone
Church.
Possibly the best place is the Serra
Chapel. This chapel, still used for
Mass, is the last original building still standing in California, where Father
Serra himself personally celebrated Mass.
The Serra Chapel
The Old Stone Church
Lots to see at this Mission
The new basilica
Thus ended our Mission
pilgrimage. It was an incredibly
wonderful and spiritual experience. In
the weeks since I have gotten back and returned to the hectic pace of life, I
have often found myself thinking longingly of our trip. I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone else
thinking of giving it a try.
