Missions of California - An early message of Christianity

These missions were founded by the Spanish in the late 18th century. Their primary aim was to spread Christianity among the people of America. This was the first attempt made by the Spanish to make America their colony and these missions building set up were 21 in number. Missions were both religious and military in nature.

Secularism of these missions happened in the mid-19th century and the government granted the mission lands to the people to settle and the area was California.

In present day scenario, the ruins of the buildings in and around California are of great historic importance and are also the oldest standing structures.

Objectives of the missions

The main objective with which the mission was set up was to colonize the aboriginal tribes and the lands of America and turn them into Spanish colonies. Another objective of them was to convert the locals into Christianity. They introduced Christianity as a savior religion and condemned the pagan way of worship.

The set up’s third aim was to spread education and to educate the population of the State; they taught the people the Spanish language which was the official language of Spain. The fourth and last objective of these missions was to tame and civilize the uncivilized locals of the region.

The functioning

The building process of the missions took place in two sets, first set of 19 missions were established along the coastlines and the remaining two were established on the interior lands. The missionaries were nomadic in nature targeting one batch of natives at a time. They would set up a mission on a plot of land; the locals would stay on the nearby lands until their education was not complete, they were taught the Spanish language as well as the vocational skills like construction works, cattle rearing and farming.

Once a batch was educated, they would turn the missions into churches and move to another land in search of new pupils.

Institution

The missions prospered a lot by the early 19th century. Many people were enrolled and educated. In their settlement near the churches, they brought along with them a large number of livestock which were turned into the church’s property. Their agricultural lands too were in the names of the institutions. And in this manner the missions gathered a considerable amount of wealth and the economic condition too saw a rise.

The downfall

With every rise comes a downfall and the same happened with the Missions of California. Prosperity and the wealth of the missions were noticed by all and everyone wanted the economic growth for themselves. The natives pressurized the Government of California and Mexico to pass a bill on secularism. By the amendment of Secularism, the wealth of the missions was turned into the hands of the Californians and their lands distributed and allotted to the locals for settling purposes. The missions of these churches were banned and the church buildings were handed over to locals.

Get all facts about Missions in California especially about Oceanside Mission San Luis Rey at museum or online at this link http://www.sanluisrey.org/museum/

Todd Dawson Is a freelance writer