by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
San Antonio MissionsTeaching with Stone |
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San Antonio Missions
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
San Antonio Missions
National Historical Park
Teaching With Stone
It has a beautiful cupola, though it is overcrowded with unnecessary
ornaments with which it is heavily decorated, detracting somewhat
from its natural beauty. In a word, no one could have imagined that
there were such good artists in so desolate a place.
Father Juan Agustín Morfi
describing Mission San José in 1778
The beauty of Mission San José's church has been recognized for centuries. Today, visitors enjoy the artistry
that remains on this magnificent structure. In the past,
the colorful frescoes and elaborate stone work served
a functional purpose as well. Franciscan missionaries
and mission Indians came from diverse cultures, with
very different languages. These differences may have
made it difficult for missionaries to communicate the
concepts of Christianity. The decorations adorning the
church were a tool for teaching the faith. Symbols could
have helped close the gaps between cultures.
Detail of facade
Saint Joseph holding Baby Jesus
Interpreting the Symbols
Within the intricate stonework of the facade, the colonial artist placed symbols of
Catholicism and Spanish culture. Some symbols may have had meaning only to the
artist or the inhabitants of the mission. Most, however, are rooted in the long tradition
of the Christian faith.
Heart
The human heart, when associated with saints, is symbolic of love, piety, understanding, courage, devotion, sorrow, and joy. The three hearts found on the facade represent the Holy Family. This heart, enclosed in thorns, is the sacred heart, the symbol
of Christ's love for humanity revealed through his suffering for all. The heart with the
lily personifies Joseph, while the one with the dagger indicates the Archangel's prediction that the events in her life would be as a dagger through Mary's heart.
Pomegranate
The pomegranate symbolizes the church because of the inner unity of countless seeds
in one fruit. A traditional symbol of fertility, the pomegranate and its seeds symbolized
the countless and growing number of converts. The juice's deep red color symbolizes
the blood of Christ. Most of the flowers seen on the facade are of the pomegranate.
Shell
The shell symbolizes baptism, the induction into the faith. Large shells were often
used to pour the water upon the person being baptized. It is believed that John the
Baptist used a shell to baptize Jesus. Shell designs are frequently found above doorways and windows, symbolizing baptism as the entry into Christianity.
Rose
The red rose represents martyrdom, the white rose purity. St. Ambrose taught that
roses grew in paradise without thorns. After humanity's fall from grace, roses grew
thorns, while their beauty and fragrance remind us of the splendor of paradise.
Angels
As heavenly messengers, angels serve as a link between God and Man, heaven and
earth. While there are several classes of angels, the most familiar are the archangels,
including Michael and Gabriel. San José's angels are cherubs and bear Native
American features in their design.
Pinjante
The pinjantes replicate cut paper ornaments used to decorate for festive occasions.
Some speculate that this design was also used to symbolize the keyhole in the gate
of heaven.
Images Cut in Stone
Within an elaborately carved setting, six
saints have stood watch over the entrance to
Mission San José's church for more than two
centuries. Little is known about the construction of this church; we do know that it was
almost complete by 1785. That year, Father
Josef Augustin Falcon described the church as
having "a well-done carved entranceway with
six statues carved from the same stone."
Why these symbolic figures were chosen is also unknown. As patron saint
of the mission, Saint Joseph (San José)
holds the highest spot among the statues. Some speculate that the images of
Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, who is
holding the infant Mary, were used to
demonstrate the ideal family to the new
converts.
Preservation
Weathering and time take a heavy toll. While
some reconstruction took place in the 1930s
and extensive preservation in the early 2010s,
most of the original facade remains intact. Today, you can see the handiwork of the early,
as of yet unknown, craftsmen.
Unfortunately, the facade and church
will continue to deteriorate. The Archdiocese of San Antonio is committed
through an endowment to maintain San
José Church, so descendants of those
who labored in this mission may continue to worship here.
Who Are They?
Saint Joseph - San José
The patron saint of Mission San José.
Joseph was the husband of Mary and the
earthly father of Jesus, who he is holding.
Patron Saint of the Laborer.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Founder of the Franciscan Order, he and
his followers were pledged to a life of
poverty, chastity and obedience. Francis
exhibited the Stigmata. He was called
Brother Death for trying to take the fear
out of a Christian death and is often shown
with a skull.
Saint Dominic
Born in 1170, he was a contemporary of
Saint Francis. He founded an order of
preachers, and his followers pledged themselves to lives of poverty and simplicity.
Mary instructed him to preach the Rosary
among the people as an antidote to heresy
and sin.
Rose Window
An architectural term for the decorative
window above the main door of a church.
This is not Rosa's Window, which is found
on the south wall of the sacristy.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
In this manifestation, the Virgin Mary
became the patron saint of the Americas.
She was the first new world saint,
appearing to an Indian peasant as a native
herself.
Saint Anne
The mother of Mary. Very little is known
about Anne, or her husband Joachim. She
is holding Mary as an infant.
Saint Joaquin
The father of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
With Anne and Mary, the Catholic Church
looked upon them as a perfect family.
detail from a San Jose rendering by Ernst Schuchard
www.nps.gov/saan
Protect these historic stone structures by not climbing, standing, or sitting on them.
Watch your head and feet – walkways are uneven and doorways are low.
Fireants and other stinging insects are common. Yuccas and other plants have sharp points.
Experience AmericaTM
July 2012:20,000