Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo English

San Antonio Missions National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

San Antonio MissionsNational Historical Park

“...in point of beauty, plan, and strength...there is not a presidio...that can comparewith it.” Fr. Morfi, 1777

Reprinted from Story of the Great American West ©1977.The Reader’s Digest Association, INC.

A Day at Mission SanJosé in 1778

The Franciscan friars objective was to convertindigenous hunters and gatherers into Catho-lic, tax-paying citizens of New Spain. TheIndians’ struggle for survival against Europeandisease and raiding Lipan Apaches led them tothe missions and to forfeit their culture. Every-thing changed for them: diet, clothing, reli-gion, culture—even their names. They wererequired to learn two new languages, Latin andSpanish, as well as new vocations.

Their new roles and duties in the mission werevery regimented. Church bells called them tomass three times a day. Following sunrise mass,families returned to their two-room quartersfor corn atole (mush) and charque (jerky). Afterbreakfast, the men and boys worked in thelabores (fields), and in textile, tailor, carpenter,and blacksmith shops. They also worked asmasons, weavers, acequia (irrigation ditch)builders, and at the lime kilns. Some tookcharge of the livestock at the mission’s ranch,El Atascoso, about 25 miles southwest of themission.

The women and girls prepared food, swept thedirt floors, carded wool, and fished in theirrigation ditch outside the walls. FatherRamírez gave the Indian children religiousinstruction. Spanish and Indian mission offi-cials met in the plaza to discuss communityaffairs. The bells rang out at noon, callingeveryone back to the church for prayers. Themain meal of the day was lunch, perhaps a bowlof goat stew and fresh baked tortillas. Theafternoon siesta followed the meal and mostactivity subsided for several hours. MountedIndian sentinels, however, continually keptguard outside the walls.

Summoned by the bells, everyone returned tothe church for evening worship. After supper,recreational time for singing, games, dances,storytelling, and drama filled the evening. Atdark, all retired to their raised beds of buffalohides. The next work day began at sunrise asthe mission Indians were again called by thebells into the church for mass.

Founding the “Queen ofthe Missions”

In 1719, Father Margil de Jesús, a seasonedFranciscan missionary, was at Mission SanAntonio de Valero (today’s Alamo), awaitingthe opportunity to re-establish missions in eastTexas. Before too long, he saw need for anothermission and wrote the Marqués de Aguayo,then governor of the Province of Coahuila andTexas, requesting permission to establish asecond mission south of San Antonio deValero. He felt he was prepared to establish thismission at once as he had necessary churchgoods with him, even a statue of Saint Joseph.

The Marqués agreed and founding ceremoniestook place on February 23, 1720. Leaders of thethree Indian bands were appointed governor,judge, and sheriff in the new mission commu-nity of San José y San Miguel de Aguayo. FatherMargil entrusted the care of the project to FatherNúñez and two soldiers.

The building of the limestone church, with itsextraordinary Spanish colonial Baroque archi-tecture and statuary began in 1768— the peak ofthis mission’s development. At that time therewere 350 Indians residing in 84 two-roomapartments. Based on Father Morfi’s descriptionof what he saw here when he visited in 1777,Mission San José came to be known as the“Queen of the Missions.”

North

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A ™

Protect these historic stonestructures by not climbing,standing, or sitting on them.

Watch your head and feet –walkways are uneven anddoorways are low.

Fireants and other stinginginsects are common. Yuccasand other plants have sharppoints.

A Community Continues On February 29, 1824, Mission San José ceasedto be a mission. It was fully secularized that daywhen Father Díaz complied with Mexicangovernment orders and turned the churchproperty over to Chaplain Maynes and themission Indians living here. After seculariza-tion, the mission was neglected. In the yearsfollowing, Benedictines, Redemptorists, andHoly Cross Fathers ministered from the ruins.In 1931, the Franciscans returned and still livehere today.

The 104 years that San José operated as a mis-sion, over 2,000 Indians were baptized. Today,families that worship at Mission San José con-

tinue in the faith taught to the mission Indians.Many hearts and hands have restored this“Queen of the Missions”. Today, the NationalPark Service preserves and protects the livingheritage of the people transformed here andthe stone structures they built. This ensuresthat future generations may visit these samewalls and see how the past has shaped thepresent. The colorful pageantry of culture, art,food, celebrations, and architecture we enjoyin San Antonio today emerged from the blend-ing of Spanish and Indian traditions that tookplace here at Mission San José.

The Rose Window is known as the premierexample of Spanish Colonial ornamentation inthe United States. Its sculptor and significancecontinue to be a mystery. Folklore creditsPedro Huizar, a carpenter and surveyor fromMexico, with carving the famous window as amonument to his sweetheart, Rosa. Tragically,on her way from Spain to join him, Rosa waslost at sea. Pedro then completed the windowas a declaration of enduring love.

A less colorful theory, but more likely, is thatthe window was named after Saint Rose ofLima, the first saint of the New World.

The Rose Window orRosa’s Window?

Grist Mill was built when inhabitantsbegan to eat more wheat than corn. Operational 1794 and 1809 Reopened 2001

Convento provided a residence forthe missionary and lodging for visitors. Completed ca. 1755 Addition ca. 1780s Modified 1859-1868

Exhibits Mural

Church was secondpermanent churchbuilt by mission inhabitants. Completed ca. 1782 Restored 1930s

RoseWindow

Spanish Colonial Bookstore

Bastion gave protectionagainst Indian attack. Reconstructed 1930s

Mission San José Today

Nov06:80,000

Granary was a warehouseand surplus storage. Completed ca. 1755 Restored 1930s

Religious Gift Shop

Workshopfoundations

Indian Quarters(open to the public)

Indian Quarterswere homes for the familiesentering the mission. Completed ca. 1755 Restored 1930s