SAN ANTONIO
At San Antonio (St. Anthony), in Monterey County, between Kings City and Jolón, Father Serra established the mission of San Antonio de Padua, July 14, 1771. In connection with its establishment, Palou tells a story that brings out one of the most marked characteristics of the venerable founder, his ardent enthusiasm: “They [the founding party] departed for the Santa Lucía Mountains, taking priests for the new mission, the required escort of soldiers, and all necessaries. Twenty-five leagues south-southeast from Monterey, they arrived at the hollow of this ridge, where they found a great cañada, which they called Robles (oaks), from the great number of those trees. Finding a level plain in the same cañada, bordering on a river which they called San Antonio, and which they thought to be a good site, for the good flow of water, even in the dry month of July, which could be conducted to the lands without difficulty, all agreed upon the choice of this spot. Serra ordered the mules to be unloaded, and the bells to be hung up on the branch of a tree. As soon as they were hung up, he began to ring them, crying out, ‘Ho! Gentiles, come, come to the Holy Church, come to receive the faith of Jesus Christ!’” One of the other priests remonstrated with him, saying it was idle to ring the bells in the absence of the gentiles, but Serra said, “Let me ring, let me relieve my heart, so that all the wild people in this mountain range may hear!” It happened that some natives were attracted by the ringing of the bells, and came to witness the first mass, which Serra regarded as a good augury.
INTERIOR OF THE QUADRANGLE AT SAN CARLOS MISSION.
“Here the daily life of the mission was carried on.”
St. Anthony of Padua, the patron of this place, was a Portuguese by birth, who entered the Franciscan Order. He went as a missionary to the Moors, but was compelled by illness to return to Europe, where he had great success in Italy and France as a preacher. Among many miracles accredited to him is the one thus related: “When preaching at the funeral of a very rich man, St. Anthony denounced his love of money, and exclaimed, ‘His heart is buried in his treasure chest; go seek it there and you will find it.’ The friends of the man broke open the chest, and to their surprise, found the heart; they then examined his body and found that his heart was indeed wanting.”—(Stories of the Saints.)