José Maria de Zalvidea
Encyclopedia
José Maria de Zalvidea was a Spanish
Franciscan
missionary.
He was born at Bilbao
, Vizcaya
, Spain, and became a Franciscan at the convent of San Mames, Cantabria, 13 December 1798. He joined the College of San Fernando de Mexico in 1804 and became a missionary to the California
Native American
s in August 1805.
He served at Mission San Fernando Rey de España
until 1806, at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
until 1826, at Mission San Juan Capistrano
until 1842, and at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
until his death. He was credited as being a "wise manager of the mission temporalities." Under his administration, Mission San Gabriel reached its highest prosperity.
From 19 July to 14 August 1806, Father Zalvidea accompanied an expedition from Santa Barbara
east and then south to San Gabriel
in search of new mission sites, meanwhile baptizing many dying people. He was well versed in the languages of the Native Americans. While his superiors regarded him as one of the best and most zealous of friar
s, the people looked upon him as a saint
. "There is no evidence", says Bancroft, "that he ever had an enemy, or said an unkind word to any man." Even when quite old, Father Zalvidea refused to avail himself of the privilege of retiring, because there would be no one to take his place, for the Mexican
Government had declined to let any but Mexicans serve in the missions. Like all the other missionaries he would not approve of the methods of the Mexican politicians by swearing allegiance, refusing to do so on the grounds that he did not meddle with politics
, but he offered to swear obedience in everything not against conscience
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionary.
He was born at Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Vizcaya
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, Spain, and became a Franciscan at the convent of San Mames, Cantabria, 13 December 1798. He joined the College of San Fernando de Mexico in 1804 and became a missionary to the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s in August 1805.
He served at Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Mission San Fernando Rey de España was founded on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary" , 1797. The settlement is located on the former Encino Rancho in the Mission Hills community of northern Los Angeles, near the site of the first gold discovery in Alta California.-History:Mission San Fernando Rey de...
until 1806, at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel, California. The settlement was founded by Spaniards of the Franciscan order on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary," September 8, 1771, as the fourth of what would become 21 Spanish...
until 1826, at Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano was a Spanish mission in Southern California, located in present-day San Juan Capistrano. It was founded on All Saints Day November 1, 1776, by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order...
until 1842, and at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, also known as Mission San Luis Rey or San Luis Rey Mission Church, was founded on June 13, 1798 in coastal Las Californias, in the present day U.S. city of Oceanside in California. The local Quechnajuichom Native American tribe became known as the Luiseño 'Mission...
until his death. He was credited as being a "wise manager of the mission temporalities." Under his administration, Mission San Gabriel reached its highest prosperity.
From 19 July to 14 August 1806, Father Zalvidea accompanied an expedition from Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
east and then south to San Gabriel
San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. The city grew outward from the mission and in 1852 became the original township of Los Angeles County. San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913...
in search of new mission sites, meanwhile baptizing many dying people. He was well versed in the languages of the Native Americans. While his superiors regarded him as one of the best and most zealous of friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s, the people looked upon him as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. "There is no evidence", says Bancroft, "that he ever had an enemy, or said an unkind word to any man." Even when quite old, Father Zalvidea refused to avail himself of the privilege of retiring, because there would be no one to take his place, for the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Government had declined to let any but Mexicans serve in the missions. Like all the other missionaries he would not approve of the methods of the Mexican politicians by swearing allegiance, refusing to do so on the grounds that he did not meddle with politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, but he offered to swear obedience in everything not against conscience
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
.