The cemetery at Mission San Luis Rey

Every Mission has a cemetery, often the oldest graves predate the present buildings. At the San Fernando Mission, Bob Hope and his family were given a place of honor, a whole section of the garden to themselves. Here at San Luis Rey, I didn’t see any celebrities, but this is a very desirable final resting place.I’m glad they are emphatic about the no pets rule. It’s amazing to me how people take their pets everywhere, especially to places they shouldn’t be. One of the old gates into the cemetery. The official website says that the cross and bones is a symbol of a cemetery for the Franciscan order. Look at images online, there ae many examples.Wikipedia says it was put there by Disney in 1957 when they filmed the Zoro movie here. Ah, Wikipedia, so dangerous to take you at face value.

The official website says they just replaced some gates. Not these gates, there is a section with metal gates.The cemetery is very peaceful, with many different sections. Today anyone can be buried here, for a price of course. Unlike San Fernando where one must be Catholic. It was touching to see the grave of a soldier from WWI. I wonder if he was really buried here, or if his family erected a tombstone in his honor. Most people who died ‘over there’ were buried there. All America has asked for when it fought wars over seas was for land to bury their dead – they didn’t conquer and stay. Today the bodies are brought home, transportation is very different.A simple family plot? 1872, 1943, written in very crude letters.  The McCrory family has a mausoleum, it too is rather simple.24 years old, or rather young. In those days death was much more common at any age, not just the very old.Multiple burials in a well are very common these days, less room, less cost. And yet no one is skimping on decorations and mementos, even on the wall.I can’t help but wonder what happened here. There were a number of crosses in a row, this one was knocked down. I didn’t see any name. Maybe it will be repaired soon, the whole area is so well cared for, this was jarring.

Overall, a very peaceful complentative place.

 

 

 

 

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Leah

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

On a mission to see all the California missions. An often overlooked mission is in Oceanside, Mission San Luis Rey.

Although the mission was established by the Spanish, this one is named for King Louis IX of France, who lived in the thirteenth century. His mother was Spanish so I guess that merited his having a mission named for him.Once again, we have on of Mrs. Forbes mission bells outside. This building was completed in 1815 and has gone through some more modern renovations. A nice bell tower, it was a little hard to see the actual bell.This is a Franciscan monk, with a robe and rope belt, but what is the guitar doing here? It certainly looks like a modern addition.This Church is the largest of all the CA missions, it is also quite active, people were praying during my visit.  It has the traditional brightly painted decorations.The wonderful wood beams were brought down from what is today the Cleveland National Forrest. Many unique features in this church,  a wooden dome. I love how the rays of the sun are coming through.
As well as a wooden cupola.After looking up, it was worth looking down at the smooth polished Mexican tiles. 200 years gives them so much warmth.The main altar.This Church also has two side altars, one dedicated to St. Francis.Clearly an active Church, a lot of candles being lit.As well as a Madonna Chapel. I think of this image as the Madonna of Guadalupe, but she isn’t, no roses around her, she is simply the Madonna. Although the style she is painted in is the same as many of the Guadalupes.More votives in her chapel.An interesting motif above the window, a small star of David. I doubt it has any Jewish significance here, I think the motif fits in with the design. There are also two Shamrocks, and not too many Irish were here at the time.Today there is an active Franthean School of Theology on the premises, actively training professional ministers for the Church.  I think this is one of the things I love about these missions. Each has a long history and yet each one has found an important purpose in the present day. These missions are very much alive and thriving.Then, I paid a visit to the cemetery, which warrents it’s own post.

 

 

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Leah