Faith
Who has faith and why?
Walking in the cemetery I was met by a statue of the Madonna.She was lit with softly streaking shadows across her face. Unknown to me at the time, statues and more distinctly, Madonna statues would attain a dominant theme of this mission to photograph these Missions.
In the courtyard adjoining the mission was an old door made of wood slats. The shape of the cuts in the slates intrigued me. A montage started to evolve. Her pose in the cemetery meant eternal faith to me. Observing her behind the cuts in the slats of the wood door she lifts her head in faithful prayer, softly offering all faith.
Mission Dolores
Our second Mission. It hit me, each mission is unique and will need to be approached individually.
Ascension
The basilica is modern in design and stands in stark contrast to the adjoining Mission from which it descended. That word played in my mind as I sat in the basilica watching the colors of light projected upon the walls by the sunlight through the stained glass windows.
There were long white ribbons of cloth draped from the front and back walls up into the dome. Outside, above the dome of the basilica is a golden cross. All those elements spoke ascension to me.
Waiting
In the cemetery garden of Mission Dolores stands a statue of Father Sera, the founder of the Missions. While every Mission has a statue of Father Sera this statue is different from all other statues of Father Sera I would encounter. Walking the cemetery, observing the interplay of weather over time upon the surface of headstones, the growth of trees, and the modern city in which all of this stood I felt him waiting patiently for answers to his prayers.
Spiritual release
One headstone has a very weathered carving of an angel. The pose of the angel suggested a struggle for release from the captivity of the stone. I wondered about father Sera in the garden, could he be seeking spiritual release, was his spirit held in the Mission? The Mission style of glass windows was colored squares of glass. The sunlight filtered through those glass windows produces warm, inviting tones, reminiscent of the birth of a new day. Would that light guide him to find spiritual release.
Mission Santa Clara
Walk into the light
This modern Mission and its location on the Santa Clara University campus had me wondering how these young students used this mission. Many of them went into the mission between classes for a quick time of contemplation and prayer.
Walking around the mission on the cold dreary morning when we went to Mission Santa Clara had me wanting some light. With patience and a prayer some light appeared. This is the path I walked.
What happens upon entering a place of sanctuary? Sanctuary from?
And then why the need for confession?
As I sat reflecting upon the repeating images and symbols of borders, shapes, and colors, I noticed the imagery above the confessional. Why an arch? Is that our opportunity to find a life over the rainbow? And then it struck me as the challenge to pull ourselves over the gate into the light of redemption.
Mission Soledad
The solace of sorrows
The chapel of Mission Soledad is mesmerizing. It is rich in icons,
deeply contemplative, and a feeling that you have stepped into the past. The dominant image in the chapel is the Madonna dressed in sorrow. Above her is an icon for the seven sorrows of Mary. There are several crosses next to the altar. Sitting in the pew her presence proceeded to enter my thoughts, feeling her obtaining solace through all of her sorrows.
Mission Santa Cruz
Come fly with me
By now it was apparent that statues and striking Madonna statues would become dominant to the works I would create from photographing these Missions.
In the garden is a Madonna statue dedicated to the soldiers of WWII. She was crowned in roses, a common icon associated with the Virgin of Guadeloupe. Her hand extending down asking all to come away with her. In looking up at her you are immediately aware of her radiance. Behind her is a tree that distributes the source of all light upon earth onto her.
Invitation
Placement of a statue in a church influences the interpretation of the viewer as to the deeper meanings of the statue. While any Christian will immediately understand the significance of a Madonna statue, the placement and pose will alter the impression. Here she sits leaning forward, perhaps in prayer, perhaps in sorrow. Her location is at the gate to the baptismal fountain. Is she perhaps inviting all to be baptized in the name of her son?
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey
Rosary
It was a long time since I attended mass. Arriving to hear the 7:45 AM mass one cold foggy Friday morning the cathedral was surrounded by scaffolding to aid workers performing a major renovation. The sounds of construction workers, their equipment and the cool air made their presence known during the mass. After mass a mall group remained to recite the rosary.The pew in which I was seated was directly across from the Madonna of Sorrows. You can always ask yourself why but I've learned that it is better to accept it than to question it. Once the cathedral was empty I started to take photos.
A few minutes later, flowers were being brought into the cathedral. As I made my way up towards the altar a good sized tabby cat appeared next to the altar. It sat grooming itself and looked very content. The arriving flowers were in preparation for a ceremony; a funeral scheduled for 9:30 AM. Best to leave and then resume upon finish of the ceremony.
Stop in the Name of Love
During this time the sun broke through the clouds. Sun rays through the entrance gate cast a shadow upon the brick walkway. Inside the cathedral was being put into order. The cat had played a role in the ceremony. It lay under the altar until the incense was perfumed into the air. At that point the cat rose and walked down the aisle mingling among the funeral attendees. The priest said it was the church cat and much like a child you would hope that it would remain still during a ceremony. After the funeral the daughter of the man for whom the funeral was performed told the priest that the appearance of the cat was perfect; her father adored cats, for her it meant that her father told the cat to visit his close friends one more time.
Mission San Juan Bautista
One of a Kind
Thinking that because you have visited a Mission before you know something about it leads you on a fool's mission. Almost every step and place to rest brought new emotions. Some photographers look for patterns. Unfortunately my eye is trained to find the break in a pattern. All around the garden are hanging baskets of flowers. Many of the hangars are made of woven cord, but only one has a bell. It was a warm morning and the church cat came to greet me as I took this one of a kind photo. Perhaps it was acknowledgment of my finding the different one, the outsider?
When you walk into a church you find the holy water, bless yourself and make a silent prayer. Then comes a moment of decision. On which side will you sit?
Undecided -If you are in a church for a wedding you will sit on the side appropriate for your relation to the bride or groom. I sat in the back of the church looking forward with a wide sweeping view of the nave. Where would I sit? Was there a need for a choice?
A few tourists came in. Some walked about snapped a photo, talked in hushed tones and left. Others had a prayer to offer. Who would be next?
Who?
As this question of who bounced around my mind this vision caused me to see the foolishness of it. Through this door came people seeking God. I wondered would God be was asking who would enter next?
Still undecided about where to sit, this vision to my left was felt as a gentle tapping, a beckoning. Turning to face this vision I saw more than was immediately evident. It was a rare view of the crucifixion.
Crucifixion
How often do we see the crucifixion as it might have appeared on the day it happened? Being on the side of Christ offered me moment to transcend time. The stew of emotions, the suffering of Christ, the joy of the Father for knowing His Son had brought salvation to the world and yet His anger of the death by crucifixion.
Portals - In life some believe there are choices, others that we always choose what was already planned. Then why so many doors and windows? Why so many portals to enter, leave, or receive or close out the light? We've all heard the expression that when one door closes another will open. To which I usually mumble to myself; but sometimes there is a long hallway in between them.
As I sat in this pew immediately in front view I noticed all the many portals about the church. It seems that portals are taking a commanding space in my mind as I look my way through this Mission.
Where does each portal lead? Some lead outside, but only a silent few steps. The cemetery lay outside that door. Another portal lead to a chamber for the sacrament of Baptism.
The archway colors reminiscent of a rainbow brought to my mind and lips the words to a song.Yes, yes indeed, once baptized you were ready for being over the rainbow. Ready to be a member of the church you would leave this chamber and enter the light of the church.
Yet other portals lead to higher places.
Why does the priest recite from a pulpit? I know he has higher spiritual learning than me but why the need to preach from on high?
Sitting in the left side aisle looking at the portal to the pulpit and knowing that the 50th anniversary of the movie Vertigo will be celebrated in October 2007, I had a flash of an older time, a time without color. How different it felt, all the joy of it was gone, replaced with an emptiness and slight brooding. Salvation was only a glance away.
Salvation
From the left side aisle viewing the pulpit portal a simple glance left lead to the altar. The altar railing caught my attention. All those posts, all evenly spaced, all adorned alike, all framing salvation.
Mission San Jose (Fremont)
So many questions
If there is one thing striking about Mission San Jose it starts with its name and location then goes on to many many questions. As you drive to this Mission the question of why did they name it San Jose if it was located in Fremont plays in your mind. Arriving at the Mission you are immediately startled at the location on a main road only steps away from the street. A wide set of stairs leads to a very solid door. Plain in appearance, perhaps fortress like, without symbols or design to add identification of it being a holy place.
Closer inspection of the door reveals a well used handle. I wondered how many different hands had used this handle to enter this Mission. What was on their mind that day? What occasion brought them to the Mission?
The day was slightly overcast bathing the Mission in a flat light.
Looking up at the face of the Mission the alignment of the cross on the peak above the door with the cross pieces in the window on the face of Mission caught my attention. Who would appear at that window? Who would look out and wave a welcome to all the passersby?
Inside the Mission the questions continued to build. Where is the holy water? It is absent from the area by the side entrance. Perhaps it is close to the locked front door? It is missing from there. Why hide or make the holy water difficult to locate? Where is it? Ah, there in the middle of the nave. Why there?
The altar is symmetrical in itself and its surroundings. There are four (4) mirrors,two on each side of the altar. What is their purpose? Why are they so high on the walls? In a brief correspondence with one of the members of the Mission San Jose restoration committee it was answered that the mirrors serve to reflect natural light.
But then why the two mirrors that face the congregation? Can the light entering either of those windows be at such an angle to shine on those high mirrors?
A symbol of faith.
Directly above the altar is a statue with what at first appeared to me to be a clenched fist. Closer inspection revealed a symbol. The meaning of this hand gesture roused my curiosity. Early Christian symbolism used the holding of the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand to indicate the Trinity and as the proper way to hold your hand when making the sign of the cross. The two fingers resting on the palm represented the two natures of Christ, God and man.
Ever notice cherubs? In this Mission, there were many cherubs. In keeping with the symmetry of the altar there were small cherubs that appeared almost as heads peeking out from above each side of the altar table and then larger, child size, statues on each side the altar. Cherubs are the celestial attendants of God.
Who is that?
This Mission is primarily decorated with walls painted in fresco style with scenes depicting ancient settings. Some of the statuary provoked questions of who and why. In back of the altar is the namesake saint of the Mission. While he is easy to recognize others are more elusive.
On the left side of the nave near the transept is a statue of a male holding a cane.
Who is he?
The answer I received is that he is St Joachim, then why this saint, in this Mission?The demeanor captured in his face made me wonder who the model was for the sculptor.
Hands
Hands became a recurring theme in my mind as I looked around the inside of this Mission. In the statue of Saint Joachim are hands of strength. In other statues hands may be considered gentle. In particular are the hands of Christ. Notice the rope tied around the hands.
The rope is looped around the neck so that the hands lay weight upon the neck and head. This is early Roman symbolization of the capture of Christ by the Romans. The rope tied in this manner was their form of handcuffs for prisoners.
Exiting the Mission through the left side door you enter the cemetery. While there are many grave sites, one is made to wonder at the number of headstones with Irish surnames. The engravings on the headstones indicating that the person laid to rest was indeed born in Ireland. Here again an explanation was offered by the restoration committee member. The Irish at that time had the funds to afford headstones that would last a long time.
Finality
The final question came as I started to leave the cemetery and return to the Mission. Above the door leading to the Mission is a stone into which is carved a skull and crossbones. 
Why this symbol? This symbol of death was meant to be seen as one exited the Mission to indicate that they were entering the cemetery. How it came to be in its current position remains a question.
Yes, this ends where it all began, a cemetery.
My sincere thanks to the Plein Air painters of Valle del Sur for making these Missions their 2007 project. To all, please enjoy my works and words.
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The morning we entered the Carmel Mission the sun was casting the entrance to the cemetery in delicate shades of orange and gold. The glow of that light in conjunction with the subject made it welcome to my vision. Once I crossed the threshold of the cemetery the depth of this personal assignment became clear. 