LetsGoSeeIt.com - Your Guide to Southern California and Beyond




Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
"Carmel Mission"


Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo




mission plaque
In commemoration of the arrival in Monterey on September 14, 1786 of the explorer Comte de la Perouse commanding the frigates "Boussole" and "Astrolabe."

This constituted the first official visit of a European power to the Spanish Establishments of a then mysterious coast.

At Carmel Mission Father Lasuen in honor of this event celebrated a Te Deum Mass on September 16, 1786.

Presented by government of the French Republic.



Exterior of the Church


Exterior of the church Exterior of the church Exterior of the church

Exterior of the church Exterior of the church Exterior of the church



Interior of the Church


Interior of the church Interior of the church Interior of the church

Artwork in the church Artwork in the church Artwork in the church



Nativity Scene


Nativity Scene
The nativity scene originated in Italy with St Francis of Assisi. The tradition came to the California Missions with the Franciscans who assembled scenes as large and lavish with what things were imported and at hand. History records the large Italian Scene which "fills the whole area of the Sanctuary at Mission San Jose," with huge painted backdrops and imitation 'rockwork' done by Padre Gonzoles Rubio. Trade with the European sailing vessels are evidenced by 'papier-mache' figures from France (used at Mission San Luis Obispo), clothed doll-like figures from Mallorca (at Carmel) and Italian wood & 'terra cotta' figurines (probably much like those here displayed) at Mission San Jose. The "creche" or Nativity Scene has always been the central focus of the European Christmas celebration - both in the churches and in the home, much as the Christmas Tree is here.

The figurines of Italian workmanship, (most - 18th century) were collected & donated by Mrs. Alistar McCormick of Santa Barbara in 1986.

Nativity Scene Nativity Scene Nativity Scene



The Serra Cenotaph
THE SERRA CENOTAPH
     The Junipero Serra Cenotaph, unveiled on 12 October 1924, was designed and executed by renowned local artist Jo Mora (1876-1943), who considered it "the supreme professional effort in my life." It was originally intended for placement over Serra's grave in the sanctuary of the church, but as the scope of the project increased, it was decided to place it here, in the first restored room of the mission quadrangle.
     Mora used artistic license to portray a deceased Serra attended by those buried along with him in the sanctuary since Serra's longtime friend and fellow-Majorcan Father Juan Crespi, standing at his head, actually predeceased him. Fathers Fermin Lasuen and Julian Lopez kneel at his feet. A California Grizzly Bear cub rests at Serra's feet, symbolic of the state he nutured at birth, and the bronze and California travertine marble base depicts scenes from his life.
     The large wooden cross on the wall in front of you was also designed by Mora, with figures of Christ (top); Saint Francis of Assisi (left); Saint Anthony of Padua (right); and Saint Charles Borromeo (bottom).

The Serra Cenotaph The Serra Cenotaph Cross



The Mission Vestments
The Mission Vestments
     These vestments were worn by the priest in the celebration of the Mass. A basic set for use would consist of: the chasuble or outer garment (often fiddle shaped), a stole - a narrow, long band worn around the neck, and a maniple - much like the stole and worn over the arm. Beneath these the white alb or full length robe.
     The different colors were used according to the feast day or the liturgical season. It was also customary to change the frontal or antependium of the alter to the color of the vestment worn.

The Mission Vestments The Mission Vestments The Mission Vestments



California's First Library
California's First Library
     California mission libraries played an integral role in daily life, dispensing not only theological, but practical advice as well, in matters such as agriculture, architecture, medicine, history, and geography. California's "first library" at Mission Carmel was compiled from among the handed-down and well-circulated volumes of Mexico City's San Fernando Apostolic College (which administered the Upper California missions), its Mexican missions, and its originally Jesuit Lower California missions. By 1778, the library consisted of around thirty books, arranged according to size on a new "bookcase with four shelves from larger to smaller, lined in redwood." The library grew to approximately fifty books by Junipero Serra's death in 1784, and to 302 when it was first cataloged in 1800 by his successor, Rev. Fermin de Lasuen. At that time each book was numbered at the top of its spine, indicating bookcase number and shelf position. This mission's 1834 secularization inventory listed 179 titles (404 individual books), which were soon dispersed after the mission's abandonment in 1852. The majority were stored at various Monterey locations until 1949, when 229 of its original titles of the 1770-1842 library were returned. The library now totals approximately 600 volumes, including the personal collection of Monterey's pastors from 1850-1930, displayed in the niche on the right. (Serra's Bible, pictured here, is described in detail where displayed, in the large case in the last room before the gift shop)

California's First Library California's First Library California's First Library

Mission Carmel's Spiritual Registers
Mission Carmel's Spiritual Registers
     Each California mission had a set of "spiritual result" registers, as described by Serra in 1771: "Each mission received from me . . . two blank registers, well bound and lined in reddish sheepskin for the registration of Baptism and burials--the two things that are first likely to occur." In addition to the Libro de Bautismos (Book of Baptisms) and Libro de Difuntos (Book of Deaths), each mission eventually received a Libro de Casamientos (Book of Marriages), a Libro de Confirmaciones (Book of Confirmations), and some a Libro de Cuentas (Book of Expenses), Serra used Mission Carmel's leatherbound Libro de Confirmaciones (pictured here), as a master record of all the Confirmations he performed from 29 June 1778 to 6 July 1784, a total of 5,308. Also pictured is Serra's handwritten record of his first Confirmation (and the state's), administered at Mission Carmel on 29 June 1778. He confirmed a seven-year old Indian boy, the son of the local chief. The boy's Christian name was Junipero Bucareli, selected by Serra when he baptised him four years prior. When completing important documents, Serra used his official signature (also pictured here), with a rubrica. Spainish schoolboys designed and perfected highly individualized flourishes at the end of their signatures, a legal requirement akin to a seal or official stamp. Even though Serra was a priest, he chose to follow the Spanish Franciscan custom of preceding his name with Fray, from the Latin Frater (Brother), rather then Padre (Father), out of humility.



Junipero Serra's Cell
Junipero Serra's Cell
In this small room (11'9" x 11'7"), Junipero Serra died just before 2 p.m. on Saturday 28 August 1784. After the mission was abandoned in 1852, the room fell into ruin, and by the time it was restored in 1937, only the foundation and first few feet of wall remained. Curator Harry Downie used original materials and floor tiles gathered from other parts of the compound to reconstruct it. The dedication ceremony took place on 29 August 1937, when, after a Solumn High Mass, the cell was blessed by Reverend Augustine Hobrecht, O.F.M., first Serra Cause vice-postulator. He delivered a speech about Serra's "life and labors," and members of the Onesimo family, the last Mission Carmel Indians, placed a wreath and flowers on the replica bed. Afterward, "as a happy and blessed ending to the day, Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament ... was given at the grave of Father Serra." The replica bed constructed from original mission timbers, follows Francisco Palou's first hand description: "His bed consisted of some roughhewn boards, covered by a blanket serving more as a covering than an aid to rest for he never used even a sheepskin cover, as was customary."

Junipero Serra's Cell Junipero Serra's Cell



Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo




Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is located at 3080 Rio Road, in Carmel. See map.




Items of Interest...







Related Links