San Xavier Mission

A change to cooler weather last night brought low-hanging clouds and grayness instead of the customary blue skies and warmth.  It was hard to get motivated to venture out, but we finally did and the trip was more than worth the effort.

We drove to the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, about 20 minutes away.  The mission arises from the desert floor like an oasis, shining white and beckoning.  Parking close by, the beauty of the mission captures you as you head for the tall wooden doors (left) and an ornate facade showcasing figures in four niches on either side.  Undergoing refurbishment, the left side is visibly whiter than the right. Inside, the walls and ceilings are a feast for the eyes.  Two full-figure angels reach out on either side of the sanctuary at the entrance to the transepts.  Ornate carvings surround the altar. Niches abound throughout the church with statues of many saints, including St. Peter, St. Paul, the Virgin Mary, and of course St. Francis Xavier.  Murals on the walls depict various religious scenes such as the Last Supper.  

Construction of today's mission began around 1783 and was completed in 1797, under the leadership of the Franciscans.  the work of building, restoring and preserving the mission has been going on since 1859, and includes today the efforts of seven art conservators to remove the scars of time -- smoke, dirt, excrement of birds and bats, and misused varnish that had blackened (left).  A hazardous restoration effort was in removing the many hornets' nests around the walls of the church without disturbing the art.

There is a great story in this mission, whose church has been compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and the finest example of Spanish colonial architure.  It is still in use for weekly masses. 

We had an unusual encounter as we left the mission.  A roadrunner was strutting the stony parking area and appeared to have little fear of people.  In fact, he seemed to know exactly when to pose for photos, as the one here shows.

Be sure to include a visit to San Xavier Mission if you are in the Tucson area.

We leave Saturday on our journey home.