Religious belief, politics and power have blended and indeed conflicted throughout human history in all lands, and at all times. On Nov. 1, 1776, a brutal survivalist pioneer Catholic priest on assignment from the Spanish monarchy in control of Mexico arrived in the wild, unpopulated territory that would become California and established a mission on a coastal plain named San Juan Capis- trano. His name was Padre Junipero SerraJunipero Serra, and the mission at San Juan Capistrano would be his seventh settlement in a group of 21 Catholic missions established in the new territory.
In the late 18th century, this exploration was tantamount to modern man’s landing on the moon. Contrary to the lore enhanced by more than 200 years of distance, Serra was, according to historians, as tough as they come. He had to be to survive and succeed against all odds.
Serra’s legacy, the role of the Catholic Church in the new world, the coming of Mexican independence from Spain in 1821 and the subsequent western push of the fledgling democracy known as the United States of America would all be joined to create the California territory.