There Is No Place Like Home

Mission San Juan Capistrano – Traditional Catholic Mass.

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  It’s hard to believe that I grew up in a Catholic family and in 42 years have never seen let alone attended a traditional Latin Mass.  Since I have been trying to become more active in my faith by attending Mass with Mi Jung in Korea.  I thought it would be a nice Sunday outing to go up North and attend the Latin service in the old mission church the Serra Chapel. 

 

  We had an option to either take the train from Downtown San Diego, or drive in the rental.  We opted to drive so we could stop and sight see on the way back.  If you have the time I would recommend the train trip as it is a nice ride up the coast via the Pacific Surfliner.  The most difficult part of the trip was getting to the mission once getting off the freeway. It looks as if they have done a lot of road word because even the GPS got us lost.  The train would have alleviated a little bit of stress.

  Mission San Juan Capestrano  was was built in 1776 by monks of the Franciscan Order, named after  San Giovanni de Capistrano,St. (John Of Capistrano), a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest from Italy who was famous for leading a crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire in Belgrade.  The Serra Chapel built in 1782 and named after Father Junipero Serra has the distinction of being the oldest building in California still in use. 

  The Latin mass was interesting and the format very different from what I am used to, the most amazing thing was attending mass in such an historic building.  Here is the main altar area before mass.

  This elevated pulpit, where the priest reads the gospel and delivers the homily.

  One of the things I found really different from the traditional mass was that to receive communion you went an kneeled in from of the altar vs simply walking up and receiving the Eucharist from the priest or Eucharistic minister.  Here is the ornate altar and communion rail.

  The Walker Digital Organ (I thought this was a real historical pipe organ.  However, after doing some research, that is not the case.  You can read about is here in a blog by MSGR Aurthur A. Holquin who had this beautiful but more high-tech instrument installed here. https://rectoremeritus.org/blog/2017/5/9/serra-chapel-organ-at-mission-san-juan-capistrano

I apologize for not being able to get a better picture, when I rushed up into the choir loft after mass and asked permission to take a picture of the organ, I was given permission if I was quick about it!

Here is the full Choir Loft with digital organ.

Here is some of the historic artwork inside the Serra Chapel.

  We had a little bit of time after mass to walk around and take pictures,  though they really try to get you out quickly afterwards.  If you wish to keep exploring the Mission grounds, you will need pay and enter as a park guest.  The Mission was founded 30^th of October 1775 by Father Lasuen, and was the 7^th of the 21 Missions built in California.  The Missions were built to expand the territorial boundaries of the Spanish Empire, and spread Christianity to the native population of California.  Once the natives who agreed to move to the missions were baptized and given Christian names.  They were forbidden to leave the Missiosn without permission.   Mission San Juan Capistrano flourished and grew between 1778 and 1812, expanding it livestock and buildings. Here is a mold used to make the adobe bricks.

  Here is a kiln used for firing bricks, and blacksmithing tools.

  After 1812, the population at the Missions began to decline, after California was ceded to the United Stated at the conclusion of the Mexican American War, the Missions were given back to the Catholic Church in 1850.

  After touring the Mission grounds for a couple of hours is was time to take some portraits.

 

 

    I have always enjoyed San Juan Capistrano, and experiencing the Latin Mass was as added bonus.  If you are looking to learn more about the history of California I would definitely recommend a trip to one of the Missions.

  Information:

How to get there:
Take 5 North to the San Juan Capistrano exit.
Parking in free, but I would recommend getting there early.

  If you do not want to drive, you can take Amtraks Pacific Surfliner train from Downtown San Diego, or Old Station Stations to San Juan Capistrano Station.  The station is within walking distance.

  The Latin Mass is free of charge, you can get times and details here.  https://www.missionsjc.com/religion-spirituality/churches/basilica-mass-times/

  As mentioned above, you will need to pay to enter the park after mass.  Ticket prices and details are listed on the website below.  https://www.missionsjc.com/

  I would like to thank my frequent visitors who patronize Brent’s World!  Be sure to visit next week for our final San Diego Restaurant review Shoguns – Japanese Teppanyaki.  Which will conclude our series on our 2017 visit to San Diego, Ca.

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