Metztli De La Cruz, 22, is of the Tongva Tribe who are also known as Gabrielinos in Los Angeles County. Metztli practices her people's traditions as an herbalist, is Catholic, and likes visiting the San Gabriel Mission. One day, she goes to a forbid...
Metztli was in the gardens; she couldn't bring herself to the infirmary. The guilt of not being able to save the newborn and trying to persuade the Bishops not to go through the punishments overwhelmed her. The conversation with Bishop Victoriano didn't go as she expected. He was surrounded by many enemies who wanted to do as they pleased with the Tongva.
The shock of witnessing the Padres, who she was taught to believe that they wanted to help the Tongva prosper, was cruel. Metztli wondered if her teachers and the Mission's higher-ups knew the actual history.
If they did, was there the possibility of them covering up the truth?
"Mother wanted me to see how you were doing. She believed it was best that I come to you since she saw you run out of the church." Guillermo slowly walked toward Metztli and sat beside her. "I brought some herbal tea; you need it after what happened today."
Metztli slowly took the warm cup and a sip of the hot drink. She flinched due to the heat and bitter taste of the tea. Not wanting to be rude, She took smaller sips and felt the inside of her body soothe down; her anxiety lessened. "Wow, this is making me better."
Guillermo smiled as he looked at the flowers. "My mother taught me and my sister herbal remedies to help others and ourselves." He glanced at her, taking small sips. "Y-You were brave." Metztli looked at him as he continued, "You want to take their place knowing full well it would mean punishment was admirable. I have never seen someone do such a thing. Believe it or not, many of my people were speaking about you."
"I didn't think thoroughly. I was more in fight or flight mode; I didn't want them to be punished for something beyond their control. Guillermo, there is more to this place that you and Mariana are letting me yet to believe. I was raised close to the Missions where I was raised and taught that the Padres were good people who wanted the greater good of our people. Is it a lie?"
"I-I feel that I am not the right person to tell you this, but many Missions, like this one, have its cruelties. My family and I have witnessed many of the dark truths, but some Padres are good and want us to follow the way of God. Bishop Victoriano was one of them. Since Valentina and I didn't have a father to guide and protect us, he took us in. He and my mother were good friends that helped one another. When he became a Bishop, he motivated me to be a Padre's assistant. By the end of this year, I could become an official Padre."
"Even after all of this and what you have witnessed, why become the very person that could cause more deaths of your own people?"
Her question made Guillermo silent, and Metztli felt she had attacked a nerve. However, her question made the young man think. The question revealed some truths he tried to ignore, but becoming Padre had risks, including making difficult decisions. "I understand your concerns, but I have seen much to understand that what many of the Padres are doing is monstrous. However, I have seen some good ones who genuinely care about us and the word of God. I will become a Padre and be a Bishop to help my people."
Guillermo's words soothed Metztli. He wanted to become a man of God to save his people from those who would abuse God's word. "People like you still give me faith."
"Faith is something challenging to keep and understand, Metztli. All I will say is this. Today, you saw a small taste of the dark truth of this Mission, but the more you stay here, the more you will see. Here, your faith will be tested."
Before Metztli could speak, singing was heard from the infirmary, and people were seen walking out. Women sang prayers in Spanish; some wept aloud. Guillermo and Metztli left the gardens and saw many workers praying together. Mariana walked out of the infirmary, tears apparent. She noticed her son and Metztli, and she went to them. "Mama..."
"Guillermo, hijo. Anna Maria will be buried today, so soon."
"What? The Bishop ordered this?"
Mariana nodded while wiping her tears. "One of the Padres informed us that it was so. Her husband is still unconscious; he didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his wife." She then noticed Mariana but looked unsure whether or not to go to her. "Metztli. You..."
Metztli immediately went to Mariana and hugged her. "Perdóname, Mariana (Forgive me, Mariana)."
"¿Para qué (For what)?"
"The way I acted toward you, Esteban, and Valentina. I-I was just so angry and distraught. I-"
The older woman hugged Metztli back while gently patting the back of her head. "It is alright; your feelings were justified. Even Esteban understands. As for Valentina..." The women separated. "You told her certain truths that she may not have wanted to hear but needed to. Valentina also should not have tried your anger. I know she will come around. You will see. Now, let us go to Anna Maria's funeral."
Mariana led her son and Metztli toward the group of people, where they saw some of them carry a wooden stretcher that carried Anna Maria and her infant daughter's body. They were wrapped around in a white cloth with ropes wrapped around them.
It was a heartbreaking scene, and Metztli had the urge to cry but didn't have enough strength; she was tired of the strenuous emotions. She and the others walked out of the Mission to a path that looked familiar to her. It was a path that led to the cemetery. However, the path was different since it was dirt and dead grass. Instead of the big concrete gate she was used to, there was a barren land with wooden crosses.
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The cemetery was different from Metztli's time. She remembered beautiful lined-up tombstones with many flowers and plant life. Many beautifully made statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary were well-kept.
The cemetery is currently in disarray, which makes it look depressing. "Anna Maria and her baby are going to be buried here? I can't believe it. They were buried in the cemetery that I would occasionally visit in my time." When everyone arrived at the cemetery, Bishop Victoriano, with two Padres, was present, including Esteban. Before them was a deep hole where mother and child would be buried.
Everyone got in position as the wooden stretcher was put down; slowly, the prayers and singing died down.
Guillermo, Mariana, and Metztli decided to stand afar but were able to see the bodies.
Metztli noticed that Valentina and Toypurina were absent, which she found odd. She then noticed Esteban glancing at her and looked away when he was noticed. Bishop walked forward as he did the cross signs on Anna Maria and the baby's foreheads. He then stood before the bodies, looking at everyone. Mixed emotions of anger, confusion, and sadness were apparent. The Bishop began praying in Spanish, and everyone quietly prayed with him. Metztli prayed with everyone, but it wasn't easy because of her emotions. She noticed that Bishop Victoriano's voice quivered occasionally; he was also affected by the deaths.
The Bishop tried hard not to express his emotions, but the guilt was apparent in his eyes. While praying, he gently put holy water on the mother and child. Once the prayers were done, six men assisted putting the bodies into their resting place. Many women began to weep while some men tried to hold in their tears.
It was getting too much, and Metztli turned to catch her breath. Once she did, two figures were noticed from afar. When looking carefully, Metztli noticed Padre Federico and Padre Lucas.
Padre Federico eventually walked away, and Padre Lucas followed him.
Federico's words echoed in Metztli's mind: "I'm sorry... you had to witness such a thing." He was sorry that she had to witness such cruelty, but how he said it made Metztli think otherwise. "Perhaps Mariana was right, I should stay away from him."
