Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro

The Worlds of Junípero Serra: Historical Contexts and Cultural Representations ed. by Steven W. Hackel

Junípero Serra's early missionary career, particularly his work in Mallorca and Mexico City before his time in California, is revealed to have significantly shaped his approach to evangelization. This collection of essays, edited by Steven W. Hackel, challenges the dominant narrative that focuses primarily on Serra's California missions. It highlights his deep-rooted Franciscan traditions, his dual ministry to Indigenous peoples and Europeans, and the complex interplay between peaceful conversion and coercion in his missionary practices. The book also critically examines the 'Spanish Craze' in the U.S., where Serra was mythologized as a founding father, often at the expense of Mexican and Indigenous perspectives. This work provides a nuanced understanding of Serra's legacy, contextualizing it within broader historical and cultural representations.