St. Francis and Franciscans in New Mexico (Pamphlet)

Description

Author: Meyer, Rev. Theodosius  (1882-1958)

Publisher: Co-published by Historical Society of New Mexico and El Palacio Press

Pub Date: 1926

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Fair.  Binding tight/  No tears, folds.  Without covers.  Upper front cover corner has an approx. 1″ bend, extends through entire pamphlet.  Ragged bottom edge.  The best comparison I can make with this volume is to the Medallion Papers–in this case the page edges stick out beyond the front and rear “covers”.  Edge and corner wear.

Notes:  Pamphlet.  I’m not sure this is an offprint–the three signatures are glued together, not stapled.  Covers a short biography of St. Francis–he is the “founding father” of the Christmas manger scene–a short history of Spain’s role in New Mexico, then brief biographies of the early Franciscan monks in New Mexico, martyrs mostly.   “Congratulations, Father, we’re sending you to New Mexico to convert the heathen.  You get to be a martyr.”  Oh, joy.  Very much a product of its times– “Such is the fickleness of the Indian.  He will change his mind from moment to moment, seeking that which at the time is uppermost in his mind and seems for the moment the most inviting and desirable.  Thus we find that, although loving some of the padres most dearly, the Indians hated the galling you of religion because it kept them from leading a licentious life and indulging in the impurities of their devilish rites…” (Page 36).  Hey, I get it.