Once viewed as the model for all Texas Missions, this elaborate stone complex, with spectacular carvings, is one of four missions in San Antonio which still serves as a parish today. The "Queen of the Missions", built of limestone, with its extraordinary Spanish Colonial baroque architecture and statuary began in 1768 and is the largest of all Spanish missions in the city. Founded in 1720 the mission was named for Saint Joseph and the Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo, the Governor of the Province of Coahuila and Texas at that time. It was built on the banks fo the San Antonio River several miles to the south of the earlier mission, San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo). Its founder was the famed Father Antonio Margil de Jesus, a very prominent Franciscan missionary in Texas At that time, there were 350 Indians residing in 84, two-room apartments. Church bells called them to mass three times a day. The 104 years that San Jose operated as a mission, over 2,000 Indians were baptized. Today, families that worship at Mission San Jose continue in the faith taught to the Mission Indians, as it remains an active parish. In 1941, Mission San Jose was declared a State historic site, and later that same year a National historic site. The Rose Window La Ventana de Rosa, the Rose Window, is located on the south wall of the church sacristy. The window is described as the site where the host was shown to gathered mission celebrants during the feast of the pentecost. Sculpted in 1775, the Rose Window is considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in North America. Its sculptor and significance continue to be a myster. Folklore credits Pedro Huzar, a carpenter and surveyor from Spain with carving the famous window as a monument to his sweetheart, Rosa. Tragically, on her way from Spain to join him, Rosa was lost at sea. Pedro then completed the window as a declaration of enduring love. |