A Wall for San Sebastian

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction par excellance!
Review: "A Wall For San Sebastian" is a moving and entertaining novel set in early 19th Century Spanish Mexico. The principal character, Padre Leon, is a Spanish Franciscan missionary who, passed over for assignment to the missions of California, is assigned to the obscure village of San Sebastian. This veteran of the Spanish Army takes up residence in this dusty village held in the grip of terror by the feared Commanche warrior, Golden Lance.

Padre Leon undertakes the task, not only of rebuilding the Church of San Sebastian, but that of uplifting the entire community. Undertaking a myriad of projects, religious, engineering and agricultural, Padre Leon gradually wins the hearts of his parishioners. Recognizing that only with some security from the annual Commanche raids can San Sebastian lift itself out of its lethargy, Padre Leon undertakes his greatest task, that of building a wall for San Sebastian.

As the story progresses toward its climax, Padre Leon is torn between service to his people as a Son of Cortez or greater service to God and his people as a Son of St. Francis. Ultimately the son of Cortez restores his village's spirit and prosperity while it is through his response to his higher calling as a son of St. Francis that he secures peace for his people.

In this book we see Padre Leon as a a soldier turned priest, in the mold of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a builder of missions in the spirit of Junipero Serra, a defender of villages after the model of Padre Kino, and a bulwark against barbarians as was his patron, St. Leo the Great. The story combines history, the flavor of life in colonial New Spain and soul searching of people trying to do right in their lives. It is a book well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction par excellance!
Review: "A Wall For San Sebastian" is a moving and entertaining novel set in early 19th Century Spanish Mexico. The principal character, Padre Leon, is a Spanish Franciscan missionary who, passed over for assignment to the missions of California, is assigned to the obscure village of San Sebastian. This veteran of the Spanish Army takes up residence in this dusty village held in the grip of terror by the feared Commanche warrior, Golden Lance.

Padre Leon undertakes the task, not only of rebuilding the Church of San Sebastian, but that of uplifting the entire community. Undertaking a myriad of projects, religious, engineering and agricultural, Padre Leon gradually wins the hearts of his parishioners. Recognizing that only with some security from the annual Commanche raids can San Sebastian lift itself out of its lethargy, Padre Leon undertakes his greatest task, that of building a wall for San Sebastian.

As the story progresses toward its climax, Padre Leon is torn between service to his people as a Son of Cortez or greater service to God and his people as a Son of St. Francis. Ultimately the son of Cortez restores his village's spirit and prosperity while it is through his response to his higher calling as a son of St. Francis that he secures peace for his people.

In this book we see Padre Leon as a a soldier turned priest, in the mold of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a builder of missions in the spirit of Junipero Serra, a defender of villages after the model of Padre Kino, and a bulwark against barbarians as was his patron, St. Leo the Great. The story combines history, the flavor of life in colonial New Spain and soul searching of people trying to do right in their lives. It is a book well worth reading.