SALINAS "In the Midst of a Loneliness": The Architectural History of the Salinas Missions

SACRISTY

The sacristan was the person in charge of keeping the sacristy, and usually the entire church, clean and tidy. He was responsible for the cleanliness, repair, and storage of the vestments, furnishings, and other valuables of the sacristy. He also assisted the priest during mass, and at this time wore a decorated cassock, or robe somewhat like a habit. The sacristan kept the ornamentos y alajas, the vestments and accessories, stored in a large cabinet in the sacristy. The cabinet built into the sacristy of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe of El Paso del Norte, dedicated in January, 1668, was "a handsome chest of drawers of fourteen divisions, as elaborate as if it had been made in Mexico City." [32] The last phrase indicated that the cabinet had been made in New Mexico. A typical set of vestments included: [33]

The Amice, a linen cloth placed on the head and tied by two ribbons crossing over the chest and tied around the waist under the Alb.

The Alb, a loose-fitting white linen gown worn over the priest's cassock, or habit and tied at the waist with the Cincture, or cord.

The Stole, a scarf of the same material as the Chasuble, worn over the shoulders and secured in front by the Cincture.

The Dalmatic, a wide-sleeved overgarment with slit sides, usually worn over the Alb.

The Chasuble, the outer vestment of the minister at Mass. The color of the Chasuble depends on the feast or season, so that several of different colors are needed. Sometimes made reversible so that one garment could have two of the appropriate colors.

The Choir Cope, a hooded cape worn by members of the choir.

The Sacristan's Cassock, a decorated habit-like robe worn by the Sacristan when he assists the minister during Mass.

The Maniple, a long strip of cloth worn over the left arm during Mass.

The Surplice, a loose white outer vestment, knee length, with wide sleeves.

Accessories were any items used during the various services through the year. They included a number of articles made of fabric:

The Altar Cloths, three long linen cloths for the table of the main altar on which Mass is celebrated. Other Altar Cloths were undoubtedly needed for the side altars.

The Frontal, the cloth used as the front facing or decorative curtain of an altar table, usually of the same color and material as the Chasuble worn on a given occasion.

The Canopy, a portable cloth covering, carried on four poles, one at each corner, used to protect special items during processions.

The Cross Sheath, a sleeve-like cylinder of fine cloth tied onto a processional cross, hanging from the base of the cross and covering the shaft of the staff. The Spanish sheath had a cylindrical frame so that it was held out round.

The Pall, a cloth used to cover the Chalice during Mass.

The Purificator, a linen cloth folded to form a small narrow towel, used to clean and dry the chalice after the Communion.

The Corporal, a square piece of cloth used with the Chalice during Mass.

The Banner, a flag or pennant, usually hanging down vertically from a crosspiece on a staff, carried during processions.

Towels, sometimes decorated, used by the Minister after washing his hands in preparation for Mass.

These items of cloth were made of a variety of materials and decorated in several ways. The chasuble and other vestments could be of Rouen, brocatel, damask, or lamé. Rouen was a kind of linen, usually made in Rouen, France. The name became generic, however, so that any linen cloth made in the same way was called by that name. Brocatel was a heavy fabric with a very pronounced raised design woven into its surface. It was usually made of silk with wool or cotton. Damask was a rich fabric with a wavy decorative pattern resembling the marks on Damascus steel, and could be made of cotton, silk, linen or wool. Lamé was a fabric worked with metallic threads, either gold or silver. Watered lamé had a wavy or watermarked pattern, like damask, in addition to the metallic threads.

Decoration could be by embroidery, galloon, point lace, or drawn work. Embroidery was the addition of decorative figures or patterns by needlework. Galloon was a narrow band or braid added to the edge of fabric, and made of lace, embroidery, or metallic thread. Point lace was lace made by needlepoint, following a pattern. Drawn work was fabric worked into patterns by pulling up individual threads of the weave, or by drawing selected threads out of the fabric altogether, leaving a lace-like pattern.

The accessories included a number of silver vessels:

The Chalice, the communion cup, covered with the Corporal and Pall.

The Paten, a silver dish, gold-plated on top, used to carry the bread used at Mass.

The Dish, a silver plate on which the Cruets were carried during Mass.

The Cruets, two small vessels, one for the wine and one for the water used at Mass.

The Thurible, or censer, a metal receptacle with a perforated lid, suspended from a ring by chains, for burning incense in church ceremonies.

The Monstrance, a highly decorated silver receptacle in the Tabernacle, in which the consecrated bread, the Holy Eucharist or Host, was displayed during Mass.

The Ciborium, a goblet-shaped vessel for holding the Eucharist.

In 1612, for example, the silversmith Miguel de Torres of Mexico City made seven chalices with their patens for the missions of New Mexico. Each chalice and its paten weighed a total of 31.1 onzas, or 28.8 troy ounces. Torres charged 31.6 pesos for the silver in each chalice and paten, plus an additional 24 pesos for making and gilding each one, for a total of 55.6 pesos for a chalice and paten. [34]

Starting Supplies for the Sacristy

As part of the materials given to a friar for founding a new mission, the king supplied an initial set of vestments and accessories:

One complete set of vestments including Chasuble, Stole, Maniple, Frontal, and bundle of Corporals.
One Alb of Rouen cloth.
One Surplice.
One pair of Palls for the altar, made of Rouen, each 36 feet long.
One embroidered Pall for the altar.
One damask Pall for the altar.
Some coarse Corporals.
Two Cassocks of "Chinese stuff."
One rug for the altar steps.
Three yards of Rouen to make Amices. [35]

Each mission received additional items:

Two choir robes of chinese damask.
Two sets of Dalmaticas of chinese damask.
One Pall for the Holy Sacrament.
Three Cross Sheaths of velvet with gold edgings. [36]

Accessories usually received as starting supplies by each friar were:

One enameled silver chalice, with gilded paten.
One cupboard for the chalice.
One small bell to sound the Sanctus.
One pair of gilded wooden processional candle-holders.
One pair of brass candlesticks.
One pair of snuffing scissors.
One small chest with chrismeras, vials of baptismal oil.
One copper vessel for the Holy Water.
One tin plate with Cruets.
One crucifix with gilded brass handle, probably a processional cross.
One wafer box for the unconsecrated host.

Each mission also received:

One Ciborium.
One communion wafer iron or mold.
One brass oil lamp for the altar.

Other supplies needed by the friar to prepare for Mass were:

Two and a half pounds of incense.
Two and a half pounds of copal, a transparent resin used as incense.
Three ounces of silk wicking to make candles.
Three pesos' worth of soap for washing the vestments.
One missal and three books of chants.

Every three years the friar received:

45 gallons of sacramental wine.
85 1/2 pounds of prepared candle wax.
26 gallons of lamp oil for illuminating the altar.

"In addition, things to replace vestments and things for the sacristy, and other necessities." This would have included more incense, copal, wicking, and soap as needed.

Over time the friars purchased additional items for the church and sacristy. This would have included musical instruments for the choir, such as an organ, trumpets, oboes and bassoons, [37] and new vestments of improved appearance.

For example, in 1672, at Tajique, the mission eleven miles north of Quarai, the sacristy contained four complete sets of vestments, including the chasuble, alb, amice, and stole. One set was of red watered lamé and two were of Chinese damask with gold trimming; one of these was black. The fourth set was of white cloth with no other description. In addition to the full sets of vestments, there were another 12 chasubles of damask in different colors. Each had a matching frontal for the altar table. There were four albs decorated with drawn work from the waist down, and with an eight-inch wide section of point lace; another six albs without decoration; twelve amices decorated with drawn work; twelve altar cloths, four with drawn work and point lace; twenty palls, "all very rich and splendid;" twelve towels with drawn work and point lace; and two choir copes, one of pearl-colored Italian damask trimmed with silver galloon. Accessories included two silver chalices with patens, one silver thurible and incense boat, one silver-gilt tabernacle 1 1/2 feet high with monstrance with rays, and a silver dish with cruets. [38] All these items were somewhat more luxurious than the basic issue sent to each new mission, and must have been bought with the proceeds from sales of livestock and produce from the mission fields or Indians. [39]

All of these items had to be stored safely in the sacristy, and yet be available for use as needed. In about 1662, for example, two persons climbed into the convento of Quarai, rifled the despensa, or pantry, and other storerooms, and took several vestments from the chests of the sacristy. [40]