José María de Zalvidea

Who was José María de Zalvidea?

José María de Zalvidea was a Spanish Franciscan missionary.

He was born at Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain, and became a Franciscan at the convent of San Mames, Cantabria, 13 December 1798. He joined the College of San Fernando de Mexico in 1804 and became a missionary to the California Native Americans in August 1805.

He served at Mission San Fernando Rey de España until 1806, at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel until 1826, at Mission San Juan Capistrano until 1842, and at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia until his death. He was credited as being a "wise manager of the mission temporalities." Under his administration, Mission San Gabriel reached its highest prosperity.

From 19 July to 14 August 1806, Father Zalvidea accompanied an expedition from Santa Barbara east and then south to San Gabriel in search of new mission sites, meanwhile baptizing many dying people. He was well versed in the languages of the Native Americans. While his superiors regarded him as one of the best and most zealous of friars, the people looked upon him as a saint. "There is no evidence", says Bancroft, "that he ever had an enemy, or said an unkind word to any man." Even when quite old, Father Zalvidea refused to avail himself of the privilege of retiring, because there would be no one to take his place, for the Mexican Government had declined to let any but Mexicans serve in the missions. Like all the other missionaries he would not approve of the methods of the Mexican politicians by swearing allegiance, refusing to do so on the grounds that he did not meddle with politics, but he offered to swear obedience in everything not against conscience.