Padre Javier busied himself with the preparations for the coming fiesta and celebration of Corpus Christi. It was one of the most revered functions of the church during the year, and one of the most well attended. Both the faithful and not-so-faithful would come from miles around. The representation of the body of Christ paraded through the streets had special appeal to the Indians and the Californios, and seemed to rally them around the church. It was important, particularly at this time when the church’s influence was low, to keep up the ceremony of the church and her traditions.
Yes, Javier decided, it is important that this be the finest celebration of Christ ever in the pueblo.
Entering the private sanctuary behind the main church, the padre opened a deep wide leather trunk and began to remove the vestments that he would wear in the parade and at the mass following. He smiled at the thought of the cannon fire saluting the body of Christ, the men and women all dressed in their finest, the banners that would fly, and the hundreds of gente de razón and neophytes who would march in solemn regard for the Savior.