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at only two of the missions). Hence the effort put into decorating the
extravagant façades, which have been called “sermons in stone.”
MISIÓN SAN MIGUEL ARCÁNGEL
DE CONCÁ
(1758)
With the second mission we encountered, Saint Michael the Archangel’s
church at Concá, we began to understand how each church is unique in
spite of its uniformity with the group. The precise geometric designs painted
on the bell tower provide a modern-looking counterpoint to the Baroque
exuberance of the façade. A triumphant St. Michael occupies the top-most
register, sword in his raised right hand while his left holds the chains of a
devilish creature whose mouth gapes in pain as the saint plants his foot
firmly in his back. The Holy Trinity sits atop the façade, seen in the early
Spanish version when all three aspects of God are depicted as human
beings, rather than the Holy Spirit being shown as a dove.
MISIÓN NUESTRA SEÑORA
LA PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN
DE AGUAS DE LANDA
(1768)
Arriving at Landa on a Sunday morning that corresponded with a
local feast day, we were able to witness the importance these mission
churches continue to occupy in the lives of surrounding villagers. Bright
paper streamers hung in giant swags from the top of the façade across
the exterior courtyard, where teenage boys sent occasional ear-splitting
rocket fireworks screaming heavenward as the faithful gathered for Mass.
Like the Indians of centuries past, the congregation first assembled outside
the main entrance, and the priest walked through the crowd blessing them
with sprinkles of holy water before they entered the roofed structure.
The stone sermon at Landa is notable for the two figures seated at
their respective writing desks flanking the façade window. Both Catholic
theologians, John Duns Scotus (1265/6-1308) faces his counterpart,
summer
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ART&ARCHITECTURE
Misión San Miguel Arcángel
de Concá exhibits the
architectural layout shared
by all five of the Sierra Gorda
mission churches.