1.6 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



was born in Aragon, Spain, in 1540. As a child, 

 poverty made it necessary that he tend his flocks day 

 and night, without relief, so that he never had op- 

 portunity to go inside a church to worship God as 

 his heart desired. Living ever under the open skies, 

 he seemed to absorb that simple faith that led the 

 Shepherds of the East to the Manger at Bethlehem. 

 This faith taught him that if his duty prevented his 

 offering his devotion before an altar erected by man, 

 his prayers on the pasture slopes would be as accept- 

 able in the eyes of the Almighty. So, as he tended 

 his sheep, he would seek a bed of beautiful wild- 

 flowers and kneel there to offer his homage. His 

 pious devotions attracted the attention of the Fran- 

 ciscans; and he was educated and later became a 

 devout son of Saint Francis d'Asis. Book learning 

 did not dim his simple faith, and he devoted his life 

 to helping the Spanish peasants whose duties called 

 them to an outdoor existence. As he walked among 

 the shepherds, he often said Mass on the hill slopes 

 with a bed of wildflowers for an altar. So, the 

 Spanish sailors, seeing the poppy beds ablaze on 

 the California coast, naturally exclaimed, "There is 

 the altar cloth of San Pasqual!" They landed 

 from the little vessels on which they had suffered 

 many hardships, and offered up Mass right amongst 

 the Poppies, giving thanks for a safe delivery from 

 the perils of the ocean and praises that they were 



