In Behalf of the Light

In Behalf of the Light. . As Father Escalante so appropriately recorded in his diary, the Dominguez Escalante expedition was made “in behalf of the Light." Dominguez and Escalante were Franciscan priests, and their religion strongly influenced the course of their journey. The Franciscan order, founded in the eleventh century by St. Francis of Assisi, was based on the three vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. The first Franciscans to the New World came with Columbus and for four centuries the order was instrumental in its settlement. The Franciscans' mission to spread Christianity and care for people led them into hardship and danger on the many frontiers of the Spanish Empire. , Father Dominguez was thirty-six in 1776, and the leader of all Franciscan missions in New Mexico. Born in Mexico, he was charged in 1775 with the responsibility of making a thorough investigation of the New Mexico missions. His report proved him to be a firm and scrupulous administrator. Twenty-six-year-old Father Escalante was a native of Spain and the pastor of the Zuni Mission near the borders of the New Mexico frontier. Both men were meticulous in detail and possessed an unfailing trust and faith in God. , Twice during their epic journey, the padres cast lots to determine the direction they would take, believing that God would influence the drawing and point them in the right direction. In the treacherous canyon of the Dolores River, the lot drawn indicated that they take an easterly course toward the San Miguel River in central Utah as winter approached, the lot drawn directed them to abandon their route to California and return to Santa Fe. , Dominguez and Escalante drew deeply on their faith and inspired their companions, especially during the difficult times of the journey. Equally important, their quest "in behalf of the Light" made for peaceful relationships with the Indian peoples they encountered. Truly, they manifested the spirit of the Franciscan greeting: "May God Give You Peace."