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The author of this study, a professor of religion, specializes in Native American studies and Roman Catholic history. This book, the first installment of the author's projected multivolume series examining the history of Native American Roman Catholicism throughout the United States, explores the beliefs of the Southwestern mission Indians and their descendants. Although organized chronologically, its disciplinary approach is sociological and anthropological rather than historical, focusing on religious practices and theological beliefs. This viewpoint, however, does not detract from the book's academic quality, scholarship, and potential usefulness to historians. It is well written, extensively researched, and cogently organized. As well, the book provides easily understood explanations of complex theological and religious doctrines. These rich chapters enliven Catholic studies by shifting attention away from the well-known European ethnicities in America to consider vital Indian Catholicisms and contribute to Native American studies by illustrating the importance of cultural exchange and refusing to limit Native American religious history to the past. -- Journal of Religion On the Padres' Trail is a brilliant, sweeping, and clear account of Catholic-Indian relations in New Spain and California. Vecsey's stated objective, 'to understand how American Indian Catholics have adopted Catholic belief, faith, piety, and behavior, and how they have adapted those features to their Indian practices,' is richly described and thoroughly documented throughout the text. This work provides a masterful and cutting-edge response to the question, 'What did Catholicism do for the Indians?' of the Southwest. On the Padres' Trail is an important addition to the historiography of the Spanish borderlands, the history of American Catholicism, and American Indian history. -- Journal of West Christopher Vecsey's book transcends time and cultures by going beyond the historical continuum and expanding its themes into the modern period. Not satisfied with simply narrating the history of evangelization of Native Americans by Spanish missionaries, Vecsey sought the threads that connect the present with the past. -- Colonial Latin American Historical Review On the Padres' Trail provides an admirable synthesis of existing works on the topic. It is extremely readable and nicely highlighted with the voices of priests and Native Americans from archival sources and oral interviews conducted by the author. It is certainly recommended reading for anyone interested in American Indian and religious history of the Southwest. -- New Mexico Historical Review

The author of this study, a professor of religion, specializes in Native American studies and Roman Catholic history. This book, the first installment of the author's projected multivolume series examining the history of Native American Roman Catholicism throughout the United States, explores the beliefs of the Southwestern mission Indians and their descendants. Although organized chronologically, its disciplinary approach is sociological and anthropological rather than historical, focusing on religious practices and theological beliefs. This viewpoint, however, does not detract from the book's academic quality, scholarship, and potential usefulness to historians. It is well written, extensively researched, and cogently organized. As well, the book provides easily understood explanations of complex theological and religious doctrines. These rich chapters enliven Catholic studies by shifting attention away from the well-known European ethnicities in America to consider vital Indian Catholicisms and contribute to Native American studies by illustrating the importance of cultural exchange and refusing to limit Native American religious history to the past. --Journal of Religion Christopher Vecsey's book transcends time and cultures by going beyond the historical continuum and expanding its themes into the modern period. Not satisfied with simply narrating the history of evangelization of Native Americans by Spanish missionaries, Vecsey sought the threads that connect the present with the past. --Colonial Latin American Historical Review On the Padres' Trail provides an admirable synthesis of existing works on the topic. It is extremely readable and nicely highlighted with the voices of priests and Native Americans from archival sources and oral interviews conducted by the author. It is certainly recommended reading for anyone interested in American Indian and religious history of the Southwest. --New Mexico Historical Review On the Padres' Trail is a brilliant, sweeping, and clear account of Catholic-Indian relations in New Spain and California. Vecsey's stated objective, 'to understand how American Indian Catholics have adopted Catholic belief, faith, piety, and behavior, and how they have adapted those features to their Indian practices, ' is richly described and thoroughly documented throughout the text. This work provides a masterful and cutting-edge response to the question, 'What did Catholicism do for the Indians?' of the Southwest. On the Padres' Trail is an important addition to the historiography of the Spanish borderlands, the history of American Catholicism, and American Indian history. --Journal of West

Author Information

Christopher Vecsey is Professor of Religion and Native American Studies at Colgate University. His work includes Imagine Ourselves Richly: Mythic Narratives of North American Indians (1988).

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