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| Landmark #338 | Santa Clara County | Visited: August 27, 2016 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The refurbished 8th mission (of 21) founded by Father Junípero Serra! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Founded nearby on the edge of the Guadalupe River on January 12, 1777, this is the first California mission to honor a woman-Clare of Assisi. The mission, which once had the largest Indian population of any in California, was moved after floods and earthquake, its fifth church was dedicated on this site in 1825. In 1851 Santa Clara College was established in the old mission buildings.
OTHER TIDBITS: Saint Clare of Assisi was born into a wealthy Italian family in 1194 AD but renounced her fortune to join a Benedictine monastery under the guidance of St. Francis. While there, she founded the Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano, later the Order of St. Clare! She is known for repulsing an attack on Assisi by placing the bread and wine of Communion on the walls where the soldiers could see them, causing them to flee from fright! She is also the patron saint of eye disease, goldsmiths, laundry, and, of all things, television! Various kings of Spain have donated bells to this church as they’ve been destroyed so that the bells of Santa Clara have rung almost continuously since 1798! Today, this mission is the centerpiece of Santa Clara University, the first higher education institution to enroll students in the state of California! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: In front of Mission Church University of Santa Clara The Alameda and Lexington St Santa Clara, CA 95035 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~346mi (557km) — 5.8hrs |
| When should I go? | The church is open daily from 7:00 AM until sunset! |
