José González Rubio
Encyclopedia
José Norberto Francisco González Rubio, O.F.M., (1804-1875) was a Roman Catholic friar
prominent in the early history of California
. His life encompassed the transition from Spanish colonial, to Mexican, and finally, American society.
González Rubio was born in Guadalajara, New Spain
, on June 6, 1804. His Spanish-born parents were José María González Rubio and Manuela Gutiérrez. He had at least two siblings.
Upon completing his primary education, González Rubio studied at the Seminario Conciliar of Guadalajara. He continued at the University of Guadalajara
where he graduated on July 20, 1820 with a degree in philosophy. In 1821, Mexico
gained its independence from Spain
. In 1824, González Rubio applied to the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan
, seeking admission to the Franciscan Order. He began his novitiate, and was accepted into the Order on January 10, 1825 with the religious name, José María de Jesús, and the title of Fray (Friar).
On February 13, 1833, Friar González Rubio was named to replace Father Narciso Durán
at the Mission San José in California, in keeping with a policy of replacing Spanish-born clergy with those born in Mexico. He arrived at the Mission two months later to begin his new duties. During his tenure, the Mexican government began to implement a policy of secularization of the California missions.
In 1842, González Rubio was transferred to the Mission Santa Barbara
, eventually becoming its chief administrator. Father González Rubio served as the Apostolic administrator
of the Diocese of the Two Californias after bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno
's death in 1846 until bishop Joseph Alemany's appointment as Bishop of Monterey in 1850.
González Rubio continued to serve as the administrator of Mission Santa Barbara, and during this time came into conflict with the presiding bishop of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, Bishop Thaddeus Amat, over the question of jurisdiction over the Mission. González Rubio argued that the Mission was rightfully under the Franciscan order, and not the diocese. During this dispute, the United States
annexed California as a result of the Mexican American War. On March 18, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln
restored the California missions to the Catholic Church. The deed to Mission Santa Barbara was given to the diocese, and not the Franciscans. González Rubio protested, but Bishop Amat refused to give up the deed to the Mission. However, in 1925, Bishop John J. Cantwell did hand the deed over to the Franciscans at Mission Santa Barbara.
Padre González Rubio lived long enough to become the oldest survivor of the early California missionaries, dying on November 2, 1875 at Mission Santa Barbara in California where he is interred.
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
prominent in the early history of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His life encompassed the transition from Spanish colonial, to Mexican, and finally, American society.
González Rubio was born in Guadalajara, New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, on June 6, 1804. His Spanish-born parents were José María González Rubio and Manuela Gutiérrez. He had at least two siblings.
Upon completing his primary education, González Rubio studied at the Seminario Conciliar of Guadalajara. He continued at the University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara is a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is the second oldest university in Mexico, the fifth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America...
where he graduated on July 20, 1820 with a degree in philosophy. In 1821, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
gained its independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In 1824, González Rubio applied to the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan
Zapopan
Zapopan is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco, which is part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. It is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century. This image has been credited with a number of...
, seeking admission to the Franciscan Order. He began his novitiate, and was accepted into the Order on January 10, 1825 with the religious name, José María de Jesús, and the title of Fray (Friar).
On February 13, 1833, Friar González Rubio was named to replace Father Narciso Durán
Narciso Durán
Narciso Durán, OFM was a Franciscan friar and missionary. He arrived in California in 1806 after studying briefly at the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico...
at the Mission San José in California, in keeping with a policy of replacing Spanish-born clergy with those born in Mexico. He arrived at the Mission two months later to begin his new duties. During his tenure, the Mexican government began to implement a policy of secularization of the California missions.
In 1842, González Rubio was transferred to the Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara
In 1840, Alta California and Baja California were removed from the Diocese of Sonora to form the Diocese of Both Californias. Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno, OFM, established his cathedra at Mission Santa Barbara, making the chapel the pro-cathedral of the diocese until 1849...
, eventually becoming its chief administrator. Father González Rubio served as the Apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the Diocese of the Two Californias after bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno
Francisco García Diego y Moreno
Francisco García Diego y Moreno, OFM, was the first bishop of the Diocese of the Two Californias.-Early episcopal appointments:...
's death in 1846 until bishop Joseph Alemany's appointment as Bishop of Monterey in 1850.
González Rubio continued to serve as the administrator of Mission Santa Barbara, and during this time came into conflict with the presiding bishop of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, Bishop Thaddeus Amat, over the question of jurisdiction over the Mission. González Rubio argued that the Mission was rightfully under the Franciscan order, and not the diocese. During this dispute, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
annexed California as a result of the Mexican American War. On March 18, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
restored the California missions to the Catholic Church. The deed to Mission Santa Barbara was given to the diocese, and not the Franciscans. González Rubio protested, but Bishop Amat refused to give up the deed to the Mission. However, in 1925, Bishop John J. Cantwell did hand the deed over to the Franciscans at Mission Santa Barbara.
Padre González Rubio lived long enough to become the oldest survivor of the early California missionaries, dying on November 2, 1875 at Mission Santa Barbara in California where he is interred.