A New Texas Carmel, a Sign Against the Revolution.
- Roland Flores
- Aug 18
- 21 min read
Ave Maria! May our Lady of Mount Carmel, together with St. Joseph and all Carmelite saints, pray for us! On this day 18 August 1813, Our Lady of Mount Carmel won a magnificent victory against her enemies in a battle and conflict mostly unknown to the average Catholic. Considering last year around this time, September 2024, a Texas Carmel came under the SSPX [1], I think it’s appropriate to discuss this glory of Our Lady, which lead to the first Carmel in Texas. It all begins in 1810, with the first Mexican Revolution. At the time the area that is now known as the state of Texas was part of Spain. The Mexican revolution began elswhere but spread and evenutally made its way to Texas in 1811. A Military Officer led a coup and gained control but this initial revolution failed and resulted in a successful counter revolution led by subdeacon Juan Manuel Zambrano of San Fernando Church. With that faliure, the rebels looked to the United States for help. Rebel leader Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara traveled to Washington DC for aid for the revolution and gained permission to recruit a milita in Louisiana. During his time in Louisiana he met both William C. C. Claiborne, Governor of Louisiana, and William Shaler, a special agent for the Madison administration. De Lara recruited 130 men and put them under the command of Augustus W. Magee, a commissioned US Officer who joined the cause. During this mobilization, Governor Claiborne sent a letter to Secretary of State Monroe on 6 July 1812, promising the Federal Government no offensive military action against the Spanish would occur until war had been declared on England [5]. Perhaps it was unknown to Governor Claiborne that the administration in DC already had an active agent, William Shaler, within MaGee’s Milita. In mid July Judge Sibley of Natchitoches and a few men illegally crossed into Spanish Texas to address the “Indians of Texas.” Judge Sibley misleadingly addressed himself to them as if they were already under the jurisdiction of the United States. He Assured the various tribes they had nothing to fear if they did not attack US forces. He urged them to join the fight against Spain, of which few did but among those was the largest and most cruel, the Comanche. Sibley's deceiving script was one well heard before by tribes further east and his conduct was clearly a violation of neutrality. It was during this expedition that the Spanish Governor of Texas, Manuel María de Salcedo, learned of the impending Invasion. Two Catholic Caddo Chiefs in east Texas informed their Missionary friars of the invasion, who informed Spanish Officals. Salcedo wrote to the both the Catholic and pagan chiefs and people of the Caddo tribes and appealed to them to help prevent the violation of Texas soil. He sent a letter to be read at the pulpit of the Missions, recalling the many favors which the King had shown their people and he assured them that the Spaniards were their friends, whereas the Americans had consistently driven Indians from their lands. Salcedo also wrote a series of letters asking for help from the other provicens but none answered. He was left to fend for Texas on his own.
The War between the British and US became known to the Milita in the last week of July. England and Spain, eternal enemies, had become allies in 1803 against Napoleon and his revolutions. Using this alliance as justifcation, US Militas and federal units attacked Spanish cities across the continent including Mobile, Pensacola, and St. Augustine (the subject matter of an upcoming article). MaGee’s milita, which called itself “The Republican Army of the North,” illegally invaded Spanish Texas On 2 August 1812. On 7 August Magee sent a few spies to assess the town of Nacogdoches and opened fire on a band of Spaniards escorting Cotten. The skirmishes ended in a general retreat from both sides and on 11 August the insurgents surrounded a small Spanish outpost. The Spaniards surrendered and despite the insurgents sending promises that they had no intention of interfering with individuals, private property, or religion, the Spaniards were arrested while hearing Mass. News of this victory caused a panic and many fled the city, while some prepared to join the insurgents. US settlers had been in Texas since 1803, claiming the eastern portion was part of the Louisiana Purchase. Many of these US setters came to Nachodoches with rumors that the US Navy was disembarking a thousand troops at Matagorda Bay and 500 US troops were advancing from Louisiana. This forced the Spanish officials to flee and abandon the town. The Spanish garrison in East Texas was extremely under manned,with likely no more than 50 men. Texas' difficult enviroment meant as a province it had always been undermanned but the Napoleonic wars and revolutions elsewhere left frontier provinces, like Texas, overwhelmingly under manned. The insurgents road into Nachodoches and were met with cheers by US settlers. Despite the insurgents promise to respect private property and religion, they looted the property of the Spanish who left, including the Church. They also captured the nearby Mission Nuetsra Senroa de Gualduape, expelled the friars and Catholic indians, and looted the Church of anything of value. They captured 600 horses and mules, quantities of flour, powder, munitions, lances, 80,000 pounds of fine wool, and 100 pounds of gold and silver, including sacred vessels. A portion of this plunder was sent to merchants in Louisiana, financial backers of the milita, estimated to be worth 60,000 dollars. While at Nacodoches, MaGee’s milita swelled to over 300 strong and acquired three artillery guns. The inusgents immeddatly made plans to further their adavnce into Texas. Meanwhile, Governor Salcedo worked to expel the invaders, previously he has sent letters to other governors for help but his pleas had fallen in deaf ears. He also sent a number of letters to the towns in Texas, informing them of the sedition of the insurgents. He warned some Hispanics blindly believed that the insurgents had come to aid them in winning independence. They did not realize, wrote Governor Salcedo, "under the pretext of liberty they [United States] are working to take possession of Texas." Only one Governor answered, Manuel Antonio Cordero, and stated he could only afford sending one company. After all, revolts were rampient throughout New Spain. Governor Salcedo, with his two companies under Colonel Simon Herrera and Colonel Manuel María Zumbrano, was left with a force 1/3 the size of the insurgents to defend the gateway to New Spain. He sent a letter to the King stating of himself and his men were: “Loyal servants of the King, we will not recoil before danger, nor will we forget our sacred duty to defend with our lives, if need be, the interests of our Catholic sovereign."
The Insurgents next stormed a small fort called Presidio Santísima Trinidad de Salcedo in east Texas. The Spanish surrendered, with only 37 in their ranks, and were all taken prisoner. This force of 300 insurgents doubled when three companies of volunteers from Louisiana and Mississippi joined Magee and put him in command of 700 troops. News of his victories were spreading fast and many were gearing up to join him. Magee and De Lara regrouped and prepared there forces to attack again. On 18 October the insurgents marched towards Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loretto near the Gulf Coast. The Insurgents marched into the town and right into the Fort. The handful of soliders stationed there quickly fled to San Antonio before the Insurgents even saw them. A deserter informed Magee that Governor Salcedo was placing all his forces in defense of San Antonio, the largest city and capital of Spanish Texas. The Insurgents again captured the local Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo, exepelled the friars and indians, and looted the Church. They left the Church in ruins. Thankfully, the Holy Images and sacred vessels of the Loretto Chapel in the fort had been rescued by locals before the Insurgents got to them. Once the fort was secured for the insurgents, they made plans to to capture San Antonio but were attacked on 14 November. Governor Salcedo besieged the Insurgents and to the dismay of Magee, the vast majority of the local Hispanics supported their Governor and King. Magee had expected atleast half of the local population to join in his revolution but instead found himself in a four month long siege at odds with both the locals and indians. One issue was Salcedo's forces lacked artillery rounds meant to destroy walls, having only rounds filled with many little projectiles meant to fight the Comanche and Apache in a defensive position. This meant the Insurgents were safe behind the walls of the fort. Weeks later insurgents called for a ceasefire and negotiations, while simultaneously taking advantage of the situation and sending out carriers asking for aid. No agreement was met, as Magee wanted to guarantee that all US participants would be unharmed and allowed to return to US territory. This included the insurgents apprehending and delivering all the subjects of Spain among their ranks including De Lara. Ironically, during the talks it became known to Salcedo that the insurgents had African Slaves within their ranks, causing him to inform Magee that slavery was illegal in New Spain. Salcedo also stated that since 1808, Royal decree ordered all slaves entering Texas from Louisiana to free citizens. Iconic since “the men perpetuating freedom from bondage, refuse to allow their black subjects to enjoy the freedom promised by their King.” The siege continued and by late January 1813 Magee ordered a full retreat back to the US. However, as preparations for the fight to return home began, the retreat was rescinded after Magee was found died. Samuel Kemper of Virginia took command on 6 February and announced Magee had committed suicide by taking poison. I guess some things never change. Aid did come to the insurgents with constant attacks on the Spanish royalists by Comanche bands and US insurgents from further north. The Spanish attempted to capture the fort and took heavy losses, forcing them to retreat to San Antonio on 18 February. The Royalist retreat was under constant attack from Comanche braves and insurgents, reducing their numbers even more.
The Insurgents pursued the Royalists and two armies met at the a place called Rosillo, some eight miles from San Antonio. On 29 March the insurgents, which numbered over 800 US volunteers not including Comanche and Mexican rebels, stormed the Spanish position. The defeated royalist Spanish retreated to San Antonio and the insurgents captured the two large Missions just outside the city, Mission Concepcion de Maria and Mission San Jose. Unfortunatly, Mission San Jose was the Queen of the Texas Missions, heaqurters for the friars, and the most desecrated Church. The Insugrents exeplled the friars and used the statues on the Church fascade as target practice. Besides looting the Church, they also took all the vestments, manuscripts, missals and records, and burnt them infront of the Church. The Insurgents shot off all the statues on the Fascade except for the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Insurgents besiged San Antonio and on 1 April they marched into the city. Governor Salcedo pleaded “in the name of humanity” for the individuals, private and Church property of San Antonio. On 2 April governor Salcedo and his officers surrendered with the promsie that his men and city would be pared. All of the rifles, cannons, ammunition, and supplies were confiscated by Magee. They flew their flag over the presidio and capital of Texas. The captured spanish troops were offered freedom if they would fight for the insurgency, and the same choice was given to all prisoners in the jail. This again bolstered the Insurgency's numbers. On 3 April the insurgents held a trial for Salcedo and his officers. Salcedo was found guilty and was sentenced to death along with sixteen of his officers. Just after sunset on the same day, which was Governor Salcedo’s birthday, the Royalists were marched into the brush lands. Along the way they were humiliated, taunted and bound at the feet and hands after a few miles of marching. The only request Governor Salcedo made was for a priest to absolve him and his men but rhis was denied. The 17 royalists then had their throats slit and were left to die, and their remains to be devoured by animals. De Lara declared an independent state and made it known to all that he had no intention of Texas being annexed by the United States, to the great disappointment of President Madison, Governor Claiborne, and many of the insurgents. This caused many US settlers and insurgents to leave Texas including Samuel Kemper. Texas was officially in the possesion of the revolution but the fight was still ongoing in other places.
One royalist colonel, Ignacio Elizondo of Nuevo León, denounced De Lara as a traitor and swore that he would “personally come to burn him and his Protestant and heretical followers.” De Lara and his followers similarly won for themselves an excommunication from the bishop of Nuevo León and from the Bishop of Monterey. The Viceroy of New Spain entrusted the "reconquista of Texas" to the hands of General José Joaquín de Arredondo. Colonel Elizondo joined Arredondo and raised a force from the neighboring provinces and from among Texas royalists refugees who had volunteered to return. By June the royalists under Elizondo were encamped just outside of San Antonio but they forgot they were fighting a people who cared little for God. On the morning of 20 June, while the royalist soldiers were hearing Mass, they came under sniper fire and an ambush. A battle ensued but ultimately the Royalists were forced to retreat in chaos. The insurgents seemed unstoppable and celebrated their victory but this was short lived. A coup formed against De Lara led by US Agent William Shaler. The coup wanted José Álvarez de Toledo to take command instead of De Lara. Toledo had joined the insurgents from Pittsburg and was a political puppet for Shaler and Governor Claiborne. This conflict between the insurgents did not stop the royalist forces from regrouping under General Arredondo, who set out from Laredo on 26 July. The March was slow, recruiting many of the royalist refugees along the way. On 17 august 1813, Arredondo set up camp some six miles west of a place called Medina. Among the recruited royalist refugees was Father José Darío Zambrano, the pastor of San Fernando in San Antonio. Infact all the priests and friars in the occupied eras had been exeplled and most were in the ranks of the Royalist Reconquista. Among the royalists were also Mission braves from the Coalitecan, Karankawa, Caddo, and Aranama tribes. The following priests were among the royalist ranks, Father Miguel Campos, Fathers José Dario Zambrano (not to be confused with his brother Colonel Zambrano mentioned earlier), Father Manuel Camacho, Father Andres Molano OFM, Father Francisco Treviño, Father Florentino Ramos OFM and Father Jose Antonio Valdés. The Insurgents had several protestant clerics and pagan shaman from the comanche and Tonkawa tribes but no priests.
On 17 August, the priests Consecrated the royalist forces of Texas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel after their Mass. This was done at the command of General Arredondo, who placed a statue of Our Lady of Carmel upon the makeshift altar, he also promised Our Lady of Carmel a Church if she would aid him in defeating the Insurgents. General Arrendondo ordred his men to wear the brown scapular into battle and to pray the rosary. On 18 August the Insurgent army marched out in might, with over 3,000 troops including their Comanche and Apache allies. They sought to crush the Royalsits once and for all. They found Colonel Elizondo and about 50 Calvary while they scouted the enemy position. The Insurgents chased the Calvary and came into a second fight with the 150 strong volunteer company under the command of Colonel Juan Zambrano of San Fernando. A firefight ensued and the Royalists retreated, hoping to entice the insurgents into a trap. The insurgents, believing the entire royalist army was retreating, ran straight into the fighting position of General Arredondo’s larger army of about 1,500. The Tonkawa indians were the first to flee at the sight of the Army saying they saw a "terrible sight!" the "Lady of the Friars" was in the sky above the royalist position. Despite this the insurgents and their comanche coninued forward. Eventually, the hours of fighting in the Texas sun through the thorny Bushland had taken its toll on the insurgents. After three hours of fighting, the insurgents fled and the undefeated Republican Army of the North became a fleeing mob. The insurgents suffered over 1,300 killed in action while only 55 royalists were killed in the fighting. The following the defeat hundreds of insurgents, US settlers, and rebels fled Texas to Louisiana in a panic. Among them Toledo, Shaler, and De Lara.
On 21 August Colonel Elizondo took 500 Calvary to Reconquer East Texas and pursed the fleeing insurgents. The royalists quickly retook Presidio Trinidad in east Texas, capturing 17 insurgents and executing 5 of them. Elizondo marched to Nachodoches on 5 September 1813 and found that by then all the Insurgents there had fled to Louisiana. Colonel Elizondo returned to Trinidad on 6 September with 100 insurgents as prisoners. By 12 September he has reached a place called Brazos (Waco TX) and there one of his officers bertayed him, Lieutenant Miguel Serrano, and attempted to free the insurgents. The officer, infected with revolutionary ideas, killed Captain Isidro Elizondo, a cousin of the Colonel, by slitting his throat while he wasn’t looking and charged colonel Elizondo. At the same time the insurgent prisoners attacked the Spanish troops, attempting to overthrow their captors. The revolt was put down but Elizondo received a saber cut on the wrist and a deep wound in his right side. Completing his mission of the reconquista of east Texas, he died ten days later and was buried near the banks of the San Marcos river. He received a funeral Mass and burial from the friars whose Missions he restored. However the insurgence was not over, the final Republican stronghold was the fort at La Bahia near the coast. A vital point considering its closeness to the port at Galveston and the Matagorda Bay. However, when Arredondo arrived he found the Spanish standard flying and was welcomed with cheers, and the insurgents were behind the bars of the old fort. When news had first arrived of the Royalist victory at Medina, the locals took the opportunity to rid themselves of the revolution. With the help of the local Catholic Karankawa, counter-revolted against the insurgents. Pleased by this counterrevolution, General Arrendó left behind a garrison of 80 regulars to secure the coast. Royal and Catholic authority, through Our Lady of Mount Carmel, was restored in Texas. General Arredondo would keep his promise and build a stone crypt over the tombs of the 55 royalists who were killed at Medina. This crypt would consist of a stone chapel with two equally large towers made of the same stone. Father Zambrano, would retrieve bodies of Governor Salcedo and his 16 officers. Their remains would be processed to the city of San Antonio, receive a funeral mass at San Fernando and be buried in the sanctuary. Father Zambrano would refer to Governor Salcedo and his officers as “martyrs” in a letter to the bishop of Monterey. Despite the overwhelming and decisive victory, the prophecy of the slain governor Salcedo was true. This was only the beginning of the revolution’s conquest. Agent Shaler retreated to Louisiana then to Washington DC to plan his return. The war for Texas was far from over.
Following months, the settlements and ranches of the Spanish in Texas would come under constant attack from the Comanche and Lipan Apache. These tribes would be spurred on from agents in Louisiana to weaken the Spanish hold of Texas. In the spring of 1814, a massive attack on Castillo Ranch by Lipan Apache saw hundreds of cattle stolen, and several killed including head rancher Don Ignacio Castillo. The twelve survivors fled to the neighboring Mission San Francisco de Espada for protection. At the same time, plans we’re drafted in Louisiana, including incorporating former French General Humbert. Humbert was an old French revolutionary who fought in the French Revolution, led a failed invasion of Ireland im 1795 and failed to put down a slave revolt in Haití in 1801. Under Humbert hundred of French revolutionaries volunteered to aid a revolution against Spanish Texas. However, despite preparations, the British Invasion of Louisiana in 1815 forced everyone’s attention away from Texas. The Revolutionary leaders in Louisiana, Mexican, French and US, all volunteered for the defense New Orleans. De Lara, General Humbert, and Henry Perry all commanded companies during the battle of New Orleans. Toledo served with commendation as an aide to Governor Claiborne. When the city celebrated the Us victory, the flags of Mexico, France, and even Cartagena (Colombian rebels) were paraded. With the British gone, enthusiastic with their desvive victory in defending Louisiana, revolution was back in Texas by November 1815. Plans were made to establish a port on the island of Galveston for the revolutionary government of Mexico. This port would benefit Mexico and the Untied States, as the revolutionaries sought to buy weapons and supplies from US merchants on Galveston. US Colonel Perry and 50 volunteers crossed and occupied the island but a storm forced them to retreat back. In the spring of 1816 French pirate Louis Aury agreed to receive payment from the Us government to establish and defend a port at Galveston. When Aury was in New Orleans he purchased African slaves to aid in building the port in Galveston. However when these slaves, joined by his other slave storm Haiti, learned that they would be granted freedom by Spanish officials in Texas, they revolted on 7 September 1816. The slaves succeeded, killed most of the crew and imprisoned the rest, inclusion the injured Captain Aury. The slaves figured they had better chances in Haiti than Texas, which was coveted by the US and sailed off. On 12 September a rebel Mexican ship arrived, aided the pirates and officially flew the Mexican flag. From there they planned another invasion of Texas, which included reuniting 7 war ships but only 50 volunteers. On 7 June these insurgents landed on the shores of Matagorda bay and engaged in a battle with Catholic Karankawa Braves from Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio. The fierce Karankawa reduced the number of US insurgents from 51 to 46 during the fighting. On 19 June the insurgents attempted fro take Presidio Señora Loretto La Bahía but were forced to retreat due to heavy losses. Royalist Calvary pursued the insurgents, killing 26 and capturing 14. Among the dead were Colonel Perry and a Major Gordon, a commissioned officer did the US Army. According to Governor Martinez, Perry was wounded and upon seeing that he was about to fall prisoner, shot himself dead. The victory celebration was short lived and plans were made to deal with the fleet sitting in Matagorda bay. The Spanish garrison was unable to deal with such an armada and the Navy was not able to send enough ships to take on the force. However, On 9 July a scouting party found the fleet completely destroyed and a freshly covered ditch that was filled with hastily buried bodies. What was more unusual was that they were filled with rifles, ammunitions and much needed supplies. It would have been impossible for Indians to inflict such damage on the ships and if had been a conflict with pirates, they would have likely stolen all the goods considering the burials. This victory did not discourage further US invasions and many more in Louisiana made plans, but another power set it sights on Texas.
After the fall of the emperor Napoleon, in France, many of his officers fled to the United States and most notable among them was Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon. Joseph had been placed illicitly as the king of Spain by his brother in 1811. Plans were in New Orleans made for these officers to establish a French colony in Spanish Florida and Texas. This action made it apparent that the United States was using the refugees as part of the general policy against Spain. The settlements would be placed along the Trinity river in Texas and Tombigbee River in Spanish Florida (now Alabama). The Spanish consul in New Orleans reported to the king that the objective of the French in America was the conquest of New Spain and the spread of revolution. The of King Spain himself issued immediate instructions to the officials in Cuba, Florida, Vera Cruz, Tampico, Texas, and New Mexico to refuse the French colony. Regardless, about 150 French officers and soldiers under General Rigaud arrived in Galveston in February 1818. From there they sailed to the mouth of the Trinity river, though storms sunk a few of their ships, and met General Charles Lallemand, still loyal to the Emperor and, previous to his arrival in America, attempted to rescue the Corsican from Saint Helena. In east Texas the 300 Frenchmen built a fort and series of log cabins, naming their settlement Champ d'Asile. However, this settlment failed. From there the French fled Texas altogether. However, just after this failed occupation, yet another US Officer set his sights on Texas. In June 1819, US officer James Long, a Virginia native and veteran of the battle of New Orleans, led yet another invasion into Texas. Long’s force consisted of 600 most US men, with some French, Mexican and Indians. On 19 June the insurgents captured Nacodoches, declared independence from Spain, and formed a republic with Long as president. This republic relied heavily on supplies from pirates in the Gulf of Mexico and Long made a pact with the Tonkawa tribes to help defend his milita. On 17 September Royalist Colonel Ignacio Pérez took a force of 550 Royalists from San Antonio and 100 from La Bahia to crush the insurgents. He was informed by a Caddo chief of the alliance between the insurgents and the Tonkawa. With the help of this Caddo chief, 19 of the insurgents were captured while hunting bison. The royalists swept Nacodeoches only to find that the Insurgents had all fled back to Louisiana when they heard of the oncoming Spanish Army. Perez was appalled at the condition of both the parish and Mission church. He found that both Churches had been stripped of all their scared images and any of value. The Mission ChurCh was being used as stable for pigs while the parish church was used as an armory and the altar as a carpenters table. “The desecration of the venerable old temple by heathen Indians and unbelieving Protestants.” Perez had his soldiers carefully clean out the refuse left by the insurgents and built stockades to block the entrances to the doorless building. He knew that these would not keep out the Tonkawa or unbelieving intruders, but they would at least prevent roving animals from desecrating the House of God. Colonel Perez and his men returned to San Antonio and the following year Long returned.
On 6 April 1820 Long returned to Texas with a dozen men, and made his base on Galveston Island. From there Long recruited men and made preparations. By July he only had a small fort and about 800 men, which is when they were discovered and attacked by the Catholic Karankawa. Long made the decision to capture the fort La Bahia in August and arrived ashore on 3 October. Long led a charge and stormed Presidio Nuestra Señora Loretto but their victory was short lived. Colonel Perez and his men arrived and after a three hour long battle, the insurgents under Long surrendered. This would be the last victory for Spanish Texas. As Texas would soon be ceded to the republic of Mexico which won the war in September 1821. Despite successfully repelling every attempt by the revolutionaries of Mexico, France, and the USA, the revolution came to Texas not by rifle or sword but by the stroke of a pen. In 1823 José Félix Trespalacios, the first Governor of Mexican Texas, ordered for the Crypt of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to be set on fire and the Church was completely consumed by flame. Nothing remained except for a single tower. The Mexican government would seize all church and monastic properties, including the Missions, and limit the number of priests in Texas from 26 to only 4. Before long the Mexican government would offer land to US settlers which would eventually lead to their downfall and the annexation of the entire South West to the United States. This rebel victory guaranteed for the short-sighted Apache and Comanche, that they would be free from the Spanish, who wanted to convert them, and now placed them against US settlers, determined to annihilate them. Today the old bell tower of the original crypt built to our lady of mount Carmel still stands in the small Texas town of Losoya. The tower would be used again in 1850 by the missionary Oblates fathers, who re-established the Church in Texas after the various revolutions. This would become eventually evolve into a parish that still exists to this day.This tower stands as a reminder of our Lady’s promise and perhaps servers to teach several lessons.
The first comes from the very foundation of Carmel. The Carmelites’ draw the foundation of their order to Mount Carmel and the Holy Prophet Elias. It was upon mount Carmel that Holy Elias pushed a decision upon the Kingdom of Israel that had fallen into revolution. Would they follow the Lord, God or Baal and the other idols? Elias asked “How long do you halt between two sides? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” As we know, Elias disproved the idols with fire from heaven and the people fell upon their faces and confessed “The Lord He is God, the Lord He is God.” And Elias said to the people “Take the prophets of Baal, and let not one of them escape.” The holy prophet then had the false prophets executed. Here we see many similarities between the dual of Elias and the Battle at Medina. For starters, like the prophets of Baal, these insurgents always seemed to desecrate the holy temples of God and try to limit his priest. Several of the altars of Texas had been desecrated such as the ones at Nacogdoches, La Bahia, and San Antonio. Yet at the end of the battle an altar was built to the true God and the only faith which saves. “He [Elias] repaired the altar of the Lord, that was broken down: And he took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying: Israel shall be thy name. And he built with the stones an altar to the name of the Lord.” Another consideration is that many of the insurgents were former Spanish soliders and officers, or Frenchmen, who defected at the prospect being able to plunder and steal. As it were, of the Texas royalists fighting, there was only those who truly believed in their cause and were willing to die for God and King. This correlates to the Holy prophet Elias who said “I only remain a prophet of the Lord: but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.” Before the battle the royalists heard Mass, prayed the rosary and other Catholic devotion. While the republicans, the first to bring “religious freedom” to Texas, sought superstitions and Freemason rites. Among the US insurgents were several Protestant chaplains, praying in their own vain rites and their Indian allies degraded themselves to their savage pagan practices. Lastly, as we know the revolution eventually did triumph in Texas and Israel did return to its rebellion, converting and relapsing many times until its rejection of the messiah. After Elias’ victory at Carmel, Elias went up to the top of Carmel and after praying fervently for an end to the drought, a cloud approached and brought rain to the people. According to Sacred Tradition, this cloud of life giving rain was a foreshadowing of our Lady. The prophet received by divine illumination mysteries about our Lady and our Lord. While revolutionaries would attempt to destroyed the crypt of Lady Mount Carmel, her devotion would persist, as did the Catholic faith. Spanish Texas was never defeated. Against all odds, Texas remained a possession of Christendom until 1821 when it was negotiated as part of the territory of the republic of Mexico. Texas was surrendered by officials outside of it but never fully conquered by the revolution. In the early 1900s, Mexico was under the scourge of its foundation, countless revolution. This caused an influx of immigrants into Texas, among these were Discalced Carmelite friars who had escaped execution by Pancho Villa’s forces in 1926. The dioceses of San Antonio welcomed them and in 1929 they began construction of what is today the Basilica of the Little Flower, a huge structure dedicated to St. Therese the little flower and of course our Lady of Mount Carmel. Perhaps it was fate that a large Shrine was built in honor of our Lady of Mount Carmel in San Antonio. Carmel is certinalt a sign against revolution in Texas and perhaps God has blessed the Society here with this new addition, with a much deeper meaning. A constant reminder of our Lady’s victory, her suriving Church and her coming triumph.
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