Editing Fermín de Lasuén (section)

==Intellect, personality and character==
[[File:San Juan Bautista, CA USA - Old Mission SJB - panoramio (56).jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|Statue of Fermín de Lasuén in [[San Juan Bautista, California|San Juan Bautista]].]]
Although of a more introspective and brooding temperament than his predecessor Junipero Serra, Lasuén was a dedicated and capable administrator, founding the remaining California missions.  Captain [[Alessandro Malaspina]] described Lasuén as such: "...a man who in Christian lore, piety and conduct was truly apostolic, and his manner and learning unusual."<ref>Archival Center of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, "Private notes on California'a Catholic Heritage", ed. by Msgr. Francis Weber, not paginated.</ref>  It is clear from his diaries that Lasuén struggled with loneliness and perhaps some depression brought about by the extreme conditions he encountered in San Diego when he was asked to return to restore order after the murder of Fray Jayme. Lasuén described the ardors of missionary life as such:

{{quote|"A missionary priest has to engage in many duties, many of which only concern him as a means to something else.  He is responsible for the spiritual and temporal welfare of people who are many and varied.  He has individuals who are more dependent on him than small children, for there are many needs that arise...and many different things to be done for the different groups that make up the community.  He is surrounded by pagans, and placed in charge of neophytes who can be trusted but a little..."<ref>Wise, Winifred, "Fray Junipero Serra and the California Conquest", New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1967,pp. 154-155.</ref>}}

At age 47, writing to his friend Fray Joseph de Jesus Maria Velez in 1783, Lasuén stated:

{{quote|"I am already old and entirely gray and although [to some extent] this is caused by my age, yet the difficult exercise of my position here has also brought this about, especially during the five years I am about to celebrate as minister of San Diego.  This land is for apostles only and its people call for apostolic men greater than I happen to be; but (thanks to God) I enjoy good health and shall try to use it to some good purpose, although somewhat languidly.<ref>Geiger, Maynard, OFM, "The Life and Times of Junipero Serra, Vol. II" Richmond: William Byrd Press, 1959, p. 322."</ref>}}