From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
July 1: Blessed Junipero Serra
(1713-1784)
Blessed Junipero Serra was a Franciscan Friar and missionary
throughout California and Mexico. Pope John Paul II, in his
beatification homily praised Father Serra as ''a shining example of
Christian virtue and the missionary spirit. His great goal,'' John
Paul said, ''was to bring the Gospel to the Native People of America,
so that they too might be consecrated in the truth.''
Miguel Jose Serra was born in Majorca, Spain. At the young age of 16,
he entered into service to God, joining the Order of Saint Francis,
and taking the name Junipero--in honor of Saint Juniper, the saintly
friar companion of Saint Francis. Ordained at age 24, Junipero studied
in Parma, the capital of Majorca, and taught philosophy and theology
at the monastery of San Francisco at Lullian University for over a
decade. Serra was known as a bright, articulate scholar--a moving
speaker and a clear, precise writer -- but he did not remain long in
academic life. In 1749, at the age of 37, Junipero answered the call
for missionaries, and left Europe, heading to the New World Western
mission territories.
Junipero left Cadiz, Spain and sailed for Vera Cruz, Mexico. During
the voyage, he suffered an insect bite which led to significant
physical difficulties with his leg-- an ailment which remained for the
rest of his life. Upon arrival in the New Work, he traveled by foot
(as would become his custom, despite his physical limitations) to
Mexico City to dedicate his mission vocation at the shrine of Mexico's
Our Lady of Guadalupe. He then received his first assignment--the
rugged, mountainous region of Mexico known as Sierra Gorda. Friar
Junipero embraced his mission work, learning the language of the
native Pame Indians and translating the Catechism for them. He
remained at Sierra Gorda for nine years, strengthening and building
missions.
Soon, word of Blessed Junipero's commitment and skill spread, and h=
e
was re-assigned. His next mission was to journey from Mexico City into
the coastal villages and mining camps. Again, despite his continuously
infected and now ulcerated leg, he walked over 6,000 miles over 8
years, preaching, converting, baptizing, and establishing missions.
Before he was finished, Junipero would establish and oversee
construction of 21 missions in California and Mexico. He was appointed
Superior of Baja California, and later =E2=80=9Cpadre president=E2=80=9D of=
the
region. He linked his 21 missions--each a one-day 30 mile walk from
each other--by a dirt road, named =E2=80=9CEl Camino Real.=E2=80=9D
Throughout his mission work, Father Serra sought to protect the native
peoples, who were often ill-treated by the Spanish settlers and
rulers. He struggled valiantly with military leaders, eventually
becoming instrumental in the establishment of the =E2=80=9CRegulations=E2=80=9D--effectively, the first =E2=80=9Cbill of righ= ts=E2=80=9D for native
peoples in the New World. He also spent time with the indigenous of
the region, learning their language, teaching European farming
techniques, animal husbandry, and arts and crafts. During his homily
at Serra's beatification, Pope John Paul II said: =E2=80=9CRelying =
on the
divine power of the message he proclaimed, Father Serra led the native
peoples to Christ. He was well aware of their heroic virtues--as
exemplified in the life of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha [July 14]--and he
sought to further their authentic human development on the basis of
their new-found faith as persons created and redeemed by God. He also
had to admonish the powerful, in the spirit of our second reading from
James, not to abuse and exploit the poor and the weak.=E2=80=9D
Despite constant setbacks, ill health, cold, hunger, and threat of
bodily harm from military leaders and native Indians, Blessed Junipero
never turned from his mission task. He kept with determination to his watchword, "Always to go forward and never to turn back." He is known
for saying: "All my life I have wanted to be a missionary. I have
wanted to carry the gospel message to those who have never heard of
God and the kingdom he has prepared for them."
Friar Serra was imbued with a penitential spirit and practiced
austerity in sleep, eating, and other activities. During his
preaching, he would frequently enact harsh bodily penance, for the
conversion and inspiration of his listeners. As described by his
biographer, Palau, on one occasion:
=E2=80=9CImitating his devout San Francisco Solano, he drew out a chain, an=
d
letting his habit fall below his shoulders, after having exhorted his
auditory to penance, he began to beat himself so cruelly that all the spectators were moved to tears, and one man rising up from among them,
went with all haste to the pulpit and took the chain from the penitent
father, came down with it to the platform of the presbiterio, and
following the example of the venerable preacher, he bared himself to
the waist and began to do public penance, saying with tears and sobs, =E2=80=98I am the sinner, ungrateful to God, who ought to do penance for my many sins, and not the father who is a saint.' So cruel and pitiles=
s
were the blows, that, in the sight of all the people, he fell down,
they supposing him to be dead. The last unction and sacrament were
administered to him there, and soon afterward that he died. We may
believe with pious faith, that this soul is enjoying the presence of God.=E2=80=9D
Numerous miracles were attributed to the intercession of Friar Serra,
recorded by his biographer, Palau:
=E2=80=9CWhen he [Serra] was traveling with a party of missionaries through
the province of Huasteca [in Mexico], many of the villagers did not go
to hear the word of God at the first village where they stopped; but
scarcely had the fathers left the place when it was visited by an
epidemic, which carried away sixty villagers, all of whom, as the
curate of the place wrote to the reverend father Jun=C3=ADpero, were
persons who had not gone to hear the missionaries. The rumor of the
epidemic having gone abroad, the people in other villages were
dissatisfied with their curates for admitting the missionaries; but
when they heard that only those died who did not listen to the
sermons, they became very punctual, not only the villagers, but the
country people dwelling upon ranchos many leagues distant.
Their apostolic labors having been finished, they were upon their way
back, and at the end of a few days' journey, when the sun was about=
to
set, they knew not where to spend the night, and considered it certain
that they must sleep upon the plain. They were thinking about this
when they saw near the road a house, whither they went and solicited
lodging. They found a venerable man, with his wife and child, who
received them with much kindness and attention, and gave them supper.
In the morning, the Fathers thanked their hosts, and taking leave,
pursued their way. After having gone a little distance they met some
muleteers, who asked them where they had passed the night. When the
place was described, the muleteers declared that there was no such
house or ranch near the road, or within many leagues. The missionaries attributed to Divine Providence the favor of that hospitality, and
believed without doubt that these hosts were Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, reflecting not only about the order and cleanness of the house (though
poor), and the affectionate kindness with which they had been
received, but also about the extraordinary internal consolation which
their hearts had felt there.=E2=80=9D
At the age of 70, and after traveling 24,000 miles, Father Jun=C3=ADpero
Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and is buried there under
the sanctuary floor. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on
September 25, 1988, and is currently being considered for
Canonization. The zeal with which Blessed Junipero lived his life
inspires us each to serve the Lord with the entirety of our hearts,
souls, and lives. What a difference we might make in the world if we
were to embrace our apostolic calling with the same vigor and
commitment that Blessed Junipero did!
by Jacob
Bible Quote:
but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of
deadly poison. [James 3:8] RSVCE
<><><><>
God most High,
your servant Junipero Serra
brought the gospel of Christ
to the peoples of Mexico and California
and firmly established the Church among them.
By his intercession,
and through the example of his apostolic zeal,
inspire us to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)