• July 1: Blessed Junipero Serra

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sat Jun 30 10:06:24 2018
    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)