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Blessed Junipero Serra OFM
Blessed Junipero Serra OFM

Blessed Junipero Serra OFM

Feast Day
Jul 01, 2013
Patronage
Vocations
<p>Blessed Junipero Serra, O.F.M. was a Spanish Franciscan Friar who founded the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California, from San Diego to San Francisco.&nbsp; He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters in Monterey, California.&nbsp; Junipero was born Miquel Josep Serra in Petra, Majorca, Spain.&nbsp; On November 14, 1730, he entered the Franciscans and took the name Junipero in honor of St. Juniper, also a Franciscan and close companion of St. Francis.&nbsp; He was very learned and was appointed Lector of Philosophy before his ordination.&nbsp; He then received a Doctorate in Theology from Lullian University.&nbsp; He traveled to Mexico City where he taught.&nbsp; He was bitten by a snake and suffered from it throughout his life.&nbsp; He became famous in Mexico City for his fervent and effective preaching of missions.&nbsp; His zeal frequently led him to extraordinary means in order to move the people to penance, he would pound his chest with a stone while at the pulpit, publicly scourge himself, or apply a lit torch to his bare chest &ndash; burning himself. &nbsp;</p> <p>In 1768, Fr. Serra was appointed superior of a group of 15 Franciscans for the Indian Missions of Baja California.&nbsp; The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula.&nbsp; He was appointed as Fr. President of the missions.&nbsp; In 1769, he set out for an expedition to Alta California.&nbsp; When he reached San Diego on July 1<sup>st</sup>, Fr. Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of the 21 California missions founded under his leadership.&nbsp; In 1770, Fr. Junipero Serra moved to the area that is now Monterey and founded the mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.&nbsp; He remained there as &ldquo;Father President&rdquo; of the Alta California missions.&nbsp; In 1771, Fr. Serra relocated the mission to Carmel, which became known as &ldquo;Mission Carmel&rdquo; and served as his headquarters. &nbsp;</p> <p>In 1778, Fr. Serra, although not a Bishop was given dispensation to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation for the faithful in California.&nbsp; During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Fr. Serra took up a collection form his mission parishes throughout California.&nbsp; The total money collected amounted to about $137, but the money was sent to General George Washington to help with the war.&nbsp; Fr. Serra also received the title Founder of Spanish California.&nbsp; During the remaining three years of his life he once more visited the missions form San Diego to San Francisco, traveling more than 600 miles by foot in the process.&nbsp; He did this to provide the Sacrament of Confirmation all those that had been baptized.&nbsp; He confirmed 5,309 persons, who were all Indians.&nbsp; On August 28, 1784, at the age of 70, Fr. Junipero Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo.&nbsp; He is buried there under the Sanctuary floor.&nbsp; Pope John Paul II beatified Fr. Junipero Serra on September 25, 1988. His feast day is July 1<sup>st</sup>, and is Patron Saint of Vocations. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Practical Take Away</span>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>Blessed Junipero Serra, O.F.M. was a Spanish Franciscan Friar who founded the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California, from San Diego to San Francisco.&nbsp; He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters in Monterey, California.&nbsp; Junipero was born Miquel Josep Serra in Petra Majorca, Spain.&nbsp; On November 14, 1730, he entered the Franciscans and took the name Junipero in honor of St. Juniper, also a Franciscan and close companion of St. Francis.&nbsp; He was very learned and was appointed Lector of Philosophy before his ordination.&nbsp; He then received a Doctorate in Theology.&nbsp; He traveled to Mexico City where he taught.&nbsp; From there, he traveled up the coast of California and established missions for the American Indians.&nbsp; Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1988, and because he is the Patron Saint of Vocations &ndash; the SERRA clubs around the world have invoked his intercession in their ministry.<span> &nbsp;</span></p>