Friends of the Rosary:
Today, the Church in the United States celebrates the Memorial of St. Junípero Serra (1713-1784), the 18th-century Franciscan missionary who brought the true faith to the people of North America’s west coast.
Junípero Serra, patron Saint of California, founded 21 missions and converted thousands of Native Americans.
The first mission founded, after the nine-hundred-mile journey north, was San Diego (1769). Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luis Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra’s death.
His zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight until dawn.
St. Junípero Serra baptized over six thousand people and confirmed five thousand.
He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He was buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was beatified in 1988.
He was canonized in 2015 by Pope Francis during his visit to the United States.
Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!St. Junípero Serra, Pray for Us!
To Jesus through Mary!
+ Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York