| Father Junípero Serra | |
|---|---|
 years before his death. |
|
| Born | November 24, 1713, Petra, Majorca |
| Died | August 28, 1784 (aged 70), at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in California |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Beatified | September 25, 1988 by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in Carmel, California |
| Feast | |
 Saints Portal |
|
Father Junípero Serra (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded the mission chain in Alta California. Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1713 ( MDCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Petra is a town and Municipality on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, in the Spanish Autonomous community of the Balearic Majorca ( Spanish and Mallorca is the largest island of Spain. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, also known as the Carmel Mission, is a historic Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea California California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Pope A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, also known as the Carmel Mission, is a historic Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea California Carmel-by-the-Sea, usually called simply Carmel, is a small town endowed with a rich artistic history situated on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1713 ( MDCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic A Friar is a member of one of the Mendicant orders. Friars and monks Friars differ from Monks in that they are called to a life of poverty in service The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of Religious outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between Alta California (Upper California was formed in 1804 when the Province of the Californias, then a part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas in the
Contents |
Biography
Born Miguel José Serra in Petra, Majorca, on 24 November 1713, he renamed himself in honor of Saint Juniper, who had also been a Franciscan and a follower of St. Petra is a town and Municipality on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, in the Spanish Autonomous community of the Balearic Majorca ( Spanish and Mallorca is the largest island of Spain. Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1713 ( MDCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Saint Juniper (San Ginepro Fra Ginepro (died 1258 called "the renowned Jester of the Lord" was one of the original followers of Saint Francis of Assisi Francis of Assisi. For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise. On 14 September 1730 he entered the Order of Friars Minor. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1730 ( MDCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic For his proficiency in studies he was appointed lector of philosophy before his ordination to the priesthood. Later he received a doctorate in theology from the Lullian University in Palma de Mallorca, where he also occupied the Duns Scotus chair of philosophy until he joined the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico in 1749. A doctorate is an Academic degree that indicates the highest level of academic achievement Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Palma is the major City and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain The College of San Fernando de Mexico was a Roman Catholic missionary College, or Seminary ( Colegio Apostolico) founded in Mexico City
That year he traveled to North America, first to Mexico City, where he taught. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico While riding on a mule from Vera Cruz to the capital, he injured his leg in such a way that he suffered from it throughout his life, though he continued to make his journeys on foot whenever possible. The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. He requested a transfer to the Sierra Gorda Indian Missions some 90 miles north of Santiago de Querétaro where he spent nine years. The Franciscan Missions of the Sierra Gorda in the Mexican state of Querétaro were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO During this time, he served as the mission's superior, learned the language of the Pame Indians, and translated the catechism into their language. The Pames are an indigenous people of central Mexico living in the state of San Luis Potosí. A catechism (ˈkætəkɪzəm κατηχισμός is a summary or exposition of Doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament Recalled to Mexico City, he became famous as a most fervent and effective preacher of missions. His zeal frequently led him to employ extraordinary means in order to move the people to penance: he would pound his breast with a stone while in the pulpit, scourge himself, or apply a lit torch to his bare chest. A scourge (from Italian scoriada, from Latin excoriare = "to flay " and corium = "skin" is a whip or lash especially He established nine missions.
In 1767, Serra was appointed superior of a band of 15 Franciscans for the Indian Missions of Lower California. The Baja California peninsula ( English: Lower California peninsula) is a Peninsula in western Mexico. The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula from the Jesuits after King Carlos III ordered them forcibly expelled from "New Spain" on February 3, 1768. See also Evangelism, Christianization A Christian mission has been widely defined since the Lausanne Congress of 1974 as that which The Baja California peninsula ( English: Lower California peninsula) is a Peninsula in western Mexico. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Charles III ( January 20, 1716 – December 14, 1788) was King of Spain 1700–88 (as Carlos III King of Naples and Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states Year 1768 ( MDCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Father Serra became the "Father Presidente. " On March 12, 1768, Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to the Californias. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1768 ( MDCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico Early in 1769, he accompanied Governor Gaspar de Portolà on his expedition to Nueva California. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira (1716 1784 was a soldier Governor of Baja and Alta California (1767&ndash1770 Explorer and founder of On the way, he established the Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá on May 14 (the only Franciscan mission in all of Baja California). Another mission bearing the name San Fernando Rey de España is located in the Mission Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles California. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the When the party reached San Diego on July 1, Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the 21 California missions (including the nearby Visita de la Presentación, also founded under Serra's leadership) which accomplished the conversions of all the natives on the coast as far as Sonoma in the north. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Mission San Diego de Alcalá, also known as the San Diego Mission Church, was founded on July 16, 1769, the first in the twenty-one Alta California During their brief presence in Baja California the Franciscans established Visita de la Presentación, a subordinate mission station for San Javier, about When he reached Monterey and founded Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, Serra remained there as "Father Presidente" of the Alta California missions. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, also known as the Carmel Mission, is a historic Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea California Alta California (Upper California was formed in 1804 when the Province of the Californias, then a part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas in the In 1771, he relocated the mission to Carmel, which became known as "Mission Carmel" and served as his headquarters. Carmel-by-the-Sea, usually called simply Carmel, is a small town endowed with a rich artistic history situated on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey Under his presidency were founded Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de Asís, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and Mission San Buenaventura. Mission San Antonio de Padua was founded on July 14, 1771, the third mission founded in Alta California by Father Presidente Junípero Serra The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel California. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded 1772 on the Central Coast of California on a site located halfway between Santa Barbara and Monterey Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on All Saints Day November 1 1776 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order Mission San Francisco de Asís is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions Mission Santa Clara de Asís was founded on January 12, 1777 and named for Clare of Assisi, the founder of the order of the Poor Clares. Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 in Las Californias, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty Serra was also present at the founding of the Presidio of Santa Barbara on 21 April 1782, but was prevented from locating the mission there because of the animosity of Governor Felipe de Neve. The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara California. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Year 1782 ( MDCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Felipe de Neve was the Spanish governor of Las Californias, an area that included present-day California ( USA) Baja California (
In 1773, difficulties with Pedro Fages, the military commander, compelled Father Serra to travel to Mexico City to argue before Viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursua for the removal of Fages as the Governor of California Nueva. Don Pedro Fages Beleta ( Pere Fages i Beleta) (1734&ndash1794 nicknamed El Oso, was a Soldier, explorer and the second Spanish military Governor Viceroys of New Spain In addition to viceroys the following list includes the highest Spanish governors of the colony before the appointment of the first viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa marqués de Valleheroso y conde de Jerena (sometimes spelled Bucareli y Urzúa) ( January 21, 1717, Seville At the capital of Mexico, by order of Viceroy Bucareli, he painted up Representación in 32 articles. Bucareli ruled in Serra's favor on 30 of the 32 charges brought against Fages, and removed him from office in 1774, after which time Serra returned to California. In 1778, Serra was given dispensation to administer the sacrament of confirmation for the faithful in California. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for After he had exercised his privilege for a year, governor Felipe de Neve directed him to suspend administering the sacrament until he could present the papal Brief. Felipe de Neve was the Spanish governor of Las Californias, an area that included present-day California ( USA) Baja California ( For nearly two years Father Serra refrained, and then Viceroy Majorga gave instructions to the effect that Father Serra was within his rights. During the remaining three years of his life he once more visited the missions from San Diego to San Francisco, travelling more than 600 miles in the process, in order to confirm all who had been baptized. He suffered intensely from his crippled leg and from his chest, yet he would use no remedies. He confirmed 5,309 persons, who, with but few exceptions, were Indians {"neophytes") converted during the 14 years from 1770.
On 28 August 1784, at the age of 70, Father Serra died of a snake bite at Mission Carmel and was buried there under the sanctuary floor. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Legacy and Veneration
Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, this being the first step towards canonization, or promotion to sainthood, in the Catholic Church. Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church Pope Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Some Native American groups are opposed to this, claiming that the missions seriously mistreated their people.
The chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano, built in 1782, is believed to be the oldest standing building in California. Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on All Saints Day November 1 1776 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order Known as "Father Serra's Church," it has the distinction of being the only remaining church in which Father Serra is known to have celebrated the rites of the Catholic Church (he presided over the confirmations of 213 people on October 12 and October 13, 1783). Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1783 ( MDCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or A bronze statue of heroic size represents him as the apostolic preacher at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco California, is a large Urban park consisting of 1017 acres (4
Jane Elizabeth Lathrop Stanford, wife of Leland Stanford, governor and US Senator from California, although not a Catholic herself, had a granite monument erected to him at Monterey. Amasa Leland Stanford ( March 9, 1824 June 21, 1893) was an American Tycoon, Politician and founder of
In 1884, the Legislature of California passed a concurrent resolution making 29 August of that year, the centennial of Father Serra's burial, a legal holiday. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Many of Serra's letters and other documentation are extant, the principal ones being his Diario of the journey from Loreto to San Diego, which was published in Out West (March to June, 1902) along with Serra's Representación.
A statue of Friar Junípero Serra is one of two statues that represents the state of California in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol Building. The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol comprises statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history It was sculpted by Ettore Cadorin and depictes Serra holding a cross and looking toward the sky.
When Interstate 280 was built in stages from Daly City to San Jose in the 1960s, it was named the Junipero Serra Freeway. The Juaneño or Acagchemem are a Native American group from Southern California. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading Interstate 280 (I-280 is a 57 mile (92 km long interstate Freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan area of Northern California Daly City is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States with a 2000 population of 103621 Interstate 280 (I-280 is a 57 mile (92 km long interstate Freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan area of Northern California There is also a statue of Serra along the freeway in Hillsborough, California. The statue stands on a hill on the northbound side and has a large pointing finger facing the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific.
Both Spain and the United States have honored Serra with postage stamps.
Santa Barbara, California, has a street named Alameda Padre Serra (Father Serra's Street) that runs from the Mission Santa Barbara along the foothills in the city. Mission Santa Barbara, also known as Santa Barbara Mission, is a Spanish Franciscan mission near present day Santa Barbara, California
San Diego, California, has a street named Father Junipero Serra Trail that runs through the Mission Trails Regional Park to Santee, California. Mission Trails Regional Park is a 5800 acre (23 km² open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California.
Serra High School in San Diego, California's community of Tierrasanta is named after him.
Sources
- This article incorporates text from the entry Junípero Serra in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13730b.htm
External links
- The Humanity of Junípero Serra, an article by Thomas Davis at the Serra International official website
- Junipero Serra and the California Missions Biography, mission information, and prayer for canonization.
- Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo, California, official website
- Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, California
- Colegio Fray Junipero Serra, Catholic School in Ensenada, Baja California
- Serra Club of Charleston, W. Va. in Charleston, West Virginia
- Fray Junípero Serra, mallorquín universal
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic