The Spiritual Life - The Confidence of a Simple Soul

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JUNIPERO SERRA, APOSTLE OF CALIFORNIA

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JUNIPERO SERRA, APOSTLE OF CALIFORNIA

“I want to be a missionary.”

Brother John Samaha, S.M.

            Saint Junipero Serra (1713-1784), the first apostle and colonizer of Alta California was a model evangelizer and is a benchmark for the missionary spirit for spreading and renewing the faith.  The church celebrates his feast on July 1.

          When Pope Francis visited the USA in September 2015 he canonized him at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

          A native of Petra on the Spanish island of Majorca and baptized Miguel Jose, he followed in the footsteps of his early educators, the Franciscans, and took the name of Junipero, who was a disciple of St. Francis himself.  After a decade of service as a noted preacher and professor of philosophy, he rekindled his early desire to be a missionary and requested to be sent to Mexico in the new World.  In 1749 at the age of 36 he wrote a formal petition to his provincial superior: “All my life I have wanted to be a missionary.  I have wanted to carry the Gospel teachings to those who have never heard of God and the kingdom he has prepared for them.” 

          Fray Junipero was missioned to the New World in Mexico, where he served the native populations for twenty years.  When Spain decided to complete the occupation of California, he and other specially trained Franciscan missionaries accompanied the military and the colonists.  During the ensuing fifteen years in Alta California, he founded the first nine of the twenty-one missions.  In this period Serra was compelled to confront the military and civil authorities concerning the mistreatment of the Native Americans.  He drafted a statement of thirty-two grievances which he personally presented to the Viceroy in Mexico.  Some of his recommended improvements were implemented and some were overlooked.

          Though afflicted with an ulcerated leg wound, Padre Serra frequently visited his missions, often walking rather than riding horseback because St. Francis al Assisi had always walked.  Records show that he baptized and confirmed thousands of natives without neglecting the colonists and the soldiers.  He was beloved by all.  While concentrating on the spiritual needs of the neophytes and catechumens, he and his collaborators did not forget their material welfare.  The natives were taught methods of farming, cattle raising, along with arts and crafts.  The native peoples were educated to shift from an unsettled lifestyle to a stable domestic way of life.  Serra’s extensive written reports filed with government and religious authorities reveal a saintly man who loved and served his people as an adept teacher, organizer and manager.

          Although some Spaniards were guilty of abusive treatment, Padre Serra had never been guilty of mistreatment.  On the contrary, he defended them from harm.   In 1784 Father Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, and later he was buried in the sanctuary of its church. When St. John Paul II beatified Junipero Serra on September 25, 1988, he praised the Apostle of California as “an exemplary model of the selfless evangelizer, a shining example of Christian virtue and the missionary spirit.”  These are the traits we are challenged to exhibit.

          A statue of Junipero Serra represents California in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.  Imposing statues of the colonizer of California also grace Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and are also prominently placed in many other cities throughout the state.  His name has been adopted by the international lay organization of men and women known as the Serra Club, which is dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 

          Saint Junipero Serra witnessed to the holiness of the Church and its concern for all people.  As an extraordinary missionary and an exceptional example of the Church’s apostolic calling to preach and exemplify the Gospel to everyone, he personifies the spirit of the new evangelization that characterizes our times.

         

                                        A  Junipero Serra Vignette

          November 24 is the feast day of Saint Junipero Serra, Apostle of California.  The son of Antonio and Margarita Ferrer, he was baptized Miguel Jose and took the name Junipero as a Franciscan.

          Pope Saint John Paul II beatifed him in 1988.  Pope Francis canonized him in 2015.

          This is part of the documented legacy of Blessed Junipero Serra to the Church in California.

·       He walked an estimated 4,000 miles in California on his missionary journeys with an injured leg.

·       He baptized 98% of the adult converts at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel.

·       He confirmed 4,076.

·       The records of The Early California Population Project indicate that his efforts supporting the 21 missions, the Los Angeles Plaza Church, and the Santa Barbara Presidio resulted in 101,000 baptisms, 28,000 marriages, and 71,000 burials.

The Spiritual Life - Jesus the Friend

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Reflections for a Spiritual Life - Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

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Fatima Messages - from the Angel of Peace

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Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows - The Seven Sorrows of Mary as seen through Art

TO THE MOTHER OF SORROWS

Most holy Virgin and Mother,

whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow

in the Passion of thy divine Son,

and who in His glorious Resurrection

was filled with never-ending joy at His triumph; 

obtain for us who call upon thee,

so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church

and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff,

as to be found worthy to rejoice 

with them in the consolations

for which we pray,

in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Prayer Book.


1.  The Prophecy of Simeon.

"The Presentation of Jesus" by Fra Angelico

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2.  The Flight into Egypt.

"The Flight into Egypt" by Vittore Carpaccio

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3.  The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

"The Loss of Jesus in the Temple" Christ the King Chapel, Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois

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4.  The Meeting of Mary and Jesus at the Way to Calvary.

by Andrea di Bartolo

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5. The Crucifixion.

by Giotto

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6.  The Descent from the Cross.

Master of St. Bartholomew Altar

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7.  The Entombment.

by Peter Paul Rubens

Messages from Our Lady of Fatima

We will be sharing the message on Fatima in a format that can be pinned on Pinterest or shared on social networks.  Our Lady's message has never been more urgent.  Please help us to save souls by sharing Our Lady's messages. 

Originally posted to World Apostolate of Fatima - Diocese of Honolulu Blog

The Most Holy Name of Mary

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Mary was a common name among the Hebrews because it recalled the memory of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. For this reason some scholars think this name is related to an old Egyptian word meaning beloved. This understanding certainly fits Mary of Nazareth. She was so beloved by God that she was always in the right relationship with Him. Out of love God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. Love is about the whole person, the entirety of her being, one whose very name is beautiful.

 Every September 12 we honor the Holy Name of Mary in our liturgical calendar. St. Bonaventure prayed, “Your name, Mary, cannot be spoken devoutly without bringing with it some grace." We honor Mary’s name because it is a sacrament of the person. To know Mary’s name is to know her. To speak her name with reverence is to be familiar with her who was most familiar with God. In some Asian countries she is known by names that mean one who hears our cries.

May we always honor the name of Jesus’ mother and our spiritual mother. When in need, call on Mary.

 -- Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

The Danger of Abortion to the Family by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Today on the feast day of Mother Teresa, I share her prophetic words regarding the family.

"If there is so much disturbance in the world today, if there is so much sadness, so much killing and anxiety, it is because the family is no longer united...
father against mother, children against children...
a mother committing a murder in her own womb,
a mother who is afraid of her own child,
afraid to have to love one more child,
so afraid that she must kill that child-
the child must die so that she may live,
so that she may be free.
If a mother can kill her own child, what is there to stop others from killing one another?"

- from The Best Gift is Love.

Prayer of Saint Augustine (after Receiving Holy Communion)

"Death of Saint Monica" by Juan Barba

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O Lord Jesus, let me know myself, let me know You, 

and let me desire nothing but You alone.

Let me hate myself and love You, 

and do all things for the sake of You.

Let me humble myself and exalt You, 

and think of nothing but You alone.

Let me die to myself and live in You, 

and take whatever

happens as coming from You.

Let me forsake myself and walk after You, 

and ever desire to follow You.

Let me flee from myself and turn to You, 

that thus I may

merit to be defended by You.

Let me fear for myself, let me fear You, 

and be among those who are chosen by You.

Let me distrust myself and trust in You,

 and ever obey for love of You.

Let me cleave to nothing but only to You, 

and ever be poor for the sake of You.

Look upon me that I may love You.  

Call me that I may see You and forever possess You.  Amen.

-Treasury of Prayer by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.