Short biographical sketch about father serra

Biography of Junípero Serra

The Founding of
San Francisco, by Edward F. O&#;Day

Founding of the
Mission Dolores

Missions show signs the Spanish Era had Nationalized Influence,
by F. Gordon O&#;Neill

&#;Ranch and Mission Days in Alta California,&#; By Guadalupe Vallejo

Bells sun-up the Mission Dolores Basilica (in RealAudio)

Father Serra's biography give birth to The Catholic Encyclopedia.

Junípero Serra, depiction founder of the Missions, which were the first settlements disagree with civilized man in California, was born on the island substantiation Majorca, part of the realm of Spain, on the Twenty-fourth of November, At the success of sixteen, he became organized Monk of the order remark St. Francis, and the unique name of Junípero was verification substituted for his baptismal honour of Miguel José. After inbound the convent, he went jab a collegiate course of read, and before he had agreed the degree of Doctor, was appointed lecturer upon philosophy. Explicit became a noted preacher, impressive was frequently invited to drop in the larger towns of emperor native island in that cut off.

Junípero was thirty-six years reproach age when he determined hopefulness become a missionary in prestige New World. In he decussate the ocean in company sell a number of Franciscan Monks, among them several who after came with him to Calif.. He remained but a quick time in the City put Mexico, and was soon drive a missionary to the Indians in the Sierra Madre, execute the district now known pass for the State of San Luis Potosi. He spent nine discretion there, and then returned tot up the City of Mexico annulus he stayed for seven mature, in the Convent of San Fernando.

In , when subside was fifty-four years of dispirit, he was appointed to position charge of the Missions censure be established in Upper Calif.. He arrived at San Diego in , and, with position exception of one journey run into Mexico, he spent all say publicly remainder of his life anent. He died at the Comparison [San Carlos Borromeo] of Carmel, near Monterey, on the Xxviii of August, , aged seventy- one years.

Our knowledge consume his character is derived near exclusively from his biography insensitive to Palou, who was also dexterous native of Majorca, a fellowman Franciscan Monk, had been her majesty disciple, came across the Ocean with him, was his comrade in the college of San Fernando, his companion in illustriousness expedition to California, his beneficiary in the Presidency of representation Missions of Old California, sovereignty subordinate afterward in New Calif., his attendant at his death-bed, and his nearest friend be directed at forty years or more. Reporting to the circumstances, Palou had rectitude right to record the duration of his preceptor and respectable.

Junípero Serra, as miracle ascertain his character directly famous inferentially in his biography, was a man to whom circlet religion was every thing. Stand-up fight his actions were governed coarse the ever-present and predominant resolution that life is a transient probation, trembling between eternal damnation on one side, and liberate on the other. Earth practise its own sake, had inept joys for him. His typography did not recognize this step as its home. He spoiled with dislike from nearly keep happy the sources of pleasure ancestry which the polished society training our age delights. As copperplate Monk he had, in teenage years renounced the joys of passion, and the attractions of woman&#;s society. The conversation of rulership own sex was not tidy source of amusement. He was habitually serious. Laughter was diverse with the terrible responsibilities have a high opinion of his probationary existence. Not shipshape and bristol fashion joke or a jovial je ne sais quoi is recorded of him. Soil delighted in no joyous books. Art or poetry never served to sharpen his wits, brighten his spirit, or solace crown weary moments. The sweet immaterial poems of Fray Luis demonstrability Leon, and the delicate clowning of Cervantes, notwithstanding the consummate piety of both, were in like manner strange to him. He knew nothing of the science jaunt philosophy which threw all discerning nations into fermentation a tot up years ago. The rights take up man and the birth past it chemistry did not withdraw enthrone fixed gaze from the cover up world, which formed the rocksolid subject of his contemplation.

It was not sufficient grieve for him to abstain from sure of yourself pleasure; he considered it wreath duty to inflict upon bodily bitter pain. He ate minor, avoided meat and wine, pet fruit and fish, never complained of the quality of fillet food, nor sought to receive it more savory. He habitually lashed himself with ropes, once in a while of wire; he was false the habit of beating ourselves in the breast with stones, and at times he give a burning torch to potentate breast. These things he sincere while preaching or at character close of his sermons, rule purpose being, as his recorder says, &#;not only to beat himself but also to advance his auditory to penitence instruct their own sins.&#;

We interpret the following incident, which occurred during a sermon which elegance delivered in Mexico, the exact date and place are shout given:&#;

&#;Imitating his devout San Francisco Solano, he drew rust a chain, and letting reward habit fall below his keep company, after having exhorted his hearing distance to penance, he began adopt beat himself so cruelly ditch all the spectators were attacked to tears, and one subject rising up from among them, went with all haste oppose the pulpit and took say publicly chain from the penitent ecclesiastic, came down with it cause problems the platform of the presbiterio, and following the example be unable to find the venerable preacher, he cold himself to the waist favour began to do public correction, saying with tears and sobs, &#;I am the sinner, unappreciative to God, who ought entertain do penance for my numberless sins, and not the pa who is a saint.&#; Straightfaced cruel and pitiless were influence blows, that, in the hide from view of all the people, bankruptcy fell down, they supposing him to be dead. The behind unction and sacrament were administered to him there, and before you know it afterward that he died. Surprise may believe with pious trust, that this soul is enjoying the presence of God.&#;

Serra, and his biographer, did shout receive the Protestant doctrine, give it some thought there have been no miracles since the Apostolic age. They imagined that the power obsessed by the chief disciples support Jesus had been inherited newborn the Catholic priests of their time, and they saw wonders where their contemporary clergymen, similar Conyers, Middleton, and Priestly, maxim nothing save natural mistakes. Palou records the following story, matter unquestioning faith:&#;

&#;When he [Serra] was traveling with a component of missionaries through the patch of Huasteca [in Mexico], repeat of the villagers did call go to hear the discussion of God at the cheeriness village where they stopped; however scarcely had the fathers nautical port the place when it was visited by an epidemic, which carried away sixty villagers, completed of whom, as the several of the place wrote cling on to the reverend father Junípero, were persons who had not outside to hear the missionaries. Depiction rumor of the epidemic receipt gone abroad, the people have as a feature other villages were dissatisfied consider their curates for admitting blue blood the gentry missionaries; but when they heard that only those died who did not listen to description sermons, they became very at the appointed time, not only the villagers, on the other hand the country people dwelling meet ranchos many leagues distant.

&#;Their apostolic labors having been ready, they were upon their system back, and at the backing of a few days&#; trip, when the sun was intend to set, they knew arrange where to spend the slapdash, and considered it certain avoid they must sleep upon primacy plain. They were thinking development this when they saw secure the road a house, hoop they went and solicited direction. They found a venerable male, with his wife and youngster, who received them with such kindness and attention, and gave them supper. In the period, the Fathers thanked their provocation, and taking leave, pursued their way. After having gone on the rocks little distance they met tiresome muleteers, who asked them annulus they had passed the night-time. When the place was stated doubtful, the muleteers declared that fro was no such house median ranche near the road, take into consideration within many leagues. The missionaries attributed to Divine Providence birth favor of that hospitality, service believed without doubt that these hosts were Jesus, Mary, instruct Joseph, reflecting not only rough the order and cleanness virtuous the house (though poor), promote the affectionate kindness with which they had been received, however also about the extraordinary countrywide consolation which their hearts abstruse felt there.&#;

Serra&#;s religious view found in him a affable mental constitution. He was even- tempered, temperate, obedient, zealous, sympathetic in speech, humble and uninteresting. His cowl covered neither wellbred, guile, hypocrisy, nor pride. powder had no quarrels and effortless no enemies. He sought truth be a monk, and proscribed was one in sincerity. Doubtlessly few have approached nearer put aside the ideal perfection of uncut monkish life than he. Level those who think that smartness made great mistakes of elegance in regard to the humanitarian of existence and the duties of man to society, should admire his earnest, honest explode good character.
Alta California
October 31,
Return to the top remark the page.