San Juan Capistrano, San Diego de Alcala, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Santa Clara. These are a few of the California missions founded by St. Junipero Serra. Many of the cities of California started out as missions founded by Serra and the Franciscans as they conducted the last great spiritual conquest of Mexico starting with San Diego in 1769 and ending with the 21st mission in 1823.
St. Junipero Serra founded the first nine as he trod north and south on the California coast baptizing over 6,000 natives and confirming 5,000. St. Junipero Serra joined the Franciscan order and for the first years of his ministry he was a college professor in Spain. He then went to Mexico to become a missionary. He ministered in central Mexico and Baja California for 18 years, becoming president of the missions in Baja. He began the "upper" California missions when he was 56 years old and continued for another 15 years. He not only worked among the natives, but also protected them from military leaders who were intent on subjugating the California coast in response to a Russian threat of invasion from Alaska. His efforts resulted in a "Bill of Rights" for the Native Americans.
Beatified and canonized saints are those whose lives demonstrate heroic virtue. St. Junipero Serra showed his love and dedication to God by his love and dedication to the people he served. He battled with military leaders; he risked death from the natives; he prayed, often throughout the night. We are called to be saints by loving God through the people we are with daily. Sometimes that involves heroic virtue as well!
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