September 10--Servants of God Pedro de Corpa and Companions, Priests, Religious, and Martyrs

Georgia has martyrs for the faith and for marriage. These martyrs were killed over 420 years ago in the missions of the Spanish Franciscans to the natives of Georgia. The five martyrs had been missionaries to the region for a few years and had been accepted by the natives, converting many, including the leader and the presupposed successor of one village. However, Juanillo, the nephew of the leader, was opposed by the missionaries. He was rebuked for marital infidelity, even though he was baptized. This offended Juanillo, who then planned and carried out the martyrdom of the five priests. The reasons for the killings, by one who had participated in it, was that they were “troublemaker[s], had forbidden the natives to have dealings with spirits, and had said that they should not have more than one wife.” All of the martyrs had been clubbed to death by Christian natives. The cause for their canonization was opened in 1984, with the positio, or the document/s used to promote the cause, presented in 1993.

We are called to share our faith by being disciples. Sometimes that means we are called to evangelize those who have already been baptized. We may also suffer at the hands of our fellow Catholics and Christians who support marital infidelity of various kinds, including divorce, adultery, fornication, same-sex, so-called, marriage, contraception, abortion, and so forth, in the name of “tolerance” or “diversity” or “legality” or “rights” or “happiness”. We may not be bludgeoned to death but shamed into silence and acquiescence. Keep in mind, silence implies acceptance. Be not afraid of the truth and joy and beauty of marital love. Jesus wasn’t, and neither were the Georgia martyrs.

July 30--Bl. Solanus Casey, Religious

“It seems to me that were we only to correspond to God’s graces, continually being showered down on every one of us, we would be able to pass from being great sinners one day to be great saints the next.” These are the words of today’s saint, Bl. Solanus Casey. Bl. Solanus was born in Wisconsin in 1870 to Irish immigrant parents. He had many different jobs before he heard his calling: lumberjack, hospital orderly, guard in the Minnesota state prison, and street car operator. However, once he heard his call he tried to become a diocesan priest, but his academic limitations kept him from that. Instead, he was able to join the Capuchin Franciscans and become a “simplex” priest, or one who was not allowed to preach publicly or hear confessions.

Even with these limitations on his priesthood, he became known for his inspirational talks, which he was allowed to give, as well as his services for the sick. In Detroit he served as porter, a receptionist and doorkeeper, for his order. He died in 1957 and was beatified in 2017.

Limitations can hinder us, or they can free us. If we focus on our limitations as hindrances, then we get caught up in what we can’t do. We can descend into self-pity, “Oh woe is me. I can’t….” However, if we, like Bl. Solanus Casey, embrace our limitations, we can focus on what we can do. Bl. Solanus Case was “just” a porter, not a teacher, not an administrator, not a theologian. He embraced his limitations, which allowed him to serve in the unique way to which God was calling him. We are all called to serve God in our unique way, sometimes helped by our limitations.

July 1—St. Junipero Serra, Priest and Missionary

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!