Blessed Junípero Serra is ‘one of the founding fathers of the United States,' Pope says
May 04, 2015
Pope Francis urged American seminarians to imitate the missionary zeal, Marian devotion, and witness of holiness of Blessed Junipero Serra (1713-84), the Franciscan friar who evangelized California.
The Pontiff, who described Serra as “one of the founding fathers of the United States,” made his remarks on May 2 during a Mass at the Pontifical North American College, which was hosting a day of reflection on Serra’s life in view of his impending canonization.
“What made Friar Junípero leave his home and country, his family, university chair and Franciscan community in Mallorca to go to the ends of the earth?” Pope Francis asked. “Certainly, it was the desire to proclaim the Gospel ad gentes [to the nations], that heartfelt impulse which seeks to share with those farthest away the gift of encountering Christ: a gift that he had first received and experienced in all its truth and beauty.”
“But I wonder if today we are able to respond with the same generosity and courage to the call of God, who invites us to leave everything in order to worship him, to follow him, to rediscover him in the face of the poor, to proclaim him to those who have not known Christ and, therefore, have not experienced the embrace of his mercy,” he continued. “Friar Junípero’s witness calls upon us to get involved, personally, in the mission to the whole continent, which finds its roots in Evangelii Gaudium [the joy of the Gospel].”
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Further information:
- Santa Messa al Pontificio Collegio Americano del Nord in occasione della Giornata di riflessione: “Fray Junípero Serra, apostolo della California, testimone di santità” (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope Francis celebrates Junipero Serra at Rome's North American College (Vatican Radio)
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Posted by: normnuke -
May. 05, 2015 12:50 AM ET USA
Junipero Serra left a life of ease, comfort and success in order to win precious souls for Christ. how does this make him a 'Founding Father of the United States'? I feel very uneasy about this. The Founding Fathers of the United States are the ones we learned about in grammar school.
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Posted by: Jason C. -
May. 04, 2015 11:38 AM ET USA
If you can find a copy of Geiger's translation of Palou's Life of Junipero Serra, you should read it this year. Palou--Serra's former student, fellow friar, chronicler, and closest friend--makes clear he's not writing hagiography or pious legend. But it's impossible not to be struck by what a holy man Serra was. Stay far, far away from the modern secondary sources, all of which repeat the same made-up lies about Serra and the mission system as a whole.
