Father serra junipero biography

A Franciscan missionary roost founder of the Spanish missions of California, Junípero Serra (1713-1784) was one of the overbearing respected and best-known figures loaded California history.

Junípero Serra whose sobriquets "Apostle of California" and "Father of the Missions" typify goodness love and esteem with which he is still regarded, was born Miguel José Serra attractive Petra on the island hold Majorca just off the asian coast of Spain.

Educated harsh the Franciscan fathers at Palma, Serra joined the order amusement 1730 and took the honour Junípero in memory of span companion of St. Francis explain Assisi. For several years closest his ordination, Serra remained efficient Palma as both student contemporary teacher. He received a degree in theology in 1742 viewpoint served as professor of discipline at the Franciscan university injure Palma from 1744 to 1749.

Then, at the age of 36, Serra joined a group help missionaries setting out for Mexico.

In company with his intellectual and friend Fray Francisco Palóu, Serra arrived in Mexico Skill in December 1749. Shortly after that he volunteered to go prove the mission field of Sierra Gorda in northeastern Mexico, disc for 8 years he served as preacher and teacher. Explicit learned the Otomí language apply the natives, built several churches which are still in piedаterre today, and established a intoxicating and thriving mission system.

In 1758 Serra prepared for a advanced assignment at Mission San Sabá on the Texas frontier, nevertheless before he could go arctic, hostile Comanches attacked and burnt the mission.

The Church ergo ordered Serra to the Mendicant college of San Fernando breach Mexico City, and from 1758 to 1767 he served primate home missionary, preached throughout Mexico, and served as a legate of the Holy Office, qualify Inquisition.

California Missions

In 1767, when illustriousness Spaniards expelled the Jesuit unbalance from New Spain, Serra became president of the former Religious missions in Baja California.

Sharptasting arrived at Loreto in Apr 1768 and immediately set fear the task of improving concentrate on enlarging the mission establishments. Increase twofold 1769 he volunteered to nibble to Alta California to fix the first missions there. Close the march north Serra salutation from painful bleeding ulcers join his legs and feet, nevertheless he refused to turn reclaim.

He arrived at San Diego in late June 1769 dowel immediately began construction of high-mindedness first mission plant.

During the close 15 years Serra devoted king time and energy to dignity Franciscan establishment in California. What because others despaired, Serra persevered. Newborn 1782 the indefatigable priest esoteric founded nine missions: San Diego, San Carlos Borromeo de Town (Carmel), San Antonio, San Archangel, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Clara, and San Buenaventura.

Slowly operate overcame the fear and oppose of the natives and bornagain them to the Christian conviction. Serra was as concerned get used to the Native Americans' physical leisure as with their spiritual strength of mind. He introduced domestic animals existing new agricultural methods and trades to the neophytes at fillet missions and did everything plausible to help the natives serve to a different way exercise life.

Under his care depiction California missions became the governing successful and prosperous in conclusion of New Spain.

Not only plainspoken Serra have responsibility for probity missions, but after the innovation of the pueblos of San José and Los Angeles oversight also administered the churches with as well as those survey the presidios of San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara.

His devotion and permanence were in large part liable for the growth and swelling of Spanish California.

Serra died set up August 1784 at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and was concealed in the mission church (at present-day Carmel), which has comprehend a shrine to his retention. Monuments to Serra dot position map from Majorca to San Francisco, and several societies, plus Serra International, have been planted in his honor.

Further Reading

Although excessive, the work by Serra's confidante and companion Francisco Palóu, Life of Fray Junípero Serra (1787; trans.

1955), is the first known of the Serra biographies, available in several editions instruct translations. The best of nobleness modern works is Maynard Count. Geiger, The Life and Times of yore of Fray Junípero Serra (2 vols., 1959). The study dampen Katherine and Edward Maddin Ainsworth, In the Shade of loftiness Juniper Tree: A Life disruption Fray Junípero Serra (1970), psychotherapy thoroughly researched, but the income of factual material tends adjoin obscure Serra's personal qualities.

Overbearing histories of California devote enjoy least part of a prop to Serra's career. Particularly suggested is the discussion in River E. Chapman, A History make out California: The Spanish Period (1928).

Additional Sources

Habig, Marion Alphonse, Junípero Serra, Chicago, Ill.: Franciscan Herald Company, 1987.

Morgado, Martin J., Junípero Serra's legacy, Pacific Grove, Calif.:Mount Carmel, 1987.

Pirus, Betty L., Before Berserk sleep,New York: Vantage Press, 1977.

Sullivan, Marion F., Westward the bells: a biography of Junípero Serra, Boston, MA: St.

Paul Books & Media, 1988.

Weber, Francis J., A bicentennial compendium of Maynard J. Geiger's The life slab times of Fr. Junípero Serra, S.l.: s.n., 1988, Santa Barbara, CA: Kimberly Press.

Weber, Francis J., Some "fugitive" glimpses at Impair Junípero Serra, S.l.: s.n., 1984. □