From the Friars: The Apostle of California
On September 23, 2015 I had the honor of concelebrating Mass with Pope Francis for the canonization of Junípero Serra in Washington, D.C. A week later his statue in Monterey, California was decapitated. This was the beginning of many desecrations and removals of images of the saint. He is accused by some of mistreating the native people that he gave his life to serve, and of being part of the injustices of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Statue of Fr Junipero Serra at the statues salon at the House of Representatives.
A serious problem in our time is the inability to see the life of a person in its historical context. It is true that the great missionary saw himself as a spiritual father to his native converts, and would discipline those who rebelled. From our modern perspective, with its emphasis on individual freedom, his methods are seen as oppressive.
As Catholics we can agree with historically accurate and legitimate criticisms of the Church and even of the lives of the saints. Although they are often ahead of their time in recognizing the dignity of others, they remain people of the age in which they live, as we all are. Saints are canonized for their heroic virtue, especially for extraordinary love of God and neighbor.
The facts of Junípero’s life reveal a man of heroic faith and love, who made countless sacrifices for the good of the native people. Most especially he strove for the salvation of their souls and to bring them the truth of the Gospel. Our secular culture is unable to understand that the best thing we can do for anyone is to bring them to Jesus and His Church.
In 1773 Padre Junípero, because of conflicts with the Spanish Military commander, traveled the 1800 miles to Mexico City on foot to personally defend the natives and the missions before the Viceroy. One result was the “Representación”, a kind of Bill of Rights for the indigenous people, over 150 years before native Americans were given U.S. citizenship. When a rebellion in the San Diego Mission resulted in the death of a priest, Saint Junípero insisted the killers be pardoned and set free, for the good of their souls.
Because, he said, that is why we are here. Pax.
Fr. Peter