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Father Junipero Serra's last days in California

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Published: 31Jul2010
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"I shall not turn back!

It took Father Serra almost twenty years, from the time he was first summoned to come to the New World and serve in the missions, before he got to his first California Mission in San Diego, in what is today the State of California.

Those twenty years prior to arriving at San Diego were at times a painful prelude, filled with joy and sorrows, readying him for his biggest challenge, setting up missions a day's walk apart up the coast of California. The missionary who worked furtively his last years on earth was tired and more dead than alive. When one of his companions begged him to stop, his legs so badly swollen and in pain that he could not celebrate Mass standing, Father Serra refused saying,

"Please do not speak of that, for I trust that if God will give me the strength to reach San Diego, as He has given me the strength to come this far, I shall not turn back. They can bury me wherever they wish and I shall gladly be left among the pagans, if it be the Will of God."

It had taken him almost three months to reach San Diego from Baja California. Half dead, most of the time, he never turned back!

December 26, 1770, Father Serra performed his first baptism in California. In addition to San Diego and San Carlos del Carmel, Father Serra went on to found San Antonio de Padua in July, 1771; San Gabriel in September, 1771; San Luis Obispo in September, 1772; San Francisco in October, 1776; San Juan Capistrano in January, 1777; and San Buenaventura in March 1782.

Our little missionary goes Home, at last!

August 28, 1784, with no more to give, his last ounce of blood shed for the Church he so passionately loved and brought to the natives of the Americas, Father Serra, died in the arms of his former student and dear friend Father Palóu.

Pressing his crucifix close to his heart, he turned to his friend and gave him his last will and testament:

"I promise, if the Lord in His infinite mercy grants me eternal happiness which I do not deserve because of my sins and faults, that I shall pray for all those (at the missions) and for the conversion of so many whom I have left unconverted."

Our missionary died as he lived, like Jesus before him, thinking and praying for those he was leaving behind. He taught the natives and by his example, as well as word, led them to become some of the strongest Catholics in the Western hemisphere.

Bob and Penny Lord are renowned Catholic authors and television hosts on EWTN, Global Catholic television. They are prolific writers about the Catholic faith, especially the Saints for which they have been dubbed "experts on the Saints." For more about Father Serra and the Missions of California go to: http://www.bobandpennylord.com/Bl_Junipero_Serra.htm

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