How far would you walk on a bad leg?
Most of us wouldn’t make it very far, but St. Junípero Serra was a different story.
Known for his work in early California spreading the Gospel and founding missions, this Franciscan is famous for founding all of those missions on foot and walking thousands of miles as he evangelized.
Most people are unaware, however, that St. Junípero did all of his work while silently suffering from a painful health condition.
St. Junípero Serra grew up on a farm near a Franciscan friary and felt called to the priesthood at a young age after spending a lot of his time at the monastery. When he was only sixteen years old, he joined the Franciscan order and began studying for his PhD in Theology. After receiving his degree, he traveled to Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1749—before the Declaration of Independence was even signed!
St. Junípero Serra
Landing in Vera Cruz, St. Junípero began his journey walking to Mexico City. He developed a painful ulcer on his leg during his travels—but this courageous saint persevered and continued walking while suffering in silence for the sake of his mission.
Wounded leg and all, he personally founded nine missions in California and traveled thousands of miles throughout the harsh Mexican and Californian terrain. Sometimes his leg made it extremely difficult to walk and slowed him down a great deal, but that didn’t stop him. In all, the Franciscans would establish twenty-one missions, stretching from San Diego all along the coast to Sonoma.
Today, St. Junípero Serra is celebrated as one of the most influential saints in early America. In 2015, St. Junípero was canonized at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.—the first canonization ever to take place in the United States.
There are many true American patriots, saints, and places that contributed to the spread of the Faith throughout the U.S. In the fascinating book A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History, you can read about Catholic heroes such as St. Junípero Serra who shaped early America with their extraordinary faith. A perfect summer read—and it’s on sale! Get your copy today at The Catholic Company!
