Posted on 05/03/2015 1:33:15 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Pope Francis weighed in on a thorny topic in California history Saturday when he spoke at length at a Rome Mass about Father Junipero Serra, the controversial California mission founder set to become America's first Latino saint later this year.
Addressing an audience that included many American priests, including Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, the pope referred to the 18th century Franciscan priest as “one of the founding fathers of the United States” and praised his willingness to abandon the comforts and privileges of his native Spain to spread the Christian message in the New World.
I wonder if today we are able to respond with the same generosity and courage to the call of God,” Francis said during a homily at Rome’s American seminary, the Pontifical North American College.
Francis will formally declare Serra a saint in September during the Washington, D.C., leg of his first visit to the United States. Although the Vatican has canonized Americans before, Serra will be the first saint canonized on U.S. soil.
In California, Serra has been criticized by native American activists for his role in a Spanish colonial system that mistreated and displaced indigenous people, and some have accused him of forcing people to convert to Catholicism. The state Senate voted last month to replace a statue of Serra in the U.S. Capitol with astronaut Sally Ride.
(Excerpt) Read more at touch.latimes.com ...
Father Junipero Serra — the man who invented the franchise business.
To the Pope I say, lighten up Fancis! Serra was no Founding Father!
Not quite a “founding father” in the usual sense, but certainly a founding father of California.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Rev. War, George Washington, Founding Father ping list.
LOLOLOL! Each mission was located one day’s horseback ride from the next one in the chain. Not a bad plan.
El Camino Real (Hwy 101) bump !
3, 2, 1. Hang on, it will come.
I don’t think the Pope quite gets the concept of the Founding Fathers. Of course, with his broader notion, St. Herman of Alaska would have to count, too.
Read for later.
Like it or not, he introduced European Christian culture in California as much as the Puritans did in New England. Just the way it was.
St. Herman of Alaska! Axios!
Junípero and the Others: The Pope Praises the Courage of America’s Missionaries
History, Truth, and Politics: the record on Father Junipero Serra
Statue of Pope Francis' new saint could be kicked out of US capitol
Pope's Canonization Announcement Surprises Even Serra's Promoters
Pope Francis Announces Sainthood for Junipero Serra, Founder of California Missions
Bl. Junípero Serra and the Holy Family
Cathedral yields more surprises: Crews unearth Presidio chapel remnants
Blessed Junípero Serra 1713 - 1784 (Mission Chronology, Biography, etc.)
The Significance Of Blessed Junipero Serra (pictures of Missions)
Start a Serra Club in your area and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
What about Marquette, Joliet and Baraga did they not do more for the indigenous than Serra? Oh wait I forget this has to do with the Spanish, and this pope is obvilious to anything other then the history of spain and the Catholic Church
In His Steps Prayer
"Walk with Blessed Junipero Serra as he traces our Lord's footsteps in search of workers for the vineyard."
Holy Spirit, you are the love and light of the world. Continue to give all Serrans the courage and generosity to respond ardently to your call.
With one voice now, all Serrans say, "Here I am Lord." Fire each of us with a renewed spirit and enthusiasm to work for vocations for our Church.
Deepen our commitment to the Serran mission that we may, indeed, walk "in his steps" on our journey.
Father, we ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord, through the intercession of Blessed Junipero Serra and Mary, the Mother of the Church and religious vocations.
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LOWER CALIFORNIA |
UPPER CALIFORNIA |
He also sold tacos out of the side of his stagecoach as it passed from village to village.
Lighten up. The Pope is just making a little pun on Junipero Serra's priestly title.
I’m a Catholic, but the man is an idiot.
The Oxygen Deficient Pope.
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