[Mrs. Don-o]

Googled it

$137 from Serra to Washington

[Salvation]

Wow!

[xone]

Googled it

As did I. wiki is very contradictory with its 'facts' in this manner. I was hoping you had something else.

[BlueDragon]

Looks like baseless rumor and repetitious jibber-jabber, to me.

When you have something more solid, like some document from that era, then let us know.

Meanwhile, this should be dismissed as unsubstantiated rumor.

From one of those links, http://www.newmanconnection.com/faith/saint/blessed-junipero-serra-ofm;

His zeal frequently led him to extraordinary means in order to move the people to penance, he would pound his chest with a stone while at the pulpit, publicly scourge himself, or apply a lit torch to his bare chest – burning himself.

Sound like a whack-job.