Washing Indians’ feet
Miguel José Serra was born in 1713 in the Spanish town of Petra. Influenced by St Francis of Assisi and the missionary Raymond Lull, he discerned a call to the priesthood. His parents decided to take him to Palma, Mallorca, in 1729 to study philosophy at the Convento de San Francisco.
After initial rejection, Serra joined the Franciscans just before his 17th birthday in 1730. When it was time for him to take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, he opted for the name Junípero after one of St Francis’s companions who was known as a “clown of God”.
Serra became a lector of philosophy, but in 1749, responding to his deep missionary conscience, he departed with his student Palou for Mexico via Puerto Rico. During their stopover in Puerto Rico, Serra launched an all-day mission for locals, with priests hearing confessions until 3am.
On the last part of his journey, Serra walked 250 miles to Mexico City on foot, obeying the Franciscan rule not to ride on horseback.
Serra later travelled to Sierra Gorda and was named president of the mission there as it was on the verge of collapse. He learnt the local language and translated Christian doctrine and prayers. He washed the feet of the local Indians and defended them against the Spanish who tried to claim their land.
A holy death
He journeyed on to Monterey, San Francisco and San Diego. While living in San Diego he continued to champion the rights of Indians and translated Christian texts for them. When he was 70, Serra’s earthly journey neared its end. He asked for the Last Rites. Thirty hours later he died holding a cross with the Virgin Mary at its base.
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