California's favorite son

Media

Part of The Cross

Title: California's favorite son
extracted text: 48 THE CROSS He planted the Faith on the Pacific shores and he has' been called California's Favorite Son From the Columbian When the delegates to the conven tions, and their friends, arrive in Cali fornia, they ore bound to moke the acquaintance of Padre Junipero Serra, O.F.M., the Founder and first Pres ident of the California Missions. That zealous Franciscan is regarded as California's greatest pioneer and most esteemed citizen. His spirit lives on, not alone in the Franciscan brethren who are his spiritual successors, but likewise in the remnants that remain as testimonials to his untiring labors, as well as in the monuments that have been erected to honor his name and to perpetuate his memory. It is a far cry from 177), when San Gabriel was founded, to 1952, when the Knights of Columbus con vene in Los Angeles; there is startling contrast between the crude Indian villages and the fabulous suburbs of the modern metropolis. Such im pressions are revised, however, when the tourist and the resident alike come to know intimately this Mollorcan juniper, who, though small of stature, was a giant by every other rule of measure. Did he not ever stand for progress? Was he not al ways laboring for expansion and dev elopment? Was not his life-long mis sionary motto already formulated in the farewell letter to his parents: "Always go forward ond never turn back!" His personal reaction to the Bay of San Francisco, when first he stood above the Golden Gate, reflected the same apostolic impatience: "If we are to go farther, we must to boots"; for he envisioned missions os far as north Alaska. Serra was Christ's planner and God's plotter in planting the Cross along what wos, a hundced and sev enty years ago, only rugged coastline and barren wilderness. Were he to tread el camino real anew from San Diego to San Gabriel, I feel he would prove the some divine schemer he had been in 1774. After completing the herculean task -of leading Juan Bau tista de Anza across the Mojave de sert to San Gabriel, Fray Francisco Garces, O.F.M., had continued on to San Diego to visit the revered 'Padre Presidente. The Apostle and the Knight-Errant of California then walk ed together from the Mother of the Missions to the Pride of the choin. DECEMBER, 1952 49 Their conversotion is unrecorded, but the burden of their heorts is known ond the zeal of their lives remains on inspirotion. Gorees, familiar with the Arizona missions, ond Serra, Fother of those in California, must have mopped the strategy—a mission ary pincer movement—for the future missions to be established along the King's Highwoy. They must likewise have envisioned further cbminos, mov ing eastward; for, little more than a year later. Fray Francisco Gorees wos destined to penetrate Son Jooquin volley for the first time and to in dicate a location near the modem city of Bakersfield as a site suitable for a mission. Perhops it is because Serro would feel so ot home in modern California, and discover so many outlets for his boundless energy in our twentieth century, thot we in our turn feel so at home with him and his eighteenth century world. Certainly he fits into modem civilization, which will not al low his memory to fade. Thot day he tramped from San Diego to Son Gobriel, he had been in Californio only five years, during which time he had erected as many missions. When Garces returned to California two yeors later, guiding the second Anza expedition across* the desert for the founding of San Francisco de Asis, Fray Junipero was in the south clear ing the site and blessing the ground for Son Juan Capistrdho. .Two more missions, Santa Clara and San Buena ventura, and the royal presidio chapel of Santa Barbara, the aging Padre was to found before the angel of death hovered over his pallet at his beloved Carmelo in 1784. A decade and a half venerable "el Viejo," as he was affectionately known to his Indian charges, lived and labored in California. He estab lished nine of the twenty-one mis sions, which under his prudent ad ministration developed into thriving communities. At each visit to those growing centers he noted with pious pride the number of baptized Indians, until the registers listed 5,800. Dur ing his several painful journeys from Son Francisco to San Diego, his priest ly heort overflowed with gratitude as he brought 5,307 of those neophyte converts to supernatural maturity by administering to them the sacrament of Confirmation. The Cross he had planted securely and Christ he had enthroned in real churches, demon strating unto the end that "as long as life lasts. . .1 will do all I can do to propagate our holy Faith." Fifteen years constitute little more, than the fifth part of a life thot is counted in seventy yeors ond one. Fully to appreciate the zeal and eval uate the fruits of the most memorable decade and a half of Serra's life, we must recall the antecedents. The future Colonizer of California was bom in Petra, Mallorca, November 24, 1713. In the neighboring city of Palma, at the age of seventeen, Miguel Josh's name was changed to Juniper, when he received the habit of Saint Francis, girded himself with the white cord and donned the fam iliar open sandals. During the course of his studies for the priesthood, 50 THE CROSS Serra reveoled the exceptional mental ability which won for him the doc torate in Sacred Theology. After he had been ordained a priest, Serra was chojen to occupy the choir of Scotistic Theology in the Lullian Uni versity of Palma. His learning in the lecture hall and his eloquence in the pulpit combined to earn him insular renown. Successful in his work and happy amid his surroundings. Padre Junipero appeared destined to ec clesiastical preferment on the Ba learic Island thot was his homelond. Behind the scholarly mien and un der the exemplary religious observ ance, however, there was a restless ness that increased rather than dim inished with the passing years. The setting went back some nineteen yeors to the days when he had first donned the habit of the Poverello. His favorite reoding then had been the lives of Franciscan saints and among these he cherished most the biographies of the missionary heroes, ■fhe fire thus kindled was steadily fed by the stories and rumors that drifted across the Atlantic during that hey day of Spain's far-flung empire. The missionaries going to the Indies and those returning from the fields afar hod ever captured his imagination and enkindled his zeal. The perplexed professor discerned the clear call of God's loving Provid ence when his friend and former pupiL Fray Francisco Pal6u, revealed to him the kindred desire of sailing to New Spain. Preparations were hastily made and arrangements quick ly handled so that they could embark on the ninety-nine day voyage on August 30, 1749. Upon docking ot Vero Cruz, on December seventh, Serra insisted on walking the three hundred miles to the shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe. It was on this pilgrimage that his leg was injured. The wound was to harbor a persistent pain and be a continual penance for some thirty-five years. In Mexico City, the youthful mis sionary entered the Apostolic College of Son Fernando, where he received the proximote preparation for his ac tual labors among the notives. Dur ing his brief six months in that're nowned monastery, the former pro fessor edified the community by the promptness and regularity of his reli gious life. Shortly, he wos assigned to the mountoinous Sierra Gorda re gion. Up tortuous footpoths he trudged, a song in his heart that at long last his cherished desire was realized: "...the office of apostolic missionary... is so high an honor that I could wish for nothing, more. . . . There is my life, and there with the help of God, I hope to die." Serra's Dream of Martyrdom The idealized picture, enhanced by the report that there were a thousand Christians in the region, gave way to stork realism when the Friar leamt that not an Indian had made his Easter duty. Methodically, the fire brand set about his task of bringing home the faith to these simple, un appreciative children. He dramatized the feasts of the liturgical year, he led their songs and gradually they came to realize the beauteous depth DECEMBER, 1952 51 and the dizzying heights of God's love. Eight full yeors he labored selflessly in’thot remote region. When he was summoned from the mountain fastnesses, in 1759, he could report to his superiors that not a single native remained unbaptized in the district, which now boasted five mis sions, ambitious in size and of sturdy yet ornate construction. If his heort had sung os he first wended his way to Santiago de Jalpon, his feet were winged with ex pectancy as he departed. Two Fran ciscans had recently been killed in Texas. Serra wos being summoned to replace one of them. For the second time in his life, it seemed as though his dream of martyrdom might find fulfillment. Gladly, therefore, he parted from the little fock with which he had become, enamored. As he stretched out his eager arms to clutch the crown of death for Christ, it was snatched from his reach. His appoint ment had been reconsidered and he was now commissioned to preach mis sions to the faithful in Mexico. Again, it was a strenuous opostolate: travel that was perilous and un comfortable, arduous preaching that sapped his energy, private interviews to settle knotty problems and lengthy hours in the confessional, dispensing God's tireless mercy. It was arduous work, but then the holy Padre was once to write that he had stricken the word "rest" from his vocabulary for the duration of his earthly exist ence. Even heaven accepted the Friar's surrender of rest ond leisure; for now, at the age of fifty-five, after seven teen laborious years of service in New Spain, his responsibilities were increased. In 1767, the King of Spain banished the Jesuits from his domains; other religious orders were to take over the administration of their enterprises. The thirteen mis sions of Baja (Lower) California were assigned to the Franciscans of San Fernando College. The presidency over the territory ond the fifteen mis sionaries was confided to Padre Juni pero Serra. Scarcely had the greying Franciscan taken over this administration, when his life's great ambition, that of opening g new territory, found un expected opportunity: Don Jose de Galvez invited Serra to join him in planning the occupation of Alta (Up per) California. Although Spain had been interested for some two hundred and twenty-five years in the area covered by the modem state of Cali fornia, there had been no compelling incentive to prompt the colonizing of that land. Now, however, because the Russian Bear was stalking across the top of the world threatening to found fur settlements along the west ern slope of North America, Charles III commanded his viceroy to act. Toking the key points that had been indicated by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542 and. by Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602, Serra and Gdlvez decided upon three initial missions: San Diego de Alcold, San Carlos de Borromeo at Monterey, and a third midway between the two ports. The plans were diligently drawn, 52 THE CROSS the supplies were carefully gothered ond the first expeditions to occupy Upper California set out by land and sea in 1769. Sanguine expectations were abruptly chilled at the rendez vous in San Diego, where it was learned that the seo expedition had met all but disoster during the voy age. Portola's trek to Monterey en countered disappointment, when the explorers failed to recognize the boy that had so thrilled Vizcaino. Mean while, the supply ship, Son Antonio, had not put into Son Diego. The occupation, begun omid such enthusi asm, appeored doomed to dismal fail ure, os the discouraged commander announced that the project would have to be abandoned ond the colon ists must return to Mexico. Serro was determined thot this opportunity to win California to Christ would not slip through his fingers. He begged Portola to ollow time for a novena to Saint Joseph, in order that Provid ence might save the expedition which had already cost so much in lives and energy. On March 19, 1769, San Antonio hove into sight and Cali fornio's occupation wos guaranteed o Spanish culture and a Catholic civil ization. The next fourteen years proved strenuous but rewording. A rugged wilderness was transformed into habit able territory, with ever expanding plans so thot eventually the sentinels along el camino reol would stand a day's journey aport. Is it surprising that when Serro met Garels in 1784, these kindred souls should already envision the second chain of missions eastwords? Yes, Junipero Serra would be ot home in the Colifornia of 1952. The speeding traffic might startle him; the senseless preoccupation for the riches of this world might perplex him, but there would be so much with which he is fomilior thot he would adjust his mentality to the twentieth century. The missions, some founded with his own hands, others the fruition of his far-reaching plans, would bring tears to his soulful eyes. The litany his heart had sung, ond which he begon to transcribe, is'still inscribed on the scroll which is the modern state of California. The sea and the mountains, the birds and the flowers, which hod offorded him true Franciscan joy and at-home-ness the universe, are still here in their varied beauty ond harmony. The Indians have dwindled in num bers, but their traditions ore the har vest of Serra's sowing. The principal opostolate now is among the natives who ’ have sup planted the aborigines: millions of Americans to be held in Christ's lov ing embrace; millions more who know not the Liege-Lord, Whom this ro mantic soul served so chivalrously. Serra would look around, thank God for the opportunity ot hand and begin where he hod left off; for his own prophetic words would ring in his ears: "There the crosses remain, but there is not one to explain their meaning to these poor people, but I hope in God that this will be done in time." DECEMBER, 1952 53 Many Memorials To His Name El Viejo, however, would be em barrassed to find himself in such con stant demand. He had once written: ". . . there is no reason why my name should be mentioned, except for the blunders I may have committed in doing the work." But today, he would hear his name mentioned reverently by every child who has reached the fourth grade of grammar school. He would read the familiar word SERRA, ernblozoned from one end of the Gol den State to the other: streets bear his name, and buildings are identified by his title; high schools, theoters and a retreat house are dedicated to his memory; his picture is found in pub lic buildings ond class rooms, his like ness hos been woven into stoinedglass windows, while statues stand in public parks ond on thoroughfares teeming with troffic. He would no doubt be interested in the modern growth of the United States and be overjoyed to learn thot the State of his opostolate was the thirty-first to enter the Union. He would be speechless, however, to discover that his grateful fellow citizens in Cali fornia had chosen him as one of their two favorite sons to stand in Statuary Hall 'of the Notion's-Capitol. The humble, self-effacing Friar would receive his greatest shock in picturesque Santa Barbara. He would be impatient to visit that Queen of all the Missions; for he had employed all his powers of persuasion ond exerted all his influence, urging its foundation. His joy would be full when he learned that here the cor ridors have felt uninterruptedly the familiar tread of sandaled feet ond that in this, California's first cath edral, the sanctuary lamp has never burnt out. Here is the mother house whence developed the Franciscan Province of Californio—which he hod prophesied—dedicated to his beloved Santa Bdrbora. He would explore every nook and cranny with joy until, with something of terror, he opened the files labeled "Junipero Serro documents" and entered the special office, designated "Serra Cause." He would drop into a chair and with unwiliing ears would learn of the diligent lobor and careful scholarship that his Franciscan brethren have ex pended to bring him to the honors of the altor. He would shake his head incredulously os he was in formed thot for ten years and longer, the lengthy preparation of the most complicated legal process hos been going on in order that some day Christ's Vicar may trace oround his head the halo of a canonized Saint. Thot blessed day of Serra's glori fication can best be hastened by in cessant prayer thot God may deign to effect the signs ond wonders which will indubitably point out California's Apostle as a Saint in glory. The ever increasing number of fovors, attrib uted to Junipero's intercession, are encouraging indications that persever ing proyer is being answered.
Date: 1952
Rights