Before the New World

Describe Fr. Serra’s priestly life before he arrived in the New World

Miguel Jose Serra made his Franciscan promise when he was just 18. He took the name Junipero, in honour of Brother Juniper, a close companion of St. Francis of Assisi.

Fr Junipero taught at the Franciscan Seminary, and preached at different parishes on the island of Mallorca. He was happy to serve God as a priest, but longed to be a missionary. He prayed for the chance to be received as a missionary, and at length his chance seemed to have arrived.

News came from New Spain* that more missionaries were needed; needed to preach to the Indians. Anyone who accepted this task would have to serve a minimum 10 years. Of course Fr Junipero requested to be sent, but (alas!) his superior was reluctant to lose such a good seminary lecturer. When the priests departing from Spain gathered at the seaport, Fr Junipero was not among them.

Five priests from Andalusia, an inland mountain region, arrived at port. They regarded the vastness of the ocean, which they have never seen before, were terrified of its immensity. They decided to remain in Spain. Now, there were five new openings. Fr Junipero’s superior gave him the required permission, and he prepared to depart to Spain. He did not return to his family to say goodbye. He knew they might waver him in his decision in leaving. He sailed from Mallorca to Spain then to the New World.

  *Mexico

26/10/11  © Sararose

 

St. Florian

St. Florian lived in the 3^rd century, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. The Roman regime sought to get rid of Christianity, and sent soldiers to persecute Christians. One soldier ordered Florian to offer sacrifice to the pagan Roman gods. Naturally, he refused, and cheerfully accepted the beatings of the soldiers, who used clubs, spikes and fire to torture him. He was executed by drowning in the Ems River* with a stone tied around his neck.

A pious woman buried him, but his remains were later moved to St. Florian’s Abbey, near Linz. Linz is a major city of Austria.

 Many cures were attributed to his intercession. He is especially invoked against dangers from fire and water, and is patron saint of fire-fighters.

St. Florian’s feast day is celebrated on the 4^th of May. Unfortunately, his feast day in not in the General Roman Calendar.

*Ems river, Northern Germany

Written by Sararose, 4/5/11 ©2011, All Rights Reserved