Prayer to Saint Junípero Serra — apostle of California

Spanish Franciscan priest, born in Petra (Majorca) on 24 November 1713. A university professor, he left everything to become a missionary in the Americas. Despite a chronic wound in his leg, he travelled great distances on foot and founded the first missions of Alta California, beginning with San Diego de Alcalá (1769). The motto “Siempre adelante, nunca atrás” (“Ever forward, never back”) is attributed to him. He died at the mission of San Carlos Borromeo, in Carmel, on 28 August 1784. Beatified by Saint John Paul II in 1988 and canonised by Pope Francis on 23 September 2015, in the first canonisation celebrated on United States soil. Feast: 1 July (in the United States).

O God, who through the apostolic labours of Saint Junípero Serra willed to gather many peoples of America into your Church: grant us, through his intercession, the perseverance that does not retreat before difficulties and the ardour to carry always and everywhere, before all people, the image of your Son. May we never look back, but always press forward in the proclamation of the Gospel. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.