It wouldn't ave surprised anyone if Junipero Serra had devoted his life to academia. he taught theology and did well.
But the 5'2" professor decided his calling was the missions and in 1750 went to serve in Mexico. On the way, his leg was bitten by mosquitoes and became infected. As a result, he suffered a painful limp that remained with him the rest of his life.
Fr. Serra worked in north-central Mexico for 17 years. When the Franciscans were asked to take over the missions from the Jesuits in Baja California, the 54-year-old priest volunteered. In California, he founded missions in San Diego and Monterey. He died in 1784 and is buried at the Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
On this day in 1985, Fr. Junipero Serra was declared venerable. He was canonized by Pope Francis in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2015.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw