In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan, Fr. Junipero Serra, founded Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders, and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn.

Pope Francis canonized Junípero Serra in 2015, making him a saint. EWTN shares, “To get to know Saint Junípero Serra better, great places to start are by reading the homily of Pope Francis at the canonization Mass of Blessed Junípero Serra and the Writings of Junípero Serra. One will learn what his vision was, motivations were, as well as his challenges, dreams, and successes. He will not disappoint, but inspire one to walk the via positiva while participating in the New Evangelization.