"If it goes on at this rate," wrote Palóu, "in a short time Baja California will come to an end." The message "Saint of Genocide" was put on Serra's tomb, and similar messages were painted elsewhere in the mission courtyard. Later, Serra suffered chest pains and shortness of breath; Palóu suggests that Serra's self-inflicted bruises were the cause. [23] When the course ended in 1743, Serra told his students: "I desire nothing more from you than this, that when the news of my death shall have reached your ears, I ask you to say for the benefit of my soul: 'May he rest in peace.' Vila agreed to stay in the harbor until the relief ship arrived—and to welcome Serra and Crespí aboard if they got stranded by Portolá's departure. "He passed away at my feet, bathed in his blood. "[74], Serra's young servant José María Vergerano ran into Serra's hut, his neck pierced by an arrow. The four remaining soldiers, aided by the blacksmith and carpenter, returned fire with muskets and pistols. Founded just seven years before by the Jesuit Wenceslaus Linck, mission San Borja sat in an unusually arid region of Baja California. [154], In 2018, Spanish producer Pedro Alonso Pablos made an animation, medium-length film dedicated to the life and work of Fray Junípero called The call of Junipero, and although the Catholic Church had no formal role during the process of creating the film, the vision that the film offers coincides with that of the Church. [152][153] After the incident, law enforcement authorities launched a hate crime investigation since the only grave sites targeted for desecration were those of Europeans. He and his fellow friar set out on the Camino Real with no money or guide, carrying only their breviaries. Serra fervently wrote to the guardian of the college of San Fernando, requesting more missionaries willing to face hardships in Alta California. From a high hill on June 20, their advance scouts saw the Pacific Ocean in the distance. On Sunday May 7, Serra celebrated high Mass and preached a sermon at the mission church on the frontier of Spanish Catholicism. It was a field of missionary endeavor that required patience, perseverance, and humility, as well as vision and courage. "From my mission of Loreto," wrote Serra, "I took along no more provisions for so long a journey than a loaf of bread and a piece of cheese. A crowd in Sacramento, California’s state capital, destroyed a statue of St. Junipero Serra on the evening of 4 July. [citation needed], On the Baja California peninsula, newly appointed governor Gaspar de Portolá had to notify and remove the Jesuits from the chain of missions they had developed in forbidding territory over 70 years. The man kept whipping himself until he collapsed. CNA Staff, Jun 20, 2020 / 09:41 am MT ().-A statue of Catholic missionary St. Junipero Serra was toppled in a San Francisco park Friday, along … [156] It was formerly named after Serra. [100] After a series of abuses on the native population by the hand of local soldiers, Serra and other missionaries protested against governor of Alta California Pedro Fages, who refused to reprimand his soldiers. Half of those who made it to San Diego spent months unable to resume the expedition, due to illness. By February 1768, Portolá gathered the 16 Baja Jesuit missionaries in Loreto, from where they sailed to mainland Mexico for deportation. "Pedro Fages and Miguel Costansó: Two Early Letters From San Diego in 1769". "Our people were directly involved with the Carmel Mission," said Tony Cerda, tribal chief of the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel tribe. [143] He is also included among the Saints of the United States and México. He wrote, "That spiritual fathers should punish their sons, the Indians, with blows appears to be as old as the conquest of the Americas; so general in fact that the saints do not seem to be any exception to the rule. As local Indians cremated their dead, the wailing of their women sounded from local villages. A statue of Junipero Serra was wrapped in tape to protect it from graffiti. In the Hillsborough statue, most people simply see him as a bit lumpy. A statue of Junipero Serra rests face down at Father Serra Park, across the street from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles Saturday, June 20. Paddison, p. 23: Fages regarded the Spanish installations in California as military institutions first, and religious outposts second. The archbishop’s statement came after a statue of St. Junipero Serra was torn down in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Friday, along with statues of Francis Scott Key and Ulysses S. Grant. "[76] Tightening security, the soldiers built a stockade of poles around the mission buildings, banning Indians from entering. Two Jesuits had died at the hands of Indians in the revolt of 1734–6. Carnivorous Plants at the Huntington Gardens. On June 25, as the party struggled to cross a series of ravines, they noticed many Indians following them. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) For a time Saturday, it looked as if a statue of Junipero Serra outside City Hall in downtown Ventura might join the growing ranks of toppled figures. Serra countered that "God ... has given me the strength to come so far. The group, founded in 1935, currently numbers a membership of about 20,000 worldwide. Discover Junípero Serra Statue in Hillsborough, California: This controversial depiction of the "Founder of California" looks as though it was sculpted from mashed potatoes. ... Make me the same remedy that you would apply to an animal." All rights reserved. He then handed them figs, which they ate immediately. After receiving the last sacraments, he later died from the ordeal. | YouTube The Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco performed a brief ceremony over the weekend that included an exorcism at a site where protesters tore down a statue of St. Junipero Serra. "[57], Two servants—one named José María Vergerano, a 20-year-old from Magdalena, the other a soldier guard—accompanied Serra on his journey from Loreto, as he rode on a feeble mule. By Devin Watkins. "[82], Meanwhile, the land expedition departed from San Diego on April 17 under the command of Portolá. One of the ships, the San Carlos, had sailed almost four months from La Paz, bypassing its destination by almost 200 miles before doubling back south to reach San Diego Bay. The Pames—who centuries earlier had built a civilization with temples, idols and priests—lived mainly by gathering and hunting, but also pursued agriculture. Fages worked his men very harshly and was seen as a tyrant. Disease, starvation, overwork, and torture decimated these tribes. The famous historian of missions Herbert Eugene Bolton gave evidence favorable to the case in 1948, and the testimony of five other historians was solicited in 1986. Reaching its shores that evening, the party called the spot Ensenada de Todos Santos (All Saints' Cove, today simply Ensenada). Smoke from the soldiers' guns, fired in repeated volleys, served as incense. "[46], Serra did not stand alone among Catholic missionaries in displaying self-punishment at the pulpit. [26], In 1748, Serra and Palóu confided to each other their desire to become missionaries. Attending the friars' primary school at the church, Miquel learned reading, writing, mathematics, Latin, religion and liturgical song, especially Gregorian chant. Mission Indians enjoyed rights as human beings under the protection of the Spanish monarchy, and were recognized as Hijos de Dios, or “Children of God.”[101] According to professor George Yagi, this stood in contrast to the treatment of Natives on the east coast of America, where they were guaranteed no rights. [citation needed], The viceroy, Spain's highest official in Mexico, suspended the intrusive colony. Converted Indians were segregated from Indians who had not yet embraced Christianity, lest there be a relapse. Another of California's unused Cold War missile defense complexes has become a graffiti gallery. The anguished Serra, along with friar Juan Crespí, insisted on staying in San Diego in the event of the Portolá group's departure. [107], On June 20, 2020, a crowd of indigenous elders and young people gathered in downtown Los Angeles to witness the toppling of Serra's statue at Father Sera Park near Olvera Street. The statue was a tribute to Father Junipero Serra, a priest who led the development of the California mission system in 1768, according to the Capitol Hill Museum. The founding celebration took place "with all the neatness of holy poverty," in Serra's words. Palóu supervised the farm labor of men of the mission; the women learned spinning, sewing and knitting. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá, Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Caramelo, List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests § Junípero Serra, Saint Junípero Serra, patron saint archive, "Pope Francis celebrates Junipero Serra at Rome's North American College", "Pope Francis canonizes controversial saint", "Why Are Native Groups Protesting Catholicism's Newest Saint? [125][126][dubious – discuss], Despite these concerns, thousands of Native Americans in California maintain their Catholic faith,[127] and some supported efforts to canonize Serra. [59], On Pentecost day, May 14, 1769, Serra founded his first mission, Misión San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá, in a mud hut that had served as a makeshift church when friar Fermín Lasuén had traveled up on Easter to conduct the sacraments for the Fernando Rivera expedition, the overland party that had preceded the Portolá party. The natives appeared healthy, robust and friendly, immediately repeating the Spanish words they heard. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. [103], In October 2015, a week after the Catholic Church canonized Serra, Serra's statue in Monterey was decapitated. "[27] Serra asked his colleague to read this letter to his parents, who had never attended school. "[75] Padre Vizcaíno, the blacksmith Chacón, and a Christian Indian from San Ignacio suffered wounds. You can't put a whip in his hand. He stayed over a year at the Loreto mission while his colleagues tried to convert Indians in the nearby mountains and deserts. [52], Serra started assigning his fellow friars to the missions scattered up the length of the Baja peninsula, with its scarce water and food sources. Serra, in the role of Jesus, washed their feet and then, after the service, dined with them. [118] Tinker argues that it is more appropriate to judge the beatings and whippings administered by Serra and others from the point of view of the Native Americans, who were the victims of the violence, and who did not punish their children with physical discipline. [20] The young Junípero, along with his fellow novices, vowed to scorn property and comfort, and to remain celibate. "[30], Besides the routine of prayers, hymns and meditations, daily life at the secluded college included classes on the languages of Mexico's native peoples, mission administration and theology. The statue of Serra was toppled and splattered with paint, and the cemetery, the mission doors, a fountain, and a crucifix were as well. [50] Jesuit priests had developed 13 missions on that long and arid peninsula over seven decades. The man was an administrator. Junipero Serra’s actual life and legacy, likely unknown to the activists who tore his statue down, reveals a man who cared deeply about the native Californians. He and Crespí would meet in Monterey. A statue of Junipero Serra outside the mission in San Rafael was torn down Monday, after a demonstration calling for its removal. The blacksmith, Chacón, ran about the Spanish huts unprotected by a leather jacket, shouting: "Long live the faith of Jesus Christ and may these dogs, enemies of that faith, die! But his role in California's colonization via the mission system makes him a target for statue toppling. Gálvez aimed both to Christianize the extensive Indian populations and serve Spain's strategic interest by preventing Russian explorations and possible claims to North America's Pacific coast. No purchase necessary. The Indians accepted the trinkets Serra offered as rewards for visiting the new mission. The statue … Statues of Father Junípero Serra and Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star-Spangled Banner, were also brought down. All things considered, the Junípero Serra statue is seen as an embarrassment by most, yet he still stands proud no matter what people say. Aboard were Portolá and Miguel Costansó, along with several letters from Serra. Even after the burning of the mission in San Diego, he did not want those Indians punished. A statue of Junipero Serra at the Carmel Mission in Carmel-By-The-Sea, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) In a somewhat stunning admission that violent protesters are … [citation needed], The Indian warriors, suffering several dead and wounded, retreated with a new-found respect for the power of Spanish firearms. CNA Staff, Jun 20, 2020 / 09:41 am MT ().-A statue of Catholic missionary St. Junipero Serra was toppled in a San Francisco park Friday, along … For I was there [at mission Loreto] a whole year, in economic matters, as a mere guest to receive the crumbs of the royal soldier commissioner, whose liberality at my departure did not extend beyond the aforementioned articles. Eric O'Brien, O.F.M. Activists toppled a statue of Junipero Serra from its post at Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. Both groups would have to wait a year before receiving supplies and news from Mexico.[89]. A statue of Father Junipero Serra stands in front of the San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, California on September 23, 2015. They now had less than 80 miles (130 kilometers) to reach San Diego. [31] The two missionaries set about learning the Pame language from a Mexican who had lived among the Pames. [72] Despite the efforts of Doctor Prat, many of the ill men died in San Diego. In the process, he orchestrated the development of a chain of missions that helped give birth to modern California. Went Wild for an 18th-Century Scottish Novelist, This Miniature Quran Bears Witness to an Immense History, The Archaeologist Who Collected 4,500 Beer Cans, Lessons on Enduring a Lonely Winter From Antarctic Voyagers, How a Blacksmith in Jordan Created His Own Sign Language, In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Inside a Domed Pyramid With Astounding Acoustics and a History of Miracles, http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Readers-sound-off-on-statue-Pointed-opinions-2902669.php, http://archives.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=159762, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/20795. He suffered intensely from his crippled leg and from his chest, yet he would use no remedies. [137] The pope spoke before a crowd of 20,000 in a beatification ceremony for six; according to the pope's address in English, "He sowed the seeds of Christian faith amid the momentous changes wrought by the arrival of European settlers in the New World. "[97] Punishment made clear to the natives "that we, every one of us, came here for the single purpose of doing them good and their eternal salvation. https://missionscalifornia.com/san-antonio-de-padua-mission/key-facts, https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ventura/2020/06/20/demonstration-father-serra-statue-ventura-leaves-standing/3231647001/, "The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised", "Saint Junipero Serra | Biography & Facts", "The Representation of Junípero Serra in California History", "Junipero Serra - The Missionary Who Fought to End the Abuse of Native Americans by Spanish Soldiers", "American Indian Movement Chapter & Allies to Rally Serra Canonization on Easter Sunday", "Iconic statue of Father Junipero Serra vandalized in Santa Barbara", https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/11/03/after-failing-to-behead-figure-culprit-defaces-father-serra-statue-in-san-gabriel/, https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/11/03/man-tries-to-decapitate-st-junipero-serra-statue-at-san-gabriel-mission/, "Historical Statues toppled as rage spills into San Francisco's Golden Gate Park", "At Los Angeles toppling of Junipero Serra statue, activists want full history told", https://www.kcra.com/article/junipero-serra-statue-taken-down-protesters-capitol-chp-says/33208771, "San Rafael demonstrators topple Junipero Serra statue", "To Some in California, Founder of Church Missions Is Far From Saint", "Firing Line with William F. Buckley: Saint or Sinner: Junipero Serra", "Junipero Serra was a brutal colonialist. [63], Back on the road, Serra found it very difficult to stay on his feet because "my left foot had become very inflamed, a painful condition which I have suffered for a year or more. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images) [28], In 1749, Serra and the Franciscan missionary team landed in Veracruz, on the Gulf coast of New Spain (now Mexico). Contrary winds blew the ship back south to the Baja peninsula, then as far north as the Farallon Islands. Refused to say if it plans to publicly display the statue. [33], Serra also tackled the practical side of mission administration. Francis P. Guest, "Junipero Serra and His Approach to the Indians,". Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. Though his request was declined, Serra insisted on living as a novice at San Fernando: "This learned university professor ... would often eat more sparingly in order to replace the student whose turn it was to read to the community. When I don't go along with the idea that the missions were concentration camps and that the Spanish brutalized every Indian they encountered, I'm seen as an adversary. The missions were primarily designed to bring the Catholic faith to the native peoples. They had survived by slaughtering and eating their mules along the return trek south. [37], During his 1752 visit to Mexico City, Serra sent a request from the college of San Fernando to the local headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition. The Statue of Junipero Serra is one of several rest stops along Highway 280 between Millbrae and San Jose, a route we often took. The next day, Inquisition officials appointed Serra himself as inquisitor for the whole region—adding that he could exercise his powers anywhere he did missionary work in New Spain, as long as there was no regular Inquisition official in the region. When they camped for the night, the Indians pressed close. As head of the order in California, Serra not only dealt with church officials, but also with Spanish officials in Mexico City and with the local military officers who commanded the nearby garrison. [117], Mark A. Noll, a professor at Wheaton College in Illinois, wrote that Serra's attitude—that missionaries could, and should, treat their wards like children, including the use of corporal punishment—was common at the time.

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