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The Man Who Founded California: The Life of Blessed Junipero Serra
The Archbishop of Birmingham, England, presents a popular but thorough biography of Blessed Junipero Serra, the tireless Franciscan missionary who came to California in the 18th century to evangelize the Indians. Well-known for the historic missions which he helped establish all along the coast from San Diego to San Francisco, Father Serra is even recognized by the secular society of the U.S. government as the "founder of California". His larger than life-size statue stands in a hall of the U.S. Capital as one of the pioneers who created the United States of America.Archbishop de Murville presents a historical and spiritual biography of Serra from his childhood and student days in Majorca, Spain, to his time in Mexico, and to his great missionary work in California. Recently beatified by Pope John Paul II, Father Serra's presence and work is still very much alive through the beautiful missions that are visited by millions every year.
140 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2000
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42 people want to read
About the author
M.N.L. Couve De Murville
6 booksArchbishop Maurice Noël Léon Couve de Murville, MPhil
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 10, 2015
A good introduction to the life of the saint just canonized by Pope Francis during his US visit. It reads much more like a story than a scholarly analysis, so it is very accessible. Left me wanting to know more!
September 26, 2023
The Spanish Missions of Southern California form part of a continuing legacy, most obvious in the names of some of the most famous cities and towns: Santa Maria de Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, were all settled by the Spanish and named in honour of the Virgin or the saints.
This book by the late Archbishop of Birmingham, Maurice Couve de Murville, explores the life of the most famous missionary to California, Saint Junipero Serra. Born in Mallorca in 1713, he became a Franciscan novice at seventeen and responded to a call to leave the academic world and embark on a mission across the globe to what was then, New Spain. He arrived first in what is now Mexico and then laboured in ‘Baja’ or Lower California.
To this day, we are aware of the importance of these missions, many of which still exist as parishes or shrines with their enchanting architecture. A mixture of Spanish and Mexican, often built in the Baroque style, following the example of the Jesuits and the precepts of the Council of Trent.
Impressive missions like San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, San Luis Obispo, San Juan Capestrano, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara are all worth visiting.
de Murville writes, “In 1749 Junipero Serra’s life took an unexpected turn; he volunteered to go as a missionary to Mexico, because of the appeals being made to the Franciscans for help with this work.”
Serra comments: “I have had no other motive but to revive in my soul those intense longings which I have had since my novitiate when I read the lives of the saints.”
Announcing the faith to the indigenous peoples brought a myriad of challenges, yet in many respects great success and benefits to those people.
The specific context of the Spanish Mission system; where natives were invited to live and work in the mission; to receive baptism; and adapt to a new way of life; employing for the first-time agricultural methods is one that has been greatly criticised by modern day detractors. No doubt this would have dismayed Serra whose sole desire was to win souls for Christ.
Serra is recognised as the founder of California as the title of the book acknowledges, he was beatified in 1988 by Saint John Paul II and canonised by Pope Francis in 2015 in the National Basilica, Washington DC.
This book by the late Archbishop of Birmingham, Maurice Couve de Murville, explores the life of the most famous missionary to California, Saint Junipero Serra. Born in Mallorca in 1713, he became a Franciscan novice at seventeen and responded to a call to leave the academic world and embark on a mission across the globe to what was then, New Spain. He arrived first in what is now Mexico and then laboured in ‘Baja’ or Lower California.
To this day, we are aware of the importance of these missions, many of which still exist as parishes or shrines with their enchanting architecture. A mixture of Spanish and Mexican, often built in the Baroque style, following the example of the Jesuits and the precepts of the Council of Trent.
Impressive missions like San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, San Luis Obispo, San Juan Capestrano, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara are all worth visiting.
de Murville writes, “In 1749 Junipero Serra’s life took an unexpected turn; he volunteered to go as a missionary to Mexico, because of the appeals being made to the Franciscans for help with this work.”
Serra comments: “I have had no other motive but to revive in my soul those intense longings which I have had since my novitiate when I read the lives of the saints.”
Announcing the faith to the indigenous peoples brought a myriad of challenges, yet in many respects great success and benefits to those people.
The specific context of the Spanish Mission system; where natives were invited to live and work in the mission; to receive baptism; and adapt to a new way of life; employing for the first-time agricultural methods is one that has been greatly criticised by modern day detractors. No doubt this would have dismayed Serra whose sole desire was to win souls for Christ.
Serra is recognised as the founder of California as the title of the book acknowledges, he was beatified in 1988 by Saint John Paul II and canonised by Pope Francis in 2015 in the National Basilica, Washington DC.
September 28, 2015
The Man Who Founded California is a reprint of a 2000 hardcover edition, also by Ignatius Press. The book begins by talking about the statues on the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. St. Junipero Serra currently has a place there, but probably not for long, as he will soon be replaced by Sally Ride. The book then leads us into a differentiation of Spaniards and Majorcans, which is what Serra was in fact. Majorca is the largest island off the Spanish coast, but they don't share a language or really a culture. Majorca claims a more Mediterranean heritage. They also have a small Catholic population, which is evidenced by only having one bishop. Because of the lack of a convenient bishop, people received sacraments at different ages. Serra, for example, was confirmed before he was two! At age fifteen, he told his parents he wanted to be a priest, which was a sacrifice for the a poor farming family, but one they accepted. The chapter on Majorca ends with Fr. Serra and other Dominicans and Franciscans arriving to Mexico for missionary work.
Fr. Serra and one other friar decided to walk from Vera Cruz (where the boat landed) to Mexico City. This was keeping with the Rule of St. Francis and was also a form of penance for the mission they were about to embark upon. What we learn in this chapter dealt primarily with the different aspects the mission. For starters, the mission was trying to unite all of the Indian people. Another component was that these people were seen as uneducated and childlike, which unfortunately heavily restricted their freedom. However, their culture was considered when it came to spiritual education as they realized the cultural affinity for music and drama. Lastly, we learn that Fr. Serra was responsible for building the church at Jalpan. The final and longest chapter focuses on his time in California. The main positives of Serra's time in California was reflected in the missions he founded, including San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Clara to name only three. However, there were also negatives with his time there, which included the isolation he felt from the rest of the world and the poor actions the Spanish soldiers performed against the natives. Serra was opposed to this kind of behavior, and the book says he complained about it, but it seemed like more should have been done to stop it.
The book is FULL of photographs and illustrations that aid the reader in better understanding the life and mission of Fr. Serra. I knew nothing about Serra before reading this book, but after reading it, I feel I have at least a basic understanding. Those looking for a shining story of perfection need look elsewhere. Serra is indeed a saint, but saints were still men and women, just like the rest of us. They sinned, but they sought forgiveness, just like we should. They were also always striving to do the will of God and spread his Gospel message. Overall, I found this book to be a solid introduction on Serra's life and work. If you are like me and need a book to start with on Serra, this is the one.
Fr. Serra and one other friar decided to walk from Vera Cruz (where the boat landed) to Mexico City. This was keeping with the Rule of St. Francis and was also a form of penance for the mission they were about to embark upon. What we learn in this chapter dealt primarily with the different aspects the mission. For starters, the mission was trying to unite all of the Indian people. Another component was that these people were seen as uneducated and childlike, which unfortunately heavily restricted their freedom. However, their culture was considered when it came to spiritual education as they realized the cultural affinity for music and drama. Lastly, we learn that Fr. Serra was responsible for building the church at Jalpan. The final and longest chapter focuses on his time in California. The main positives of Serra's time in California was reflected in the missions he founded, including San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Clara to name only three. However, there were also negatives with his time there, which included the isolation he felt from the rest of the world and the poor actions the Spanish soldiers performed against the natives. Serra was opposed to this kind of behavior, and the book says he complained about it, but it seemed like more should have been done to stop it.
The book is FULL of photographs and illustrations that aid the reader in better understanding the life and mission of Fr. Serra. I knew nothing about Serra before reading this book, but after reading it, I feel I have at least a basic understanding. Those looking for a shining story of perfection need look elsewhere. Serra is indeed a saint, but saints were still men and women, just like the rest of us. They sinned, but they sought forgiveness, just like we should. They were also always striving to do the will of God and spread his Gospel message. Overall, I found this book to be a solid introduction on Serra's life and work. If you are like me and need a book to start with on Serra, this is the one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews