Junpero Serra

Diagnoses

Vocation

Notable

Spanish monk and Professor of Philosophy who came to California on 9/17/1776. He founded a chain of 21 missions and schools for the native Indians from San Diego to San Francisco. In walking the land he injured his feet and suffered the rest of his days. His sainthood was formally proposed in 1934 and marked the beginning of a long, drawn out process to canonization. Nine years later, in 1943, Serra's remains were exhumed to affirm his remains. During the years of 1948 and 1949, public hearings were held in order to assure that he lived "a life of heroic virtue." Things stalled for 36 years before any further action was taken towards Serra's sainthood. Then, in 1985, copious documentation and 200 testimonies were accepted by Pope John Paul II, who venerated Serra during the same year. Three years later, he was beatified after his initial miracle was verified. In order to become a saint, however, two miracles must be verified. Enthusiasm among members of the Catholic faith for Serra's sainthood remains high, and members regularly pray for another miracle to be found so that he can become a saint. Died 8/28/1784, Monterey, CA. Link to Wikipedia biography