July 1- Saint Junípero Serra, Priest—USA Optional Memorial

Read entire reflection online >>>July 1: Saint Junípero Serra, Priest—USA Optional Memorial1713–1784Patron Saint of vocations, Hispanic-Americans, CaliforniaCanonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015Liturgical Color: WhiteQuote: I am writing this letter in farewell, while we are getting ready to leave the city of Cádiz and embark for Mexico. The day fixed upon is unknown to me, but the trunks containing our baggage are locked and strapped, and they say that after two, three, or possibly four days, the ship called Villasota, in which we are to embark, will sail…Friend of my heart, on this occasion of my departure, words cannot express the feelings of affection that overwhelm me. I want to ask you again to do me the favor of consoling my parents, who, I know, are going through a great sorrow. I wish I could give them some of the happiness that is mine: and I feel that they would urge me to go ahead and never to turn back. Tell them that the dignity of Apostolic Preacher, especially when united with the actual duty, is the highest vocation they could have wished for me to follow… ~Letter of Saint Junípero SerraPrayer:Saint Junípero Serra, though you had a wonderful life in Spain, God spoke to your heart, calling you to leave everything behind and to bring the saving love of Christ to those who had never heard the Gospel. You responded with generosity and selfless courage. Please pray for me, that I will be open to all that God asks of me and will respond to God’s will with the same generosity and resolve as you did. Saint Junípero Serra, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.Image: St Junipero Serra as Evangelist by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.