Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
July 6
Saint of the day:
Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa
Patron Saint of Missionaries of the Crusade
This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
Saints, Feast, Family - Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring - June 29 Saint of the day: Saint Peter Saint Paul ...
July 6
Saint of the day:
Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa
Patron Saint of Missionaries of the Crusade
Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2.
Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.
Dining
Whether one is BBQing in the backyard with family and friends or having something a little more refined, dress your eating area in style!
Thursday Feast
Thursday
is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday
commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is
the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by
making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the
grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank
our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
·
According to Mary Agreda[1]
in her visions it was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at the
approach of night that the Angel Gabriel approached and announced her as Mother
of God and she gave her fiat.
Half Moon Bay,
California
This is a
gorgeous coastal spot to spend a summer weekend or use as a base to explore the
northern Californian coastline. Its compact downtown area is filled with quaint
eateries and attractive shops selling boutique products, from unique arts and
crafts to delicious wine.
There are
many seafood restaurants here, but for a quirky dining experience, I’d
recommend Daddy’Os, housed in an old rail car and serving delicious comfort
food.
Half Moon
Bay is surrounded by protected parks and beaches, including the Mavericks, a
famous stretch of coastline that hosts a world-famous annual surf competition.
Other protected beaches, such as Poplars, are great spots for a sunset picnic,
and the beautiful beaches here don’t get crowded like some neighboring
stretches.
I love
that it’s a place that maintains a calm and relaxed coastal vibe even in the
peak summer months.
Visitor’s Center Address: 235 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Average temperature – 64 degrees
My
personal highlights…
Walking along the Coastside Trail, which
stretches nearly 5 miles long and offers gorgeous views overlooking the ocean.
Wandering along Main Street and discovering
an array of shopping boutiques and fun dining options.
Eating a hearty vegetarian lasagna at Half
Moon Bay Joe’s.
Rachel’s
Corner Writer Nathaniel Hawthorne born, 1804
[1] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The
Mystical City of God: Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with
Illustrations (p. 770). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
Dara
Day-My daughters father looks like Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, born
on July 3, 1962, is a world-famous actor known for his roles in action-packed
movies. He started acting in the 1980s and quickly became a popular star.
Cruise is famous for doing his stunts
in movies. He has been a part of many big hits, inspiring fans worldwide. His
life story is a journey from a small-town boy to a global icon.
Tom
Cruise’s rise to fame began with the movie “Risky Business”
in 1983. This role made him a star overnight.
He then
starred in “Top
Gun” in 1986, a film that became a cultural phenomenon. His
portrayal of a fighter pilot won hearts globally. These early successes set the
stage for a remarkable career.
In the
1990s, Cruise took on diverse roles. He starred in the “Mission: Impossible”
series, which became a huge success. His role as Ethan Hunt showcased his
talent for action and suspense. Cruise did many of his stunts, earning him
respect for his dedication.
July 2
Saint of the day:
Saint Bernardino Realino
Patron Saint of Lecce, Italy
Tuesday
Deuteronomy, Chapter
17, Verse 12-13
12Anyone who acts presumptuously and does not obey the priest, who officiates there in the ministry of the LORD, your God, or the judge, shall die. Thus shall you purge the evil from Israel. 13And all the people, on hearing of it, shall FEAR, and will never again act presumptuously.
Do not be cheeky with God!
The definition of
Presumption is:
synonyms: brazenness, audacity, boldness, audaciousness, temerity, arrogance,presumptuousness, forwardness; cockiness, insolence, impudence,bumptiousness, impertinence, effrontery, cheek, cheekiness; rudeness, impoliteness, disrespect, familiarity; informal nerve, chutzpah, sass, sassiness; archaic assumption "he apologized
for his presumption"
Aids in Battle[1]
Empty consolations of the Devil
Some
people, when they reflect on the goodness of God and the passion of Christ, are
powerfully moved to sighs, tears, prayers, and other devout actions, so that
you might suppose their hearts were seized with a very fervent devotion. But
when they are tested we find that they are like the passing rains of a hot
summer, which may fall heavily on the earth, but do not penetrate it, and bring
forth only mushrooms. In the same way, these tears and emotions in a corrupt
heart do not penetrate it and are altogether fruitless. For these unhappy
people would not give up a penny of their unjustly acquired wealth or renounce
one of their perverse affections, nor would they endure the slightest suffering
in the service of that Savior over whom they have wept. Their good impulses are
like spiritual mushrooms. Not only are they a false devotion, but too often
they are actually the deep wiles of Satan. While he amuses souls with such
empty consolations, he induces them to
remain satisfied with them instead of seeking true and solid devotion, which
consists in a constant, resolute, prompt, and active will to carry out what we
know to be pleasing to God. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Brain Thrive by 25 is a scientifically
designed research-based course designed to change the lives of teenagers and
young adults all over the world.
Multi-Dimensional Education, Inc.,
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12-lesson/12-lab course:
Utilizing a multi-dimensional approach
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25, this study supports the Brain Thrive by 25 positive impact on brain
function and schools seeking to help students succeed academically.
According to Dr. Doug Grove,
President of MDEI, “After spending a year organizing and implementing the
study, and weeks of analysis, the results strongly supported that unlike many
interventions we have evaluated, Brain Thrive by 25 was literally making a
difference in developing better minds of the students who took part in the
intervention.”
Catholic Activity: Your Child's Spiritual Training[3]
Your child's religious
training should begin almost as soon as he is born. Here are basic guidelines
for instructing your child before he has reached the age of reason.
At seven to ten months, a
baby begins to listen to sounds intently. He does not know what words mean, but
he gets an impression from the tone of your voice, your facial expressions, and
your gestures. It is not too soon to begin teaching him a prayer. Such a prayer
should be as simple as possible, and preferably repetitive — with the same
sounds repeated over and over. Sister de Lourdes cites this one:
Thank you, God, for
Jimmy, Thank you for Jimmy's bread, Thank you for Jimmy's smile, Bless Jimmy in
his bed.
As soon as your child can
speak in syllables, you can teach him simple prayers. For example, carry him to
a painting or statue depicting the Baby Jesus in His Blessed Mother's arms, and
point out to him that the Infant Savior also had a mother who loved Him. Before
he reaches his first year, he may be able to enunciate the name of Jesus. He
can be encouraged to say good night to the Savior of the painting or statue.
When the family eats together, the baby in his high chair will observe that
grace is said before and after meals. He will join in the prayers automatically
as soon as he is able.
Pictures have a powerful
appeal for the one-year-old and two-year-old. You can encourage his interest in
religion by showing him paintings of great events in the life of Our Lord. You
will find him an interested viewer and listener if you show him pictures of
Baby Jesus, and the Holy Family, and of Biblical incidents. He will also be a
rapt listener as you narrate the stories which the pictures illustrate. At
Christmas time especially, you can impress upon him that this great feast
commemorates the birth of the Infant Savior: your telling of the Christmas
story can begin to implant a reverence for this great feast that will last
throughout his life.
In his third year, your
child will probably be ready to learn about the creation by God of the world
and everything in it. You will have opportunities to teach him as a matter of
course that God made the flowers, the trees, the dog whose back he pats, and
every other thing that he sees about him. Express your own appreciation for
God's many gifts — the beautiful flowers, the lovely sunset, the water you
drink, the food you eat. In this way, he too will recognize that God is a
loving Father to Whom we owe gratitude for all things.
By the time he is three,
he should be sufficiently advanced mentally to begin practicing simple acts of
self-denial. If he is given a piece of candy before dinner, he will probably
understand if he is told that he must not eat it until after his meal. This is
his first realization that satisfaction of present desires must often be
deferred for our own good.
At the age of four, he
should be ready to take a more active part in family prayers. In some families,
father, mother and children pray together in the evening before the first child
goes to bed. His attendance at night prayers will impress the importance of
this devotion upon him and enable him to learn the words sooner than he perhaps
would ordinarily. Four-year-olds usually do not have a long attention span,
however, and the average child may become distracted after a few minutes. The
night prayers in which he joins may be kept short at first and gradually
lengthened as he grows older.
At this time, your child
is old enough to understand certain moral principles: that he must obey his
parents because God wishes him to do so; and that lying, stealing and
disobedience are not in accordance with God's will. You can teach these
principles by giving him the image of God as his Eternal Father. If he has a
loving trust in his own father, he will not find it difficult to visualize God
as the loving Father of all mankind. He is also ready to learn of his Guardian
Angel; many childish fears can be removed if he knows that his Guardian Angel
always watches over him, and he will feel secure in new experiences when he
knows that he has a protector.
From ages four to six, you
can intensify in many different ways the moral training you began earlier.
Through family prayer and other devotions, when you read to him, and through
little talks when you perform his daily routines with him, you can inculcate
the great truths of our religion. In particular, do not overlook opportunities
to instill high ideals through reading. Many excellent books recount Bible
stories in attractive pictures and text and they stress vividly the importance
of practicing virtue in our lives. For example, the story of Adam and Eve can
be a means of teaching him why he must obey God and his earthly parents. The
story of Abraham may teach him that we must be ready to sacrifice all we
possess if God requires it. From the parable told by Jesus of the widow's mite,
he can learn that we must always show our gratitude to God; from the parable of
the talents, that we must always do our best for His glory.
Many devotions and
religious observances can now be made an intimate part of your child's daily
life. In Chapter 16, devoted to religious observances in the home, you will
find many suggestions to help you make the love of God the greatest fact in
your child's existence.
Our Lord taught that the
love of God is the first and greatest commandment, but He also said that a
second commandment was like it — the commandment that we must love our neighbor
as ourself. You probably can best teach this commandment by example. More powerful
than your words will be your courteous attitude toward those who visit your
home; toward peoples of other races and creeds; toward those less privileged in
a spiritual or material sense than yourself. Christ's teaching that all men are
brothers under the Fatherhood of God will have greater meaning for your child
if he notices that you always treat others with respect.
Before your child is
seven, you will probably notice the formation of his conscience. He may show by
expressions of guilt or shame when he has done wrong. This development of
conscience indicates that you now can appeal to him more and more on the grounds
of reason, rather than on the weight of your authority. The seven-year-old
normally is sufficiently developed to take responsibility before God for his
actions. By the orderly and constructive training you have provided, he should
be able to recite his morning and night prayers; he should know the important
laws of God and Church — the necessity to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days
of obligation and of abstaining from meat on Friday, for example; and he should
be ready to begin preparations for his First Communion.
Obviously, your child's
moral training at home does not stop when he enters parochial school. Rather,
it continues throughout his lifetime. In the remaining chapters of this book
you will find many suggestions to help you meet his continued needs for spiritual
guidance. Specific problems you may encounter in his various stages are
discussed below.
Activity
Source: Catholic Family Handbook, The by Rev. George
A. Kelly, Random House, Inc., New York, 1959
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION ONE-"I BELIEVE" -
"WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER THREE-MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
Article 1 I BELIEVE
II. "I
Know Whom I Have Believed"
To believe in God alone
150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to
God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth
that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth,
Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and
just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says.
It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature.
To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God
151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated
from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the
Father is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him. The
Lord himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in
me." We can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the
Word made flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the
bosom of the Father, he has made him known." Because he "has
seen the Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can
reveal him.
To believe in the Holy Spirit
152 One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in
his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For "no
one can say "Jesus is Lord", except by the Holy
Spirit", who "searches everything, even the depths of God. . No
one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God." Only
God knows God completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God.
The Church never ceases to
proclaim her faith in one only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Candace’s Corner-National Synesthesia Awareness Day
A rare neurological condition that blends sensory information through unexpected places, synesthesia impacts up to 4% of the population. This genetic condition causes individuals to experience unique combinations of senses, or more than one sense at the same time. For example, this might include seeing shapes when a person hears music, tasting a certain food when seeing a word, or experiencing music as a color.
National Synesthesia Awareness Day is
here to increase knowledge and understanding about this fascinating anomaly and
show some appreciation for those who experience it!
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Restoring
the Church
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 1 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Tuesday:
Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
John Huston, Wise Blood,
1979.
Overview of July[1]
The entire month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
Time of Regeneration. The Blood that coursed through the veins of Christ was a part of that Sacred Humanity made possible by the maternity of Mary, whose parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne are honored this month. (July 26). Our Lord's blood poured out on the Cross purchased our salvation, washed clean the robes of the martyrs, and gave birth to the Church as it flowed from his wounded side. The Precious Blood of Christ — now pulsing through his Mystical Body — continues its salvific work, preserving and purifying, repairing and providing nourishment for regeneration and renewal of its members.
July’s longer and warmer days also provide us with the opportunity for renewal, both interior and exterior. Schedules relax and pressures ease, inviting travel. But whether we travel or not, like the missionary, St. Junipero Serra (July 1), we preach to others — by our conduct, our speech, even the clothes we wear. May we be modest in everything we do, imitating St. Maria Goretti, the young martyr for purity (July 6), and “preaching” Christ to everyone we meet.
The summer Readings of Ordinary Time remind us that our earthly pilgrimage is also a journey, a great adventure towards union with Christ, the Beginning and the End of our journey. Each Sunday with its Easter renewal becomes a mile marker along the way, linking where we have been with where we are going. May the Precious Blood of Jesus sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.
July Travel[2]
Escape the heat, and take in awe-inspiring glacial views, with a cruise to Alaska. Cruise ships dock alongside towns from Seward, along Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, to Ketchikan, in the Alexander Archipelago. Cruise ships also dock near Katmai National Park, where July is prime time to see bears gulp up Atlantic salmon on their run. And if cruise prices prove too high in July, fret not: Alaska’s prime cruise season stretches through September.
· National Ice Cream Month
This July we all scream for ice cream. Celebrate National Ice Cream Month — designated a national holiday by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 — with a trip to America’s coolest ice cream shops. And why not head to the granddaddy of them all — Bassett’s Ice Cream in Philadelphia — the oldest ice cream company in the U.S., founded in 1861!
· Outlaw Run (Branson, Missouri)[4]
Ready for a 68-mph adrenaline rush? Kick off July on the only wooden coaster to twist upside down with a record-breaking three versions — and a stomach-in-your-mouth 81-degree drop. Take advantage of Outlaw Run’s extended hours this month at Silver Dollar City.
Can’t make it to Branson this July?
Check out our complete guide to US amusement parks.
· June 29-July 21 Tour de France[5]
Celebrate France’s biggest sporting event this month — the Tour de France. The official kick-off takes place on the island of Corsica then crosses onto France’s mainland. Cruise the French countryside as you follow the grand event. Or if you can’t make it abroad, head to one of America’s top bicycling cities.
· June 30-4 Gettysburg’s 161st Anniversary
Retrace one of America’s biggest moments. This July the Battle of Gettysburg marks its 157th anniversary. Tour Gettysburg and its historic town, and take in battle reenactments of events that culminated in more than 51,000 casualties and the setting for President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
· Macy's 4th of July Fireworks
Pop! Boom! Bang! July spells independence, with glorious fireworks nationwide. Celebrate Independence Day with a visit to the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display over the Hudson River. And if N.Y.C.’s not on your itinerary, check out more of America’s best fireworks displays — in St. Louis, Addison, Texas and Chicago’s Navy Pier.
· July 5-14 Calgary Stampede
Our "Neighbor to the North" marks its birthday this month. Get in on the festivities during the Calgary Stampede! This 10-day event is Canada’s largest annual rodeo, and one of its largest festivals to boot. Billed as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," the rodeo draws more than 1 million visitors each year.
· July 6-14 San Fermin Festival (Pamplona, Spain)
Run for your life! Join hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists who flock to the northern Spanish city of Pamplona for the annual San Fermin Festival. At 8 a.m. on July 7, the celebration unfolds with six bulls and another six steers running down a half-mile stretch of narrow streets. The week-long event culminates in a final, grand fight in a bullring.
· July 14-15 California Wine Festival (Santa Barbara, California)[6]
Head to one of the biggest wine festivals under the sun! Celebrate wine harvest season this July with a visit to California wine country. Held this year in Santa Barbara, the annual California Wine Festival showcases vintage wines, along with gourmet appetizers including artisan breads and cheeses. Cheers!
· July 16-21 Hemingway Days Festival (Key West, Florida)[7]
Can’t make it to Pamplona this month? Head to Key West instead! Hemingway Days Festival honors the late author, who lived and worked on the southern coast of the island. The annual event includes its own "Running of the Bulls" — this one with Ernest Hemingway lookalikes pushing fake bulls on Key West’s famed Duval Street.
Iceman’s Calendar
· July 1st Mon. Feast of the Most Precious Blood
· July 3rd MASS First Wednesday
o Dog Days begin
· July 4th Thu. Independence Day
· July 5th MASS First Friday
· July 6th MASS First Saturday
· July 7th Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
· July 14th Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
· July 16th Tue. Our Lady of Mount Carmel
· July 21st Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
· July 22nd Mon. St. Mary Magdalene
· July 25th Thu. St. James, Apostle
· July 26th Fri. St. Anne
· July 28th Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
· July 29th Mon. St. Martha
· July 31st Wed. St. Ignatius
July 4, 10:00 am
The parade steps off from 4100 Chain Bridge Road, rain or shine. The parade loops around Old Town Fairfax, along Chain Bridge Road, Main Street, University Drive, and Armstrong Street. Among the entries in this year’s parade are nine high school marching bands, large inflatable parade balloons, floats, and clowns.
July 5, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Fairfax High School
front, parking lot
3501 Lion Run
Fairfax, VA
On-stage entertainment begins at 6:30 pm with rockin’ music, a few parade awards — and, of course, a spectacular fireworks display after dark.
·
Beans Month bursts
into July with a celebration of one of the world’s favorite and most versatile
ingredients—beans!
Monday
FEAST
OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD-Junipero Serra
Monday Night at the Movies
John Huston, Wise Blood, 1979.
Deuteronomy, Chapter
14, Verse 22-23
22 Each year you shall tithe all the produce of your seed that grows in the field; 23 then in the place which the LORD, your God, chooses as the dwelling place of his name you shall eat in his presence the tithe of your grain, wine and oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, that you may learn always to FEAR the LORD, your God.
The way I read this is God wants you to celebrate life; you shall eat in his presence the tithe of your produce.
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone did this!
If we all took time off with a tenth of the money, we made to celebrate with God and our family and friends together. What a different world it would be. Imagine all the celebrations you would attend.
Maybe we should all strive to take a 40-day retreat/celebration. Save your money for this! What is on your bucket list; perhaps the Lord wants you and me to cross off some of those things in His presence.
If I were young again this is how I would budget:
·
10%
for His Presence (30 to 40 days’ vacation).
·
10%
for charity/church.
·
10%
savings
·
live
off the 70 percent; that is after the government takes their 50%.
· Imagine if there was a flat tax…….
A good resource for
financial advice is a book entitled, “The Richest Man in Babylon”[1]
Feast of the Precious
Blood[2]
July
first is the Feast of the Precious Blood. This is a feast that does not exist
in the new Roman Calendar of Pope Paul VI. It is still, however, in the
traditional Roman calendar of 1962 usage. Both halves of the year, in January
and July, begin with the commemoration of the Precious Blood of Jesus. January
1 is the feast of the Circumcision, when the Precious Blood of Jesus was first
shed. July 1 is the commemoration of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus as it is
preserved in all Catholic churches at the hour of Mass. The Precious Blood of
Jesus was given to Him to divinize by Mary, the Mother of God. Between Jesus
and Mary there was a perpetual interflow of blood for nine months when He was a
Child in her womb. Anyone can see how divinized Mary became by this interchange
of blood for nearly a year. Everyone who wishes to become a son of God the
Father, as he becomes by Sanctifying Grace, must also become a child of Mary
the Virgin, by receiving in his mouth the Blessed Eucharist which is the Body,
Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All the saints
of the Old Testament, when their bodies rise from the grave on the Last Day,
will receive the Precious Blood of Jesus. Our Lord said of the chalice which
contained His Precious Blood at the Last Supper, “I will not drink of this
fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the
Kingdom of My Father.” The Kingdom of God the Father, whose sons we divinely by
adoption, is also the Queendom of Mary the Virgin, whose children we must incarnately
become in order to enjoy the happiness of Heaven forever.
California
might not have any Confederate statues, but we do have plenty of monuments to
Junipero Serra, widely known as the "father" of the California
Missions. The story of the mass destruction of the Native population in
California is less prevalent in the history books. The statue was torn down
with a rope around the neck, its head splashed with blood-red paint. As the
statue lay on the ground, Native children used it as a bench. Activists tore down a Serra statue
in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park last week, as well as a statue of Francis
Scott Key, author of the American anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner,"
who was a known slave owner. Serra was a Spanish priest, who came to what was
then Alta California (part of Mexico), to spread Catholicism to the indigenous
population. (Here in L.A. that was mostly people from the Tongva tribe. And by
"spread" Catholicism, we mean force it upon them. Serra eventually
spearheaded 21 missions on the coast, from San Diego to San Francisco. The
missionaries were responsible for the ultimate destruction of Tongva culture.
Tongva people who joined the missions in California essentially became slaves, forced to do manual labor. They
suffered from disease, many of the women were raped, and thousands died or were
killed. Those who resisted and remained in the countryside often starved, as
their hunting grounds were turned into farms by the colonizers. This is
according to BLM (communist organization) supporters.
St. Junipero Serra
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 founded Mission San Juan
Capistrano, now famous for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the
seventh of nine missions established under the direction of this indomitable
Spaniard. Born on Spain's island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan
Order, taking the name of Saint Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper.
Until he was thirty-five, he spent most of his time in the classroom-first as a
student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his
preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun
years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solanus
in South America. Junipero's desire was to convert native peoples in the New
World.
Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a
companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero's left leg
became infected by an insect bite and would remain a cross, often
life-threatening, for the rest of his life. For eighteen years he worked in
central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions
there.
Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion
south from Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to
the territory. So the last two conquistadores-one military, one spiritual-began
their quest. Jose de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with him for
present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the
nine-hundred-mile journey north was San Diego (1769). That year a shortage of
food almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people,
Junipero and another friar began a novena in preparation for Saint Joseph’s Day,
March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived.
Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San
Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luis Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San
Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve
more were founded after Serra's death.
Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle
great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of
death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous
"Regulation" protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the
basis for the first significant legislation in California, a "Bill of
Rights" for Native Americans.
Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman
life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal
guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after Baptism lest
they be corrupted in their former haunts — a move that has brought cries of
"injustice" from some moderns.
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 until dawn. He baptized over
six thousand people and confirmed five thousand. His travels would have circled
the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also
a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by
their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel,
and was beatified in 1988.
Excerpted from
Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.
Things to Do:
·
Read about St. Junipero Serra and the California
Missions here and here.
·
Read this excellent article at Catholicism.org.
·
Send someone an e-card
for St. Junipero's feast.
·
Purchase a copy of The Man Who Founded California: The Life of Blessed Junipero
Serra from Amazon.com.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION ONE-"I BELIEVE" -
"WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER THREE-MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
Article 1 I BELIEVE
I. The Obedience of Faith
144 To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or
listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard,
because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the
model of such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. the Virgin Mary is its
most perfect embodiment.
Abraham - "father of all who believe"
145 The Letter to the Hebrews, in its great eulogy of the
faith of Israel's ancestors, lays special emphasis on Abraham's faith: "By
faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to
go." By faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the promised
land. By faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the promise. and by
faith Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice.
146 Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews
11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen": "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to
him as righteousness." Because he was "strong in his
faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".
147 The Old Testament is rich in witnesses to this faith.
the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims its eulogy of the exemplary faith of the
ancestors who "received divine approval". Yet "God had
foreseen something better for us": the grace of believing in his Son
Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith".
Mary - "Blessed is she who believed"
148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience
of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel
Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so
giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done]
to me according to your word." Elizabeth greeted her: "Blessed
is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her
from the Lord." It is for this faith that all generations have called
Mary blessed.
149 Throughout her life and until her last ordeal when Jesus her son died on the cross, Mary's faith never wavered. She never ceased to believe in the fulfilment of God's word. and so the Church venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: End
to abortion
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Nine Choirs
of Angels Devotion
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary