Always Forward: Serra’s Unwavering Zeal for the Gospel – Jul 01 – Homily – Fr Joseph Michael
Views 76
Fr. Joseph Michael McShane gives the homily on how St. Junípero Serra, the Apostle to California, exemplified unwavering missionary zeal, courage, and profound faith in Christ despite severe physical hardship, tirelessly defending Native Americans and establishing missions with the motto "Always forward, never backward."
The homily celebrates St. Junípero Serra, the "Apostle to California," who founded nine of the 21 missions there. Despite suffering from a severely ulcerated leg due to a scorpion sting, which caused him pain for life, he never let it deter his mission of walking thousands of miles to spread the Gospel. St. Serra was also a fierce defender of Native Americans, even walking over 900 miles to protect them from abuse by Spanish authorities, deeply loving them and wanting to bring them salvation. Canonized by Pope Francis, St. Serra's life is an inspiration for his apostolic zeal, courage, and profound trust in Jesus Christ amidst all difficulties.
Pope John XXIII – Persevere courageously amid persecution for God's cause in missions – https://airmaria.com/go/4mZswN
Pope Pius XII – Martyrs' sacrifices become seeds yielding abundant spiritual fruit – https://airmaria.com/go/Vq8RFr
CCC 849 – Church's missionary mandate from Christ – https://airmaria.com/go/J5u2ga
Romans 5:3 – Perseverance through suffering produces character, hope – https://airmaria.com/go/esJcT7
CCC 307 – God's providence sustains creation, human cooperation – https://airmaria.com/go/cAFwDB
Matthew 25:40 – Serving the least, serving Christ himself – https://airmaria.com/go/4jK7TH
00:00 - Introduction to St. Junípero Serra
00:42 - "Always Forward, Never Backward": Serra's Missionary Zeal
01:10 - Serra's Method of Founding Missions
01:38 - Perseverance Amidst Physical Suffering
02:56 - Defender of Native Americans and the Great Commission
04:12 - Serra's Legacy: Death, Canonization, and Recognition
05:17 - A Call to Imitate St. Junípero Serra's Faith
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Junipero Serra - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=401
Readings: St. Junipero Serra - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070126.cfm
1st: Isaiah 61:1-3a
Resp: Psalms 96:1-2, 2-3, 10 - A Canticle of Praise
Gsp: Matthew 28:16-20 - Commissioning of the Disciples
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1342&r=6041
Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkA99RjYmKE
