Analysis Of The Canonization Of Junipero Serra - 2041 Words

Junipero Serra was essentially the founder of the mission system and he set much of the precedent as to how the missions would run and treat the indigenous people. Serra’s work on the missions had large effects on the native people besides just spreading Christianity to the New World. More recently, Serra’s canonization has been a rather controversial topic due to the history surrounding his treatment of the natives and the overall results of the missions. The Catholic Church is aware of this history and still chose to make Junipero Serra a saint even with the protests by different Native American groups. However, the Catholic Church feels they have good reason as to why Serra is considered a saint regardless of these arguments. This is an†¦show more content†¦As mentioned by PBS, â€Å"He was notorious for his mortifications of the flesh: wearing heavy shirts with sharp wires pointed inward, whipping himself to the point of bleeding, and using a candle to sca r the flesh of his chest†(PBS.org). This shows how he used violence in his form of practice and when it came to the natives, he had no problem treating them as he did himself. Mortifications of the flesh was one principle he lived by and it became a part of the way the missions worked. Junipero Serra became involved with the missions when the Jesuits were expelled from New Spain and Serra was chosen to take over the missions. He had a complete new vision for the missions that included forcing the natives to live on the mission and attend mass twice everyday. Women were to be separated from men so that there would be no possibility of sin in the missions. Serra’s ultimate goal for the missions was to convert as many natives as possible because he believed in the power and greatness of his religion(Castillo 55-70). In his lifetime, Serra founded nine missions and converted around 5,000 natives in present day California(PBS.org). Spain was more than pleased with Serra†™s work with the missions because they felt it gave Spain control over Alta California. They encouraged the missions and began sending more friars to aid in the process that Serra had created(Castillo 70-75). In addition to Junipero Serra’s history and his path heading towards the