The Daily Question
Which personal trait of Saint Junípero Serra most defined the way he carried out his mission work in California?
1. his love of quiet contemplation that kept him mostly inside the mission walls
2. his fierce determination that drove him to walk hundreds of miles to defend Indigenous rights
3. his preference for political leadership over spiritual work
4. his devotion to writing long theological books instead of traveling
Your answer was: his fierce determination that drove him to walk hundreds of miles to defend Indigenous rights
You are correct!!
Answer: Serra was known for his stubborn, almost fiery resolve; when he believed something was unjust, he didn’t simply write letters or send messengers—he walked all the way from California to Mexico City, despite chronic leg pain, to demand protections for Native communities. This tenacity is one of the most revealing windows into his personality and why he remains such a complex and compelling figure in California’s early history.
Question or comment about the question today?