July 1 - Prayer to Junipero Serra

O missionary of the New World                inspired to leave your classroom                and go forth to win souls for Christ,                despite continuous battles                with cold and hunger                and long journeys with an injured leg,                praying throughout the night                you persevered and stayed                with the thousands you baptized                into the fold of Mother Church,                bringing them not only the gift of faith                but better living conditions as well;                fighting ever against the military powers                that would have brought only slaughter,                you gained rights for these natives                in the missions of California –                pray we shall have                the same zeal for souls                that, thinking not of ourselves                and without concern for any suffering,                we may bear the image of our Lord                to the ends of the earth                so all might come to salvation.