# Saint Junípero Serra and a Prayer to Mary for Our Times
*2020-06-30*

> Bill Young reflects on the life and canonization of St. Junípero Serra, shares recent experiences in Washington, D.C., and leads a prayer to Mary from Pope John Paul II for protection and hope in 2020.

## St. Junípero Serra – Missionary and Saint

St. Junípero Serra (1713‑1784) was a Franciscan missionary born in Mallorca. He entered the Franciscan order at sixteen, earned a doctorate in theology, and taught for many years before being sent to New Spain. From Mexico he traveled to what is now Southern California, founding missions among the indigenous peoples. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and canonized in 2015 during a Mass in Washington, D.C., which I attended with a group from the Archdiocese of Miami.

## Our Washington, D.C. Pilgrimage

We traveled to the nation’s capital on a bus, visited the major sites, and heard the Pope’s address. Although we could not attend the Mass in the cathedral because of limited space, a retired bishop from Miami celebrated a private Mass for us in a side chapel. The experience deepened friendships and reminded me of the universal Church’s solidarity.

## A Prayer to Mary from Pope John Paul II

In honor of St. John Paul II, who beatified St. Serra, I offer the prayer he composed, “O Mary, stay with your children.”

“O Mary, you who crushed the head of the evil one, do not allow us to be defeated by evil, but grant that we may defeat evil with good. Eternal God, Father, we bow to you, victorious in the immaculate conception, by the power of your Son, who is of the same substance as the Father, crucified and risen. Holy Spirit, advocate of sanctity, cleanse us from sin. May your kingdom be established in us, and may the light of the Holy Spirit rise in our hearts. Protect us from the darkness that covers the earth and our consciences. Mary, stay with us, your children, and intercede for the poor, the suffering, and the sick. We thank you for the gift of faith and for the mercy of your Son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

## Living the Faith in 2020

These turbulent times—pandemic, social division, and moral controversies—call us to prayer and to the practice of our faith. I am planning to observe the nine First Fridays devotion, hoping to attend the 8 p.m. Mass at St. David’s. I also encourage listeners to join the nightly Rosary offered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, especially the Spanish‑language broadcast at 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

*In a world of conflict and uncertainty, Mary’s presence and the intercession of the saints guide us toward hope and holiness.*