The Helena independent., 1891-06-06
FATHER JUN|PER0 SIERRA
10 Whose Sacred Memory Was
Erected by Mrs. Stanford
Monument.
Born in the Faith and Reared in
the Precepts of the
Church.
His Arrival at the Mission at San Fer
nando, Jan. 1, l75O-To Cali
fOrnia in 1867.

On Wednesday last the handsome me-
mortal to Padre Junipero Sierra, erected by
the munificence of Mrs. Leland Stanford
close to the spot at which he landed in
Monterey, was unveiled with considerable
pomp and ceremony. The monument is of
heroic proportions, is exquisitely chaste in
design and a fitting monument to the
memory of the great apostle and humble
follower of st. Francis.
On the morning of the celebration a
special train borc the Pioneers, Young
Mems Institute, the Catholic Union and
Native Sons to the dedication where they
swelled the numbers in the procession, says
the San Francisco Call which marched
through tho ancient capital to the still
more ancient landing place.
Father Junipero was born in the village
of Petra. Island of Majorca, on November
"a, 17l3. His parents belonged to tho farm
ing class and were noted for their industry,
piety and uprightness. Following the Gus
tom of the country the babe was christened
on the day of his birth, when he received
the name of Michael Joseph, and eighteen
months later received the sacrament of con-
frmation. As he grew his parents in
structed him in the rudiments of the Cath
olic faith and when he entered the school
of the Franciscan fathers at San Bernardino
he evinced such religious disposition, as
we'll as such an aptitude for learning, that
his parents determined to give him all the
advantages in their power and placed him
under the charge of the cathedral clergy Mt
Palma. the capital Of the islands. As time
passed he grew in knowledge and piety. and
hn /, ,.,f h..
for admission into the Franciscan order
and was received rs novice. At the end
of his years probation he took the triple
VOWS and assumed the name of Junipero.
by which he was ever afterward known in
religion.
pursued his philosophical and theological
studies, and with such success that before
his ordination he wEs professor of rhilos-
ophy and was honored with tho title of
doctor of divinity. AS a teacher he was
attended with the same success as when
pupil, and many of his scholars attained
the highest honors in their studies, bnt it
was after his ordination that his wonderful
olttorcal powers were manifested and he
became famous throughout tho country.
Highly esteemed for his abilities honora
quickly rolled in upon him, but the humble
friar renounced these and pleaded with his
superiors for permission to employ his tai
ents in the conversion of the American In
dians.
This request, after many years. was
granted, and in 1749 Father ,Iunipero went
to Cadiz and joined n band of missionaries
who we're about to set sail for Mexico. The
voyage was II protractcd ono and full of
hardship, but NJ length. on Jan. !, 17bO, the
devoted band arrived at their destination,
tho mission of San Fernando. For few
months Father Junipero taught in tho COL
leRe ut that place. Subsequently he was
sent to the mission of Sierra Gorda where
he worked with great zeal among tho In
dians for a period of nine years.
Then he was recalled to the parent mis-