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Saint Anthony of Padua was a 13th-century Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church, renowned for his extraordinary preaching, wisdom, and miracles. Born in Portugal in 1195, Anthony joined the Franciscan Order and quickly gained fame for his eloquent sermons, which drew crowds and inspired conversions. He was particularly devoted to the poor, the sick, […]

Saint Bonaventure was a 13th-century Franciscan friar, theologian, and philosopher who embodied the spirit of devotion and intellectual curiosity. Born in Italy in 1221, he joined the Franciscan Order and went on to become a renowned scholar, writer, and leader.  Saint Bonaventure’s writings, particularly his mystical treatises, continue to inspire and guide seekers of spiritual […]

In the simple room of a Franciscan missionary, one finds a reflection of the order’s values of humility, poverty, and devotion. The space is sparse, yet rich in spiritual significance. A wooden desk stands as a testament to the missionary’s commitment to study and prayer, where they pour over scripture and prepare for their work […]

Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most revered and iconic Marian apparitions in the Catholic Church. In 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Juan Diego, a humble Aztec convert, on the Hill of Tepeyac in Mexico City. During the apparitions, which took place from December 9 to 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe […]

The mission was named in honor of St. Francis Solanus, born in Montilla, Spain in 1549. At the age of 29 he joined the Franciscans and was sent as a missionary to Peru where for 20 years he was influential among the colonists, and particularly among the Indians. A skilled violinist, he often performed for […]

The 20th mission to be founded in Upper California was named after St. Raphael the Archangel who was known as the angel of good health and is the patron saint of the blind and the sick. As one of the seven angels who stand before the throne of God, St. Raphael is honored throughout the […]

The nineteenth Franciscan mission was named after St. Agnes, a thirteen-year-old Roman girl who was executed in Rome in the year 304 A.D. and buried in the cemetery given her name where a basilica was built in her honor. Santa Ines is the special patroness of chastity. According to legend, she was unharmed in a […]

St. Louis (1214–1270) became King of France at age 12. His first crusade came to grief in April 1250 when the Saracens in Egypt captured him. He survived this and went on to lead a second crusade in which he was stricken with a fatal case of typhus. During his 44-year reign he was noted […]

King Ferdinand of Castile was born near Salamanca, Spain. Fighting continually, and with great success against the Moslems, he built and repaired churches in the newly conquered territory. He is noted for his founding of Spain’s great University of Salamanca in 1243. His death in 1251 ended a life of great service to the Church. […]

The sixteenth Franciscan mission to be founded in Alta California is named after St. Michael, the captain if the armies of God, who is regarded traditionally as the chief of the archangels, a special protector against Satan’s influences and attacks. In the East, Michael is a patron of the sick. The feast is celebrated on […]

St. Joseph was the husband and protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. The Franciscans preached on his grace, and his name was chosen for this fourteenth Franciscan mission. He is representative of the dignity of labor and bringing Christ into the workplace. He is honored by two feast days, the […]

It is reported that when the Portola expedition asked an Indian his name, he replied with something that sounded like Soledad. From this chance occurrence this mission became known as La Soledad, referring to the solitude of the Virgin Mary after the death of her son on the Cross. Our Lady of Solitude Founded on […]

Santa Cruz in Spanish means Holy Cross. Devotion to the Cross is very common throughout Latin America, and the Feast of the Holy Cross figures prominently in the history of the Franciscan missionaries in the new world. Holy Cross “I found the site to be most excellent as had been reported to me. I found […]

The eleventh Franciscan mission was named to honor the Virgin Mary who, according to doctrine, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin. The mission was established on December 8, 1787, the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Most Pure Conception of Mary The 11th mission was founded by Fr. Fermin […]

The tenth Franciscan mission in Alta California was named after St. Barbara who, according to legend, was the beautiful daughter of Dioscorus and Nicomedia. Dioscorus, a pagan, was so angered by his daughter’s adoption of the Christian religion that he imprisoned her and eventually beheaded her with his own sword. For this deed it is […]

The ninth mission was named after St. Bonaventure who was born in Bagnoregio, Italy in 1217. At the age of 40 he was elected General Minister of the Order. At the peak of his career in 1273 he was created Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was one of the greatest scholars and theologians of the […]

The eighth Franciscan mission in Alta California was named after St. Clare, who was born at Assisi in 1193 and ran away from home at the age of eighteen to join St. Francis. At San Damiano she founded, with St. Francis, the famous order of nuns called the Poor Clares. She is the first woman […]

This mission was named for St. John who was born in Capistrano in the Abruzzi in 1386. He became a lawyer and later governor of Perugia in 1412. After the death of his wife, John joined the friars and began a career of service to the church. He became an active leader of the Hungarian […]

The sixth Franciscan Mission was named after St. Francis of Assisi. The son of a wealthy merchant was born at Assisi, Italy, in the year 1182. After a youth spent in seeking pleasure, he left his home and in 1209 founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). St. Francis is the most famous example of […]

The fifth mission to be founded in Alta California was named after St. Louis of Toulouse. He was born in the year 1274, the son of  Charles II, King of Naples. The boy’s uncle was Saint Louis, King of France, and his aunt was Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. After being held hostage for seven years […]

Upper California’s fourth mission was named for St. Gabriel, the angel of the Annunciation sent to Mary at Nazareth, to tell her of her destiny. He also came to Zechariah and told him of the birth of John the Baptist. The prophet Daniel heard of the coming of the Messiah from this angel. Saint Gabriel, […]

The third mission of the Franciscan chain was named after St. Anthony. He was born to a noble family in Lisbon, in 1195. In 1221, he received a new name, Anthony, and a new identity as a Franciscan Friar, having left the Augustinian Canons Regular. Ill health prevented him from becoming a missionary, but he […]

The second of the Franciscan Missions of Alta California was named after St. Charles Borromeo, a Secular Franciscan. Born in 1538, son of Count Gilbert Borromeo by a Medici mother, he was a cardinal at the age of twenty-two and Archbishop of Milan soon after, although he was not ordained priest and bishop until 1563. […]

This first mission was named in honor of St. Didacus, a native of the diocese of Sevilla in Spain. He spent some time as a hermit before becoming a brother of the friars of the regular observance. He became a missionary in the Canary Islands, and in 1445 was made guardian of the friary there. […]

Gustave Doré, a renowned French artist, created this work as part of his illustrations for the Bible. The woodcut depicts the biblical story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, capturing the emotional intensity of the moment. The story of Joseph being sold by his brothers is a dramatic and poignant tale found […]

San Juan Bautista, the name given to the fifteenth Franciscan mission, honors St. John the Baptist. He was the precursor of Jesus and the son of Zachary and Elizabeth, a first cousin of the Virgin Mary. When Jesus was asked about John, he said that “Among those that are born of women there is not […]