As we speak, the Pope is at the White House. It’s not the first time in history, but it is historical. There was a time, in my lifetime, when that would not have been possible. Catholics have always been held in some places, as suspicious. Early in American history, it was illegal in all states, except Maryland, for priests to say Mass. At one point, it would have been a capital crime, punishable by death.

But now Catholics, in one degree or another, make up almost 15% of the population of this country. Six of the nine justices of the Supreme Court are Catholic; and tomorrow, when Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress, the two people sitting behind him, the VPU’s and The Speaker of the House are both practicing Catholics.

Before the independence of the thirteen colonies in 1776, a large part of the west and south west of the U.S. were part of New Spain – the original name of Mexico. What are now the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Florida were part of Spain – A Catholic country. Long before the Eastern British Colonies were settled by European and African immigrants – freely or forcibly – Spanish missionaries had established missions throughout the Spanish colonies. It is ironic, to say the least, that all the current unrest about immigration, especially from So. America, the South West United States was Mexico.

One of these missionaries, Father Junipero Serra, will be canonized a saint in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

When I was a seminarian, I lived for a summer at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel by the sea, California. It’s arguably the most beautiful of the 21 Missions of California and it is the place where Serra died and is buried. It is one of the most beautiful places in America.

There is controversy about Serra – as there is controversy about every human being. He was not perfect, but being perfect is not what makes a saint. Saints are people whose lives were heroic and rose above their faults.

One of the first things Pope Francis said when he was elected Pope, is say he is a sinner.

At great personal sacrifice – he had an infected leg – having been bitten by something in the jungle of Eastern Mexico. It left him in constant pain for over 35 years until his death. It made walking excruciatingly painful and he walked with a limp. Yet, all that time, he walked up and down what is now California, establishing missions. These missions were places of sanctuary for the native peoples—from the soldiers and settlers who tried to enslave them.

Serra’s personal motto was “always took forward, and never look back.” It is good advice for all of us. Remembering the past is important, but we live in the present and are moving forward—generally speaking with plans and dreams that do not always come true but always indicate that the best is yet to be.

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