San Diego/Didacus of Alcala -CA Mission

 

St. Didacus of Alcala/San Diego (1400-1463)

November 7 (died Nov. 13)

Didacus is living proof that “God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; God singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong.” (1 Cor 1:27)

As a young man in Spain, Didacus joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Didacus became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God’s ways. His penances were heroic. Didacus was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.

Didacus labored energetically in the missions in the Canary Islands. He was also the superior of a friary there. In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of Bernardine of Siena. When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Didacus stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. 

As he was dying, Didacus looked at a crucifix and said, “O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven.” Didacus is the patron of Franciscan brothers. San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan who was canonized in 1588.

            From the Bull of Canonization: “He was born in Spain with no outstanding reputation for learning, but like our first teachers and leaders unlettered as men count wisdom, an unschooled person, a humble lay brother in religious life. God chose Didacus to show in him the abundant riches of God’s grace to lead many on the way of salvation by the holiness of his life and by his example and to prove over and over to a weary old world almost decrepit with age that God’s folly is wiser than humans, and God’s weakness is more powerful than men.” 

BEGINNING THIS WEEK WE INCLUDE WITHIN OUR EXPLORATION OF FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY, THE PRESENCE OF THE 21 CALIFORNIA MISSIONS AND THEIR PATRON SAINTS. THE FIRST ONE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS ALTA OR UPPER CALIFORNIA WAS SAN DIEGO. THE EXPLANATIONS OF THE MISSIONS THAT I WILL PROVIDE ARE FROM A 1960 PUBLICATION ENTITLED "CALIFORNIA MISSIONS PICTORIAL" (CLICK ON ANY PICTURES TO ENLARGE).