Juniper (friar)

This article is about the medieval Franciscan friar. For the 18th-century Californian missionary, see Junipero Serra. For the cartoon character, see Fred McCarthy (cartoonist).
Servant of God

Juniper

OFM
"Brother Juniper and the Beggar" by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1645-1646)
Bornbefore 1210
Died29 January 1258

Juniper, also known as Brother Juniper (Italian: Fra Ginepro) (died 1258), called "the renowned jester of the Lord", was one of the original followers of Francis of Assisi. Not much is known about Juniper before he joined the friars. In 1210, he was received into the Order of Friars Minor by Francis himself. "Would to God, my brothers, that I had a whole forest of such Junipers," Francis would delightfully pun.[1]

Francis sent him to establish "places" for the friars in Gualdo Tadino and Viterbo. When Clare of Assisi was dying, Juniper consoled her. Juniper is buried at Ara Coeli Church at Rome.

Junípero Serra (1713–1784), born Miquel Josep Serra i Ferrer, took his religious name in honor of Brother Juniper when he was received into the order.

  1. ^ Arnald of Sarrant, Chronicle of the Twenty-Four Generals of the Order of Friars Minor, trans. Noel Muscat, OFM (TAU Franciscan Communications, 2010).