I pray God may preserve your health and life many years.

O children of the future, gather close and listen to the words of Junípero Serra, a man whose heart was filled with the deep desire to serve humanity, and whose words were a reflection of the timeless wisdom of the ancients: "I pray God may preserve your health and life many years." These words, though simple, carry with them the profound wish that every person may be blessed with the strength to endure life’s trials, the grace to live fully, and the health to carry out their divine purpose for many years. To pray for someone’s life is to wish for their well-being, to honor the sacred gift of existence, and to acknowledge that each day is a blessing to be cherished.

In the days of the ancients, the spiritual leaders and philosophers understood the deep connection between health, life, and purpose. The great Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught that it was not the length of life that mattered, but how one lived it. Yet, he also understood the blessing of good health, for without it, the body is weak and the spirit constrained. Similarly, Serra’s prayer is a reflection of the wisdom that true well-being is not just the absence of illness, but the ability to live fully and with meaning. Health and life are not to be taken for granted, for they are the vessels through which we fulfill our divine calling.

Consider the life of Serra himself, a missionary who journeyed across vast and often inhospitable lands to spread his message of faith. Despite the hardships he faced—disease, isolation, and the demanding physical labor of building missions—Serra prayed daily for the health and strength to continue his work. His prayer was not for his own comfort, but for the sustenance to carry on his mission of service to others. It was through his own devotion and sacrifice that he brought light to those in darkness, establishing missions in what is now California. Serra's words reflect a life that understood that health and life are precious tools that, when nurtured, allow us to serve the greater good.

The prayer, “I pray God may preserve your health and life many years,” is also a reminder of the importance of gratitude. In times of prosperity, we often forget the blessing of good health and the strength that allows us to carry out our responsibilities. Serra's prayer, however, invites us to reflect on the fragile nature of life. It calls us to be thankful for the health we possess and the life we are given