Saint Francis Xavier
Priest,
Jesuit Missionary to the Orient (1506-1552)
Feast day – December 03
A young Spanish gentleman, in the dangerous days of the
Reformation, was making a name for himself as a professor of philosophy at the
University of Paris. He was aspiring, apparently, to a high dignity, until
Saint Ignatius of Loyola decided to undertake the spiritual conquest of this
ardent soul. What does it profit a man to gain the entire world, if he suffers
the loss of his soul? Ignatius often repeated to the brilliant teacher. The
words of Christ, joined to the example of Ignatius and his disciples,
prevailed. It was not long before his gifted friend decided to labor for the
glory of God, by adopting the evangelical life of an apostle, to which he was
indeed called. He was among the first five members of the Society of Jesus,
those who with Ignatius made their religious vows in the church of Montmartre
in Paris, on the feast of the Assumption in 1534.
On his way to Rome with the others, handicapped by severe
penances he had imposed on himself, he remained in Venice and exercised a brief
apostolate by caring for the sick in the city hospital. The others waited for
him to regain his ability to walk. These first fervent Jesuits were intending
to embark for the Holy Land, but were prevented by a war. In Rome, Francis
again went to a hospital to serve the sick; he also visited the prisons to
encourage and console the poor inmates, while preparing for ordination with the
others, according to the desire of the pope.
Saint Ignatius having remained in Venice, the other five
returned there afterwards. Francis was sent by Saint Ignatius to the Orient in
1534, where for twelve years he labored unceasingly to win souls, sleeping only
three hours a night, eating very little, and bearing the Gospel to Hindustan,
to Malacca, and as far as Japan. At all times thwarted by jealousy,
covetousness, and the carelessness of those who should have helped and
encouraged him, he did not slacken in his apostolic endeavors despite
opposition and the difficulties of every sort which he encountered. The gift of
tongues and miracles accompanied him everywhere; he resurrected several dead
persons. And his inexhaustible kindness was not the least of his assets in
winning thousands of pagans to the Faith. He baptized so many that his arm
became virtually disabled, ten thousand in a single month in the kingdom of
Trevancor, where in the same space of time he saw to the building of forty-five
churches. At Meliapour, site of the martyrdom of Saint Thomas, he found the
marble on which the Apostle was sacrificed, and which exuded blood the first
time Mass was said upon it. Passing through various islands, cities and
provinces of India, he strengthened his first conquests by additional preaching.
He planted crosses in the public squares and overcame all obstacles.
From India he went to Japan; Saint Francis is called Apostle
of Japan as well as of India. There the pagan priests opposed and calumniated
him, and tried without success to outwit him in debates. Humiliated, they used
subtle means to instill dislike for him in the minds of the court authorities.
But he won the love as well as the respect of those he evangelized, blessing
them with such miracles as filling the hitherto sterile sea of Cangoxima with
inexhaustible reserves of fish. The vast kingdom of China appealed to his
charity, and he was resolved to risk his life to force an entry, when God took
him to Himself. It was on December 2, 1552, that the Apostle of the Indies died
on Sancian, an island facing the city of Canton in China, like Moses, in sight
of the land of promise.
Reflection: Some are specially
called to work for souls; but there is no one who cannot help greatly to win
their salvation. Holy example, earnest intercession, the offerings of our
sacrifices and works on their behalf, are within the reach of all. What is
needed is the spirit which animated Saint Francis Xavier — the desire to make
some return to God for His bounties, with much confidence in His paternal love.
Sources for this article were taken from: Lives of Saints - http://magnificat.ca
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You have sent us to proclaim the Gospel to all nations,
and have promised to always remain with us.
Look upon this family
gathered on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier.
Pour out the abundance of your Spirit
upon each one of our brothers and sisters
especially on those who are called to ponder
upon the journey made
and to plan what has still to be done,
so that we may offer a more authentic service to mission.
Grant that we may ever be faithful to the Gospel
and to give an answer
to the hopes which the world places before your church today.
Stay with us, Lord,
when we gather around the table of your Bread and your Word,
and when we walk the paths of the world
side by side with our brothers and sisters.
Grant that we all find ourselves in heaven, our homeland,
after having been members of the same family on earth.
You have sent us to proclaim the Gospel to all nations,
and have promised to always remain with us.
Look upon this family
gathered on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier.
Pour out the abundance of your Spirit
upon each one of our brothers and sisters
especially on those who are called to ponder
upon the journey made
and to plan what has still to be done,
so that we may offer a more authentic service to mission.
Grant that we may ever be faithful to the Gospel
and to give an answer
to the hopes which the world places before your church today.
Stay with us, Lord,
when we gather around the table of your Bread and your Word,
and when we walk the paths of the world
side by side with our brothers and sisters.
Grant that we all find ourselves in heaven, our homeland,
after having been members of the same family on earth.
Amen.
