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St. Francis Xavier In a missionary journey that lasted eleven years, one man traveled throughout the Asia, on foot, and by ship, brought the Gospel to over fifty kingdoms and Baptized more than one million people.  Together with St. Teresa of Lisieux, St. Francis Xavier is the patron of foreign missions and considered one the greatest missionaries since the time of the Apostles. For the month of November, the Mission Office offers a glimpse at the life of St. Francis Xavier. Set All Afire : A Novel About Saint Francis Xavier by Louis De Wohl takes the reader into the mind and heart of this great missionary and saint.Additionally the Holy Childhood Association offers a elementary lesson plan, for younger and older students, on the life and works of St. Francis Xavier.  Francis was born on April 7, 1506, in Spain, the youngest child in a noble and loving family. As a young man, he chose education over a career in the military and went to study at the University of Paris. He was an excellent student, and eventually became a professor of Philosophy. While in Paris, Francis met Ignatius of Loyola, who shared with Francis, his vision for service to God and the Church. Although not impressed with their initial meeting, Ignatius' zeal was contagious, and eventually Francis embraced this vision for the Church, and recognized God's call to him through Ignatius. Together with Francis and five other young men, Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).They set out to go the Holy Land, stopping in Rome to receive the blessing of Pope Paul III. After three years, Ignatius and Francis were ordained to the Priesthood, and the Jesuits continued to grow in membership and areas of service to the Church. The King of Portugal made an appeal to the Pope asking for help ministering to the people of the Portuguese colonies in India. Fr. Francis responded to this call to missionary service with great joy, although he knew that he would likely never see his home again. He wrote to Ignatius; "For what is left of this life, I am well assured, it will be by letter only that we shall be together - in the other we shall embrace face to face." The difficult journey to Goa, India took 15 months around the Cape of Good Hope. Once in India, Fr. Francis saw that the Church that had been brought with the Portuguese colonists had been weakened, and he ministered to them and shared the Gospel message. He also preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children, ringing a small bell to call them to study. He learned the local languages, and customs of the people, eat as they did, washed his own clothes, prepared his own food, and is said to have converted the entire city.  He scolded his patron, King John of Portugal, over the slave trade: "You have no right to spread the Catholic faith while you take away all the country's riches. It upsets me to know that at the hour of your death you may be ordered out of paradise." From Goa, Fr. Francis traveled to Cape Comorin in the south of India and to the islands of South Asia, where he spent three years working among the pearl-fishers. He wrote to Ignatius, "Every Sunday I collected them all, men and women, boys and girls, in the church. They came with great readiness and with a great desire for instruction. Then, in the hearing of all, I began by calling on the name of the most holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and I recited aloud the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Creed in the language of the country" From there, he went on to the East Indies, to Malacca and the Moluccas of Indonesia. Fr. Francis heard about the highly advanced kingdom of Japan, that had not yet had any interaction with the West. He was determined to make this his next mission field, and eventually landed in Kyoto, Japan. Initally Fr. Francis tried to use the same approach that had been so effective in India. Living simply, reaching out to the children. After having rocks hurled at him, and his efforts rejected, Francis considered that he needed to change not only his approach but his views as well.  He recognized the Japanese culture as a sophisticated one, and appreciated that they had been worshiping God faithfully through their Buddhist religion. Previously he saw himself as building on barren ground; now he recognized that he was not starting God's work, but was simply continuing it. He learned the language and culture and found ways to connect these with the Gospel message. In doing so, he was accepted and very successful in establishing the Church. After more than two years in Japan, Francis was anxious to start out again, this time for China, another area not yet reached by Christian Missionaries. On this journey, however, Francis became ill and was set off the ship on a small Island of Sancian, off the China coast. Here he died, on December 2nd Within a few weeks his body was recovered and found to be perfectly incorrupt. It was brought to Goa, India and received there with devotion and an enthusiasm, which showed that the people had already recognized him as a saint. He was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619 and canonized together with St Ignatius by Pope Gregory XV, on March 12th, 1622. He is now the patron of all the missions of the Catholic Church. St. Francis Xavier, Feast day is December 3rd Prayer Dear Lord, we pray, that by the example of the life of St. Francis Xavier we may follow Your call to share Your love with all we meet. May we follow his example of courage and sacrifice in faith and resolve to respond to our calling to be salt to the earth, as we spread the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen. |
 I wish they university students would work as hard at converting these people as they do at their books......They would cry out with all their heart: "Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do?" Send me anywhere you like - even to India! -from letters to Saint Ignatius Loyola from Saint Francis Xavier |
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 Click here For a Children's video on the Life of St. Francis XavierFRANCIS XAVIER AND THE SAMURAI'S LOST TREASURE (English, Spanish, French) As a young man, Francis received a gift of friendship that inspired him to become a beacon of God's love throughout the world. His Christ-like charity and zest for life bring joy to all. |
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| Previous Saints of the Month Saint Francis of Assisi St. Anthony Mary Claret St. Katharine Drexel Blessed Damien of Molokai Uganda Martyrs Saint Martin De Porres Saint Mother Cabrini Saint Francis Xavier Saint Therese of Lisieux |
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