Replies

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Francis Xavier was born in Navarre around the year 1506. This
youngest son of Catholic parents was studious as a youngster and
entered the College of St. Barbara at the age of 18 to study
philosophy. In 1528, St. Francis Xavier met St. Ignatius of Loyola
and helped him in the founding and organization of the Jesuits, and
in 1537 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1540, Francis was one
of a group of Jesuits who were sent to serve in Portugal. While
working in Portugal, he was given leave to sail to the East Asia and
spread the word of God.

While sailing to East Asia, Francis continued the work he began with
Ignatius. Among the five ships making the voyage, Francis cared for
the sick, settled disturbances, taught and preached regularly. When
the voyage ended, Francis began teaching, preaching and caring for
the sick as soon as he could. He started out by serving the European
colonists but soon set out to preach the word of God to those who
had never heard it before. In teaching the people, he often used
popular tunes with revised lyrics to teach the catechism. While
working among the people, he accomplished many miracles through
the power of God and converted many to Christianity. While working
in the East Indies, Francis met a man from Japan and was
successful in converting him to Christianity. After talking with the
man, Francis decided to make Japan his next place of labor.

Around the year 1550, Francis arrived in Japan and began
evangelizing. He met much success and many trials working in
Japan. Much of Francis' success came out of his preaching, first of
all, through his own example and then next with words. After
spending several years preaching throughout Japan, Francis
traveled to China to preach there.

At the time of Francis' preaching, China had very exclusive boarders
and foreigners found it difficult to travel in or even enter the country.
Francis made provisions to secretly enter the country, but while he
was carrying out his plan he fell deathly ill. After several weeks of
suffering, Francis died. His body was found to be incorruptible and
many miracles were wrought by God near it. Francis was beatified
two years after his death in 1554 and canonized in the year 1662. He
is the patron of foreign missions.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

It is not the actual physical exertion that counts toward a man's
progress, nor the nature of the task, but the spirit of faith with which it
is undertaken. -St. Francis Xavier

TODAY IN HISTORY

741 Pope St Zachary begins his reign

TODAY'S TIDBIT

The liturgical color for Advent is violet. This color is symbolic of
penance and reminds us of the need for preparing for the Second
Coming of Christ. A second theme of Advent, highlighted especially
in the final weeks of the season, is that of remembering the first
coming of Christ into the world.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all women and men discerning a call to the religious life.