Posted on 12/03/2005 7:40:12 AM PST by Salvation
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Saint Francis Xavier - "Apostle Of The East"
St. Francis Xavier Against Archbishop Fitzgerald
More than 350 Catholics from Pakistan to India to venerate Saint Francis Xavier
Thank you "Salvation" Amen!!!!
Of interest.
"Even in ruins, it is still awe-inspiring and visitors will be surprised by the peace and tranquillity that emanates from its imposing walls and beautiful setting. It is good that St. Paul's Church is still able to calm a person's soul, more so since the fine old tombstones that are found inside the ruins bear silent testimony that it is the final resting place of some Dutchmen who lived hundreds of years ago."
"Look around and you will see a statue of St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary, who was a regular visitor from 1545 until 1552. When St. Francis passed away in China in 1553, his body was brought here and interred for nine months before it was taken to Goa in India where the good saint rests in peace even until today. The statue was built in 1952 to commemorate the passing of St. Francis and his internment there over four centuries ago."
"There is an intriguing tale surrounding the exhumation and subsequent canonization of St. Francis, linking it to the statue. When the decision was made to transport St. Francis' body to Goa, the exhumers found that his body showed very little sign of decay even after having been buried for nine months. This led to requests that the late missionary be proclaimed a saint. Now, another mystifying thing happened - in order to be canonized, the Church needed the right arm and when the arm was severed, the wound was said to have dripped blood!"
"As for the statue, look carefully to see if the right arm is missing. And no, it was not lopped off by design. When the statue was erected in 1952, there was a consecration ceremony. But the morning after, a large casuarina tree fell on it and broke off the right arm.:
Thanks for your inside information!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are doing well today.
Marry Christmas thank you
And a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you also.
Saturday, December 3, 2005 St. Francis Xavier, Priest (Memorial) |
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From: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
Lamentation Over Rebellious Children (Continuation)
From: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8
The Need for Good Shepherds
Activities:
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December 03, 2005 Memorial of St. Frances Xavier, priest Old Calendar: St. Francis Xavier
This saint, one of the Church's most illustrious missionaries, came from a noble Basque family in Spain. He studied at the University of Paris, where he taught philosophy after obtaining his degree of master of arts. Here he met Ignatius of Loyola and was enrolled as one of the first seven Jesuits. They decided to go to the Holy Land, but the war between the Turks and Venice prevented this, so for a time Francis labored at Padua, Bologna, and Rome. In 1540 Ignatius chose him as the first missionary to the Portuguese East Indies. Francis sailed from Lisbon armed with four papal briefs making him nuncio with full powers and recommending him to the Eastern princes. He landed at Goa in India and began a vast apostolate lasting over ten years. Here he instructed the adults, gathered the children by ringing a bell in the streets, catechized them, and also visited the hospitals and prisons. He then turned to the native Indians, teaching the simple folk by versifying Catholic doctrine and fitting the verses to popular tunes. He then went on to Cape Comorin and began the conversion of the Paravas, some days baptizing so many that at night he could not raise his arm from fatigue. Then to Travencore where he founded forty-five churches in various villages. Then to Malacca in Malaya, and for eighteen months from island to island, preaching, instructing, baptizing. On his return to Goa he heard of the vast harvest of souls awaiting the laborers in Japan and he set out for this field with several companions, arriving at Kagoshima in 1549. He set himself to learn the language and started to preach and teach with such success that twelve years later his converts were found still retaining their first fervor. In 1551 he returned to Malacca to revisit his converts in India. Now a new goal loomed up before his eyes pagan China, but he was not to reach it. Arriving on the island of Sancian at the mouth of the Canton river, he became ill of a fever and would have died abandoned on the burning sands of the shore if a poor man named Alvarez had not taken him to his hut. Here he lingered for two weeks, praying between spells of delirium, and finally died, his eyes fixed with great tenderness on his crucifix. He was buried in a shallow grave and his body covered with quicklime, but when exhumed three months later it was found fresh and incorrupt. It was taken to Goa where it is still enshrined. St. Francis Xavier was proclaimed patron of foreign missions and of all missionary works by Pope St. Pius X. Excerpted from A Saint A Day by Berchmans Bittle, O.F.M.Cap Patron: African missions; diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana; Apostleship of Prayer; Australia; black missions; Borneo; China; East Indies; foreign missions; Goa, India; diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin; India; archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana; Japan; diocese of Joiliet, Illinois; missionaries; Missioners of the Precious Blood; missions; Navarre, Spain; navigators; New Zealand; parish missions; plague epidemics; Propagation of the Faith. Symbols: bell; crucifix; vessel; Pilgrim's staff; rosary; lily; font; ship and crucifix; globe. Things to Do:
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Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, Pray for us.
Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.
Saint Francis Xavier, the glory and second pillar of that holy Institute, Pray for us.
Apostle of the Indies and Japan, Pray for us.
Legate of the Holy Apostolic See, Pray for us.
Preacher of the truth, and doctor of the nations, Pray for us.
Vessel of election, to carry the Name of Jesus Christ to the kings of the earth, Pray for us.
Shining light to those who sat in the shadow of death, Pray for us.
Full of a burning zeal for the glory of God, Pray for us.
Unwearied propagator of the Christian Faith, Pray for us.
Most watchful shepherd of souls, Pray for us.
Most constant mediator on divine things, Pray for us.
Most faithful follower of Jesus Christ,
Most ardent lover of evangelical poverty, Pray for us.
a Most perfect observer of religious obedience, Pray for us.
Who didst burn with the fire of Divine Love, Pray for us.
Who didst generously despise all earthly things, Pray for us.
Most able guide in the way of perfection, Pray for us.
Model of apostolic men, Pray for us.
Model of all virtues, Pray for us.
Light of infidels, and master of the faithful, Pray for us.
Angel in life and manners, Pray for us.
Patriarch in affection and care of God's people, Pray for us.
Prophet mighty in word and works, Pray for us.
Whom all nations and the Church have with one voice associated with the
glorious choir of Apostles, Pray for us.
Who wast adorned with the crown of virgins, Pray for us.
Who didst aspire to the palm of martyrs, Pray for us.
Confessor in virtue and profession of life, Pray for us.
In whom we reverence, through the Divine Goodness, the merits of all
Saints, Pray for us.
Whom the winds and the sea obeyed, Pray for us.
Who didst take by assault the cities that had revolted from Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Who wast the terror of the armies of infidels, Pray for us.
Scourge of demons, and destroyer of idols, Pray for us.
Powerful defense against shipwreck, Pray for us.
Father of the poor, and refuge of the miserable,Pray for us.
a Sight to the blind, and strength to the lame, Pray for us.
Protector in time of war, famine, and plague, Pray for us.
Wonderful worker of miracles, Pray for us.
Who wast endued with the gift of tongues, Pray for us.
Who wast endued with the wondrous power of raising the dead, Pray for us.
Resounding trumpet of the Holy Ghost, Pray for us.
Light and glory of the East, Pray for us.
Through the Cross, which thou didst so often raise among the Gentiles, Pray for us.
Saint Francis Xavier, We beseech thee, hear us.
Through the Faith, which thou didst so marvelously propagate, We beseech thee, hear us.
Through thy miracles and prophecies, We beseech thee, hear us.
Through the perils and shipwrecks which thou didst endure, We beseech thee, hear us.
Through thy pains and labors, in the midst of which thou didst so ardently exclaim: Still more! still mo !, We beseech thee, hear us.
Through thy heavenly raptures, in the midst of which thou didst so fervently exclaim: Enough, Lord, enough! We beseech thee, hear us.
Through the glory and happiness which now thou dost enjoy in heaven, We beseech thee, hear us.
Friend of the heavenly Bridegroom: Intercede for us.
Blessed Francis Xavier, beloved of God and men: Intercede for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier:
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. O God, Who by the preaching and miracles of blessed Francis, wast pleased to add to Thy Church the nations of the Indies: grant mercifully, that we who venerate his glorious merits may imitate his virtues. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Prayer Source: Kyrie Eleison Two Hundred Litanies by Benjamin Francis Musser O.F.M., The Magnificat Press, 1944
Mt 9:35-10:8 | ||
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# | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
35 | And Jesus went about all the cities and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity. | et circumibat Iesus civitates omnes et castella docens in synagogis eorum et praedicans evangelium regni et curans omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem |
36 | And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd. | videns autem turbas misertus est eis quia erant vexati et iacentes sicut oves non habentes pastorem |
37 | Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. | tunc dicit discipulis suis messis quidem multa operarii autem pauci |
38 | Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest. | rogate ergo dominum messis ut eiciat operarios in messem suam |
Chapter 10 | ||
1 | And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. | et convocatis duodecim discipulis suis dedit illis potestatem spirituum inmundorum ut eicerent eos et curarent omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem |
2 | And the names of the twelve Apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, | duodecim autem apostolorum nomina sunt haec primus Simon qui dicitur Petrus et Andreas frater eius |
3 | James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, | Iacobus Zebedaei et Iohannes frater eius Philippus et Bartholomeus Thomas et Mattheus publicanus et Iacobus Alphei et Thaddeus |
4 | Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. | Simon Cananeus et Iudas Scariotes qui et tradidit eum |
5 | These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. | hos duodecim misit Iesus praecipiens eis et dicens in viam gentium ne abieritis et in civitates Samaritanorum ne intraveritis |
6 | But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. | sed potius ite ad oves quae perierunt domus Israhel |
7 | And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. | euntes autem praedicate dicentes quia adpropinquavit regnum caelorum |
8 | Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give. | infirmos curate mortuos suscitate leprosos mundate daemones eicite gratis accepistis gratis date |
December 3, 2005
St. Francis Xavier
(1506-1552)
Jesus asked, What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? (Matthew 16:26a). The words were repeated to a young teacher of philosophy who had a highly promising career in academics, with success and a life of prestige and honor before him. Francis Xavier, 24 at the time, and living and teaching in Paris, did not heed these words at once. They came from a good friend, Ignatius of Loyola, whose tireless persuasion finally won the young man to Christ. Francis then made the spiritual exercises under the direction of Ignatius, and in 1534 joined his little community (the infant Society of Jesus). Together at Montmartre they vowed poverty, chastity and apostolic service according to the directions of the pope. From Venice, where he was ordained priest in 1537, Francis Xavier went on to Lisbon and from there sailed to the East Indies, landing at Goa, on the west coast of India. For the next 10 years he labored to bring the faith to such widely scattered peoples as the Hindus, the Malayans and the Japanese. Wherever he went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and rough accommodations. He spent countless hours ministering to the sick and the poor, particularly to lepers. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but, as we know from his letters, he was filled always with joy. Francis went through the islands of Malaysia, then up to Japan. He learned enough Japanese to preach to simple folk, to instruct and to baptize, and to establish missions for those who were to follow him. From Japan he had dreams of going to China, but this plan was never realized. Before reaching the mainland he died.
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