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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 12-03-05, Memorial St. Francis Xavier, priest
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 12-03-05 | New American Bible

Posted on 12/03/2005 7:40:12 AM PST by Salvation

December 3, 2005
Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest

Psalm: Saturday 51

Reading I
Is 30:19-21, 23-26

Thus says the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or to the left.

He will give rain for the seed
that you sow in the ground,
And the wheat that the soil produces
will be rich and abundant.
On that day your flock will be given pasture
and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;
The oxen and the asses that till the ground
will eat silage tossed to them
with shovel and pitchfork.
Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
there will be streams of running water.
On the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall,
The light of the moon will be like that of the sun
and the light of the sun will be seven times greater
like the light of seven days.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

Gospel
Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”




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1 posted on 12/03/2005 7:40:14 AM PST by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; sandyeggo; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; NYer; american colleen; Pyro7480; livius; ...
Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

2 posted on 12/03/2005 7:42:24 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
St Francis Xavier

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


3 posted on 12/03/2005 7:45:27 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
The Season of Advent -- 2005 -- Praying Each Day
4 posted on 12/03/2005 7:46:38 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Advent 2005 – He Comes! The King of Glory
5 posted on 12/03/2005 7:52:55 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

Thank you "Salvation" Amen!!!!


6 posted on 12/03/2005 8:01:56 AM PST by anonymoussierra ("Credite amori vera dicenti - Believe love is speaking the truth. (St. Jerome)")
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To: Salvation
I visited Malacca some time ago and saw the statue of St. Francis Xavier.

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.:

7 posted on 12/03/2005 8:37:58 AM PST by ex-snook ("Come behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth.")
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To: ex-snook

Thanks for your inside information!


8 posted on 12/03/2005 8:43:00 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: anonymoussierra

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are doing well today.


9 posted on 12/03/2005 9:10:59 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

Marry Christmas thank you


10 posted on 12/03/2005 9:14:10 AM PST by anonymoussierra ("Credite amori vera dicenti - Believe love is speaking the truth. (St. Jerome)")
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To: anonymoussierra

And a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you also.


11 posted on 12/03/2005 9:18:41 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Saturday, December 3, 2005
St. Francis Xavier, Priest (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
Psalm 147:1-6
Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 5-8

Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of this inborn faculty. For the truths that concern the relations between God and man wholly transcend the visible order of things, and, if they are translated into human action and influence it, they call for self-surrender and abnegation. The human mind, in its turn, is hampered in the attaining of such truths, not only by the impact of the senses and the imagination, but also by disordered appetites which are the consequences of original sin. So it happens that men in such matters easily persuade themselves that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful.

-- Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis


12 posted on 12/03/2005 9:21:44 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26


Lamentation Over Rebellious Children (Continuation)



(Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:) [19] "Yea, O people in
Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely
be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when: he hears it, he
will answer you. [20] And though the Lord give you the bread of
adversity and the water of affliction yet your Teacher will not hide
himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. [21] And your
ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in
it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.


[23] "And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the
ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and
plenteous. In that day your cattle will graze in large pastures; [24]
and the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat salted
provender, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. [25] And upon
every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running
with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
[26] Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun,
and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven
days, in the day when the Lord binds up the hurt of his people, and
heals the wounds inflicted by his blow."




Commentary:


30:1-33. The fourth lamentation is aimed at those who waste their time
in a vain search for Egyptian help against the Assyrians; they should
be counting God and relying completely on him. It begins by warning
them that they are going to be punished, but then the tone
changes, to the point that we are told that God is going to be kind to
his people and will show them what they must do to free themselves
from the Assyrian threat (vv. 18-33).


To begin with (vv 1-17) the main point being made is that it is sheer
rebellion it makes no sense to draw up plans that don’t take account
of God it makes no sense to seek protection from Egypt; it is too weak
to help anyone. The Lord denounces the distrust of God implicit in
overtures to Egypt (vv. 1-7). The prophet must warn the people who
obstinately refuse to obey God’s Law and have no time for prophets
(vv. 8-11): an alliance with Egypt (vv. 12-14) will lead to disaster;
it is progressively described as troublesome or dangerous (v. 6),
worthless (v. 7), and absolutely perverse (vv. 12-14). They could have
avoided punishment if they had had recourse to the Lord, but they have
trusted in their own strength, thinking to find help in their allies’ horses
(vv. 15-17). Zoan (Tanis) and Hanes (Hierapolis), mentioned in v. 4,
are Egyptian cities in the Nile Delta (cf. the note on 19: 1-25).
Rahab (v. 7) was a sea monster in Eastern mythology, and is sometimes
used as a name for Egypt (cf. Job 9:13; 26:12; Ps 87:4; 89:11).


The second part of the lamentation (vv. 18-33) consists of a number of
oracles which contain promises that Jerusalem will be delivered, and
threats that Assyria will be punished. It begins by describing how
happy the people will be if they turn back to their God (vv. 18-22).
The Lord eagerly awaits their return, for he is full of kindness and
mercy towards those who trust in him (v. 18).


As soon as they return, they will enjoy great contentment--described
here in terms of a material abundance greater than anything they could
imagine (vv. 23-26). Assyria, on the other hand, will be severely
punished by God (vv. 27—33). The “Topheth” (v. 33, note t), literally
“a burning place”, was the site in the valley of Ben-Hinom (or
Ge-ben-Hinnon, Gehenna) on the outskirts of Jerusalem where, at one
time, children were sacrificed to the Canaanite god Moloch (see the
note on Jer 7:21-8:3; cf. Jer 19:5; 32:35). It came to mean a place of
damnation and divine retribution for sinners. There the might of
Assyria will meet its fate.



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


13 posted on 12/03/2005 9:26:39 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8


The Need for Good Shepherds



[35] And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their
synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every
disease and every infirmity. [36] When He saw the crowds, He had
compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like
sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then He said to His disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] pray therefore the
Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."


The Calling and First Mission of the Apostles


[1] And He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and
every infirmity.


[5a] These twelve Jesus sent out charging them, [6] "But go rather to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And preach as you go, saying, `The
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay."




Commentary:


35. The Second Vatican Council uses this passage when teaching about
the message of Christian charity which the Church should always be
spreading: "Christian charity is extended to all without distinction of
race, social condition or religion, and seeks neither gain nor
gratitude. Just as God loves us with a gratuitous love, so too the
faithful, in their charity, should be concerned for mankind, loving it
with that same love with which God sought man. As Christ went about
all the towns and villages healing every sickness and infirmity, as a
sign that the Kingdom of God had come, so the Church, through its
children, joins itself with men of every condition, but especially with
the poor and afflicted, and willingly spends herself for them" ("Ad
Gentes", 12).


36. "He had compassion for them": the Greek verb is very expressive; it
means "He was deeply moved". Jesus was moved when He saw the people,
because their pastors, instead of guiding them and tending them, led
them astray, behaving more like wolves than genuine shepherds of their
flock. Jesus sees the prophecy of Ezekiel 34 as now being fulfilled;
in that passage God, through the prophet, upbraids the false shepherds
of Israel and promises to send them the Messiah to be their new
leader.


"If we were consistent with our faith when we looked around us and
contemplated the world and its history, we would be unable to avoid
feeling in our own hearts the same sentiments that filled the heart of
our Lord" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 133). Reflection on
the spiritual needs of the world should lead us to be tirelessly apostolic.


37-38. After contemplating the crowds neglected by their shepherds,
Jesus uses the image of the harvest to show us that that same crowd is
ready to receive the effects of Redemption: "I tell you, lift up your
eyes, and see now the fields are already white for harvest" (John
4:35). The field of the Jewish people cultivated by the
prophets--most recently by John the Baptist--is full of ripe wheat. In
farmwork, the harvest is lost if the farmer does not reap at the right
time; down the centuries the Church feels a similar need to be out
harvesting because there is a big harvest ready to be won.


However, as in the time of Jesus, there is a shortage of laborers. Our
Lord tells us how to deal with this: we should pray to God, the Lord of
harvest, to send the necessary laborers. If a Christian prays hard, it
is difficult to imagine his not feeling urged to play his part in this
apostolate. In obeying this commandment to pray for laborers, we
should pray especially for there to be no lack of shepherds, who will
be able to equip others with the necessary means of sanctification
needed to back up the apostolate.


In this connection Paul VI reminds us: "the responsibility for
spreading the Gospel that saves belongs to everyone--to all who have
received it! The missionary duty concerns the whole body of the
Church; in different ways and to different degrees, it is true, but we
must all of us be united in carrying out this duty. Now let the
conscience of every believer ask himself: Have I carried out my
missionary duty? Prayer for the Missions is the first way of
fulfilling this duty" ("Angelus Address", 23 October 1977).


1-4. Jesus calls His twelve Apostles after recommending to them to
pray to the Lord to send laborers into His harvest (cf. Matthew 9:38).
Christians' apostolic action should always, then, be preceded and
accompanied by a life of constant prayer: apostolate is a divine
affair, not a merely human one. Our Lord starts His Church by calling
twelve men to be, as it were, twelve patriarchs of the new people of
God, the Church. This new people is established not by physical but by
spiritual generation. The names of those Apostles are specifically
mentioned here. They were not scholarly, powerful or important
people: they were average, ordinary people who responded faithfully to
the grace of their calling--all of them, that is, except Judas
Iscariot. Even before His death and resurrection Jesus confers on them
the power to cast out unclean spirits and cure illnesses--as an earnest
of and as training for the saving mission which He will entrust to
them.


The Church reveres these first Christians in a very special way and is
proud to carry on their supernatural mission, and to be faithful to the
witness they bore to the teaching of Christ. The true Church is absent
unless there is uninterrupted apostolic succession and identification
with the spirit which the Apostles made their own.


"Apostle": this word means "sent"; Jesus sent them out to preach His
Kingdom and pass on His teaching.


The Second Vatican Council, in line with Vatican I, "confesses" and
"declares" that the Church has a hierarchical structure: "The Lord
Jesus, having prayed at length to the Father, called to Himself those
whom He willed and appointed twelve to be with Him, whom He might send
to preach the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 3:13-19: Matthew 10:1-10).
These Apostles (cf. Luke 6:13) He constituted in the form of a college
or permanent assembly, at the head of which He placed Peter, chosen
from among them (cf. John 21:15-17). He sent them first of all to the
children of Israel and then to all peoples (cf. Romans 1:16), so that,
sharing in His power, they might make all peoples His disciples and
sanctify and govern them (cf. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; Luke
24:45-48; John 20:21-23) and thus spread the Church and, administering
it under the guidance of the Lord, shepherd it all days until the end
of the world (cf. Matthew 28:28)" ("Lumen Gentium", 19).


1. In this chapter St. Matthew describes how Jesus, with a view to the
spreading of the Kingdom of God which He inaugurates, decides to
establish a Church, which He does by giving special powers and training
to these twelve men who are its seed.


5-6. In His plan of salvation God gave certain promises (to Abraham
and the Patriarchs), a Covenant and a Law (the Law of Moses), and sent
the prophets. The Messiah would be born into this chosen people, which
explains why the Messiah and the Kingdom of God were to be preached to
the house of Israel first before being preached to the Gentiles.
Therefore, in their early apprenticeship, Jesus restricts the Apostles'
area of activity to the Jews, without this taking from the world-wide
scope of the Church's mission. As we will see, much later on He
charges them to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19;
"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation"
(Mark 16:16). The Apostles also, in the early days of the spread of
the Church, usually sought out the Jewish community in any new city
they entered, and preached first to them (cf. Acts 13:46).


7-8. Previously, the prophets, when speaking of the messianic times,
had used imagery suited to the people's spiritual immaturity. Now,
Jesus, in sending His Apostles to proclaim that the promised Kingdom of
God is imminent, lays stress on its spiritual dimension. The power
mentioned in verse 8 are the very sign of the Kingdom of God or the
reign of the Messiah proclaimed by the prophets. At first (Chapters 8
and 9) it is Jesus who exercises these messianic powers; now He gives
them to His disciples as proof that His mission is divine (Isaiah
35:5-6; 40:9; 52:7; 61:1).



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


14 posted on 12/03/2005 9:27:43 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Catholic Culture

 
Collect:
God our Father, by the preaching of Francis Xavier you brought many nations to yourself. Give his zeal for the faith to all who believe in you, that your Church may rejoice in continued growth throughout the world. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

December 03, 2005 Month Year Season

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier, priest

Old Calendar: St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was born in the castle of Xavier in Navarre, Spain. In 1525 he went to Paris where he met St. Ignatius Loyola and with whom he received Holy Orders in Venice in 1537. In 1540 he was sent to evangelize India. He labored in western India, the island of Ceylon, Malacca, Molucca Islands, island of Mindanao (Philippines), and Japan. In 1552 he started on a voyage to China but died on Sancian Island.

Jesse Tree ~ Jacob

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.
Often portrayed as: young bearded Jesuit with a torch, flame, cross and lily; young bearded Jesuit in the company of Saint Ignatius Loyola; preacher carrying a flaming heart.

Things to Do:

  • What does it mean to be an apostle? Consider how you might imitate St. Francis Xavier in apostolic works in your own situation. Read this letter from St. Francis to St. Ignatius to get an idea of his zeal.

  • Read some more about St. Francis and ideas for Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

  • St. Francis was sent to India and Japan. Pray for the Church in these countries, and learn more about the modern Church in India here and here, read about the history of the Church in Japan.

  • Find out about and support the Holy Childhood Association (St. Francis always started with the children first).

  • Teach your children to pray St. Francis' favorite prayer, "Give me souls" when they have some suffering to offer up.

  • Spend some time meditating on St. Ignatius' response to St. Francis before his conversion, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul?"

  • Say the Litany of St. Francis Xavier.

  • Make a big pot of soup for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

  • Study some beautiful art depicting St. Francis Xavier. Several sites: Olga's Gallery, and Web Gallery of Art .

15 posted on 12/03/2005 9:32:28 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Catholic Caucus: Advent Activity - The Jesse Tree
16 posted on 12/03/2005 9:34:28 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Litany
Litany of St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier, second of St. Ignatius Loyola's original seven followers and proved to be perhaps the greatest individual missionary to the heathen since St. Paul the Apostle; born 1506 in Javier Castle in Navarra, Spain, of noble parents; helped form the Company of Jesus (1534) at Paris, was ordained at Venice with St. Ignatius in 1537; in ten brief years from 1542 he did the work of a thousand ordinary missionaries; died 1552 at Sancian when about to enter China, is enshrined at Goa, was beatified 1619, canonized with St. Ignatius 16221 Feast December 3 (d. maj. in Lat. Ch.); by Pope Pius X was named Patron of foreign missions and of Propaganda; is chief Patron of Navarra and of Fathers of the Precious Blood. Above approved litany written before 1851 when it was included in the Sadlier Golden Manual.

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


17 posted on 12/03/2005 1:51:46 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
table>
Mt 9:35-10:8
# 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

18 posted on 12/03/2005 1:53:30 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex


Christ surrounded by twelve lambs representing the apostles

Basilica di S. Apollinare in Classe
Ravenna, Italy

19 posted on 12/03/2005 1:55:39 PM PST by annalex
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To: All
American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

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.

Comment:

All of us are called to “go and preach to all nations” (see Matthew 28:19). Our preaching is not necessarily on distant shores but to our families, our children, our husband or wife, our coworkers. And we are called to preach not with words, but by our everyday lives. Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis Xavier be free to bear the Good News to the world. Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. The greatest gift we have is our time. Francis gave his to others.



20 posted on 12/03/2005 1:57:04 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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