St Francis Xavier

Our Lady of the Rosary Library ^ | August 10,2001 | OLRL

[Lady In Blue]

Incorrupt body of Saint Francis Xavier

From the letters to Saint Ignatius[Loyola]by Saint Francis Xavier, priest

Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel

We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago.No Portuguese live here-the country is so tterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God's Law.

I have not stopped since the day I arrived. I conscientiously made the rounds of the villages. I bathed in the sacred waters all the children who had not yet been baptised. This means that I have purified a very large number of children so young that, as the saying goes, they could not tell their right hand from their left. The older children would not let me say my Office or eat or sleep until I taught them one prayer or another. Then I began to understand: "The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I could not refuse so devout a request without failing in devotion myself. I taught them, first the confession of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; then the Apostles; Creed, the Our Father and Hail Mary. I noticed among them persons of great intelligence. If only someone could educate them in the Christian way of life, I have no doubt that they would make excellent Christians.

Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Chrisitans for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity:"What a tragedy: how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you?"

I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.

This thought would certanly stir most of them to meditate on spiritual realities, to listen actively to what God is saying to them. They would forget their own desires, their human affairs, and give themselves over entirely to God's will and his choice. 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!

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[chance33_98]

Praise the Lord Sister!

And a bump/bookmark for more reading.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[Salvation]

I had no idea St. Francis Xavier had visited so many Eastern countries until reading about him tonight.

[Salvation]

Painting Of St. Francis Xavier In Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa

[JMJ333]

Hi LIB. Sorry I wasn't here to read this story last night. I enjoyed it this morning and have some nice thoughts to think about instead of feeling gloomy. Its cold, rainy, and some sleet is mixed in--not a ray of sunshine in sight. Anyway, I like St. Francis. Thanks for the lovely graphics. You are nice to be so diligent and always post these. I have learned a lot. j+m+j

[Salvation]

BTTT on 12-03-03!!

[Salvation]

BTTT on 12-03-04, Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, great disciple to the eastern nations!

[Salvation]

Saint of the Day Ping!

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

[Smartass]

THANKS FOR     THE PING!

[JesseHousman]

Praise God and All Saints!

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

http://www.dommartin.cc/St.%20Francis/St.%20Francis%20Xavier2.jpg Photo of Xavier's body

IHS+

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

[Siobhan]

Bump for St. Francis Xavier and the Catholic Church in India and Japan.

A special recollection of Akita, Japan. Our Lady, pray for us.

[Salvation]

Wow! That is some picture!

[Salvation]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

December 3, 2004

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.

[Salvation]

And may we all pray that through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier the Jesuits may be reformed to serve Christ as originally intentioned.

[Siobhan]

Oh, yes. Amen!

[Salvation]

BTTT on December 3, 2005, Memorial of St. Francis Xavier!