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Friends of the Rosary,
Today, December 3, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), patron of foreign missions and all missionary works.
While the Church has sent many excellent and holy missionaries into the world, Francis Xavier is considered the greatest after St. Paul the Apostle.
Born from a noble Basque family in the castle of Xavier in Navarre, Spain, he studied at the University of Paris, where he taught philosophy, met Ignatius of Loyola, and was enrolled as one of the first seven Jesuits.
In 1540, he was sent to evangelize India. He spent almost a decade bringing Christ’s message to the people of Goa, Ceylon, the Moluccas, the island of Mindanao (Philippines), and other areas before going to Japan in 1549.
After establishing a Christian community there, he returned briefly to India before setting his sights on China. However, on this date in 1552, Francis Xavier died of a fever on an island off the coast of China. He was canonized in 1622.
St. Francis Xavier was known for his long hours of hard work. He loved the poor and sick and showed great joy in their service. He had given his life to bringing the Good News to people who had never known Christ.
Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
St. Francis Xavier, Pray for Us!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
