December 3: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

A missionary blazes a path for Christ in India and Japan

Today’s great missionary knelt on the floor next to Saint Ignatius Loyola and five other men in a church on Montmartre overlooking Paris in 1534 and took private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope. It was the start of the Jesuits. Francis Xavier would be ordained a priest three years later in Venice and, in 1540, would sail from Lisbon, Portugal, to India, never to return.  The thirteen-month sea journey was brutal, but Francis was as tough as bark. He held his own with all the sailors, slaves, and criminals on board who were seeking to start anew for reasons noble and otherwise. When Francis arrived in Goa, India, he and his two confreres found a Portuguese settlement about thirty years old. As was sadly typical, the greatest hindrance to the success of Spanish, Portuguese, and French missionaries was their own countrymen. Slave traders, merchants, pirates, nobles, and crown officials gave a contrary Christian witness, which undercut the priests’ own teaching and example. It was said that when the Portuguese whipped their servants, they counted the lashes on their rosary beads.

Francis’ first goal was to evangelize the settlers. He preached, taught, heard confessions, and encouraged the Portuguese to live their faith if they harbored any hope of winning India for Christ. After working among his own for a few years establishing the basic structures of a church, including a seminary, Francis went on the first of his incessant voyages, the sub-missions inside of his greater mission to Asia...

[sitadezoysa]

I am a Catholic today all because of him and his missionary work. A living example of the fruits of his labour continuing on so many years after his death.

[PMK]

Your reflections on the Holy Saints of the Church are both a literary and visual feast. Thank you and may God continue to bless your wonderful work in bringing these stories the light and life they deserve.

[billsomody]

Saint Francis Xavier, pray for us! 🙏🙏🙏

[vanishingGolem]

🛐please God, thru Jesus & Mary, accept my praises for you and my thanks for your blessings. Father, forgive my repeated offenses. Holy Spirit, always guide and protect my rica, maja & czari.

[sanciadsouza]

Got a chance to see his incorruptible body during the deccineal exposition (the 18th one so far). It’s such a surreal experience.

St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!

[RoyNo-fh]

ST Francis Xavier, Priest. Please pray for us. Thank you. AMEN...🙏🙏🙏✝️✝️✝️♥️♥️♥️😀😀😀

[shafur]

Please pray for us dear Holy Saint Frances. Thank you.

[cv]

Incredible. I’d love to read more about this Saint!

[jonathonmurphy]

Please pray for us at Saint Francis of Xavier. We are sinners amen

[emmanuelyeboah]

Saint Francis Xavier intercede for us. We pray for all Jesuit priest, institutions, and all the religions bodies named Saint Francis Xavier. Amen.

[shanejasson]

I am a Parishioner at St Francis Xavier , in South Africa. ❤

[glennlanham]

Whatever happened to the Jesuit 4th vow? F Xavier would have some words about that today!!!

[francis]

You mentioned Paul, but where his body is and what happened to him, we do not really know. Yet he was a citizen of Imperial Rome, and about 60% of the bible are his words or attributed to him; a majority of Christians quote and follow his teachings. But I have many questions about his motivation, as apparently did the early original apostles of Jesus Christ. Was his experience of conversion real?