Francis Xavier

one

Today, December 3 is the feast of St. Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries in the history of Christianity. Born in the Castle of Xavier, Spain in 1506, he studied in Paris where he was befriended by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Then St. Francis Xavier, St. Peter Faber, James Laynez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicolás Bobadilla, and Simón Rodríguez, developed a deep friendship with one another. These seven friends with Ignatius of Loyola at the head, became the Company of Jesus, otherwise known as the Jesuits. The Jesuits became some of the greatest missionaries and educators in the history of the Church and it all started with friendship with Jesus and friendship with one another.

In our world of isolation and loneliness, we have allowed the devil to steal from us our greatest asset – friendship. It is by friendship that we grow in faith, and holiness and it is by collaboration in friendship that we become capable of doing the greatest good. We need to be inspired by Ignatius of Loyola – he personally invested in and took responsibility for six friends and they changed the world. Who are the handful of people you will invest in, become deep friends with and help them to friendship with Jesus and to do the greatest good for the world? Your spouse, your kids, grandkids, friends – who is your company, your unit?

two

In 1541 St. Francis Xavier went to India, and then Japan to bring Christ to others. His dream was to convert China however it was not God’s will as he died just off the coast of China in 1552. From India Francis Xavier wrote this letter to St. Ignatius. These are powerful words on which to reflect:

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 utterly 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 baptized. 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 pray 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. 

three

Xavier continues his letter writing: “Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians 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 certainly 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. 

four

The first step to helping our family and friends to a deeper faith is to offer prayer and sacrifice for them. St Faustyna in her Diary (1464) writes: while I was praying for sinners and offering all my sufferings for them, the Evil Spirit could not stand that. Then taking the form of an apparition he said, “Do not pray for sinners, but for yourself, for you will be damned.” Paying no attention to Satan, I continued to pray with redoubled fervor for sinners. The Evil Spirit howled with fury, “Oh, if I had power over you!” and disappeared. I saw that my suffering and prayer shackled Satan and snatched many souls from his clutches.

And Jesus said to Faustyna (Diary 1767) “My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through sacrifice and prayer. You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.”

Intercessory Prayer

·       Commit to pray every day for those you hope will grow in faith.

·       Offer your meditation, the Rosary, Holy Hour, the Sacrifice of the Mass, etc.

If we want to help others to faith we must add sacrifice to our prayer for them. Jesus said to St. Faustyna: “There is but one price at which souls are bought and that is suffering united to My Suffering on the Cross” Diary 324 And: “Every conversion of a sinful soul demands sacrifice” Diary 961

We can offer our prayer, work, joy or suffering to Jesus and unite these to His Redeeming Cross and offer them specifically for family or friends we hope will come to a greater faith.

And if we are intentional in our efforts of prayer and sacrifice for others we will see miracles of conversion.

five

We tend to talk about things we are interested in and things we have in common with others. It fine to talk about your kids, your work, your favorite sports team (I mean the Chiefs are the best in the NFL…) but I know you long to talk with others about what matters most, God and what He is doing in our lives in and in the world. We are afraid to push people away in the effort to draw them in. We need a common ground to begin the conversation. When people have the habit of daily meditation, they find it easy and natural to talk about faith and God with one another. So we should make sure we have the habit of daily meditation through the Rosary by reading and reflecting on the Word of God. Now how can we help others to the same? A non-threatening way is to share the Rosary podcast with them. If they don’t listen and pray it. That’s ok. But it takes five to seven invitations and asks to get a yes. So don’t give up so fast. Share the Rosary podcast and follow up. If they did listen, ask what they thought. Whether they liked it or hated it, it can lead to a conversation. If they liked it you can ask what caught their attention and why and now you have a conversation about God and your friendship deeps. Francis Xavier rejected St. Ignatius at least seven times. Ignatius persevered, won Francis Xavier over and Xavier went on to preach and baptize 1000s upon 1000s in India and Japan.