Living the Mission of Holy Mother Church: St. Francis Xavier

(Sharing at Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 12 March 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last week, we heard of the Church’s motherhood, and how we can live it. Today, we shall see how our beloved patron saint, St. Francis Xavier lived this mission. Most of my sharing materials today are from the Eternal Word Television Network website and the book “He in Malacca” by Celine Joyce Ting.

Francis Xavier was born into a noble family at Xavier Castle, Navarre, Spain on 7 April 1506. The youngest of five children, he was educated by resident chaplains of the castle and had a strong religious education.^[1] At 18, Francis entered the University of Paris. He excelled in both studies and sports, and had worldly ambitions.

In his third year, came Ignatius Loyola. Francis resented him for his gentle quietness, his ideals and aspirations so opposed to his own, and more so when he learnt that Ignatius was the soldier that brought Navarre’s downfall.^[1]They were later made roommates, much to Francis’ chagrin. However, Ignatius’ magnanimity became Francis’ own when he was eventually won over by Ignatius’ patience and kindness. His conversion was not without many serious thoughts and struggles with his conscience, having heard Ignatius repeating Jesus’ words, “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”^[2] This change overwhelmed even Ignatius, who remarked that Francis was the hardest piece of clay he ever moulded.^[1]

Francis began to live all for God’s glory and for the salvation of souls, and led an austere life of self-mortification. He became one of Ignatius Loyola’s companions who were to start the Society of Jesus. They disposed themselves to the Pope’s employment wherever he deemed fit. Their ardent charity towards the sick and incurable won the attention of many, including the King of Portugal, who desired to spread the Christian faith to the East Indies. By a turn of circumstances, Francis was sent on this mission.

He braved the seas and storms to bring Christianity to our region – first to India, and later to Malacca, the islands of Indonesia and Japan^{[1, 3]}. Goa and Malacca became centres of his apostolic work in this region. Travelling with anyone or in any ship, he was only concerned in evangelising as many countries as he could. It was a Chinese pirate who was brave enough to bring him to Japan.^[1] Francis considered his vocation as a pioneer, opening the doors so that others could go in. Besides his priestly duties, he arranged for travels to new places. China was one land that he longed to reach, but never did.

Besides teaching the tenets of the faith, hearing confessions and baptising, Francis especially loved and cared for the sick and the poor. He broke through barriers of language and culture, fetters of polyglot communities where evil and “sins of the flesh” reigned, and converted our ancestors by the thousands.^[1] Once, he accounted how he could barely move his arm, fatigued from baptising.^[2]

The fruits of Francis’ short ten years of missionary labour show us “what marvels can be achieved by a person blessed by God”, expressed in the Novena of Grace prayer. By his work, he brought to birth so many more members of Christ’s Body. It was truly deserving of him to be named the Patron Saint of All Foreign Missionaries.

Francis’ kindness was not always reciprocated. The man he had nursed back to health when the Plague hit Malacca, eventually thwarted his plans to go to China, due to  jealousy and greed. He incited the people to turn against Francis when Francis decided to use his authority as Apostolic Nuncio to sail to China. Francis left Malacca feeling rejected by the very people he had loved. Amidst the struggles of his apostolic work, Francis had to contend with loneliness. Far from his own land, he often missed his companions, especially Ignatius.

What sustained him? The Sacraments and prayer. In Malacca, the Church of Our Lady of the Hill on St. Paul’s Hill was the pivot of Francis’ life. There, he said Mass daily and after a long day’s work, prayed long into the night.

Like Mary, St. Francis Xavier had believed, pondered upon and responded to God’s message, given it to the world and remained faithful to it through trials. Through him, the Church lives her motherhood. Like him, we can live this mission. In this Jubilee Year, let us implore St. Francis Xavier to pray for us, that we may live out the mission of Holy Mother Church as he did.

References: 

[1]  Ting, C.J. (n.d.). He in Malacca (1545 – 1552). Malaysia

[2]  Butler, A. (n.d.). The lives of the Fathers, martyrs and other principal saints. Vol. III

[3]  Novena of Grace (Day 8) Year A. (2008). http://homiliesofajesuit.blogspot.com/search/label/Novena%20of%20Grace

St. Francis Xavier Novena of Grace. (n.d.). From Eternal Word Television Network, Inc.: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/Grace.htm