St. Francis Xavier the Evangeliser

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 12 Apr 2014)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

If St. Francis Xavier were alive today, he would be 508 years old. Passing the anniversary of his birthday on Monday, 7 April, I cannot help but share about our beloved Patron Saint; this time in light of our Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. As the Patron Saint of All Foreign Missionaries, none could be a better model than St. Francis Xavier himself in living out Pope Francis’ call to be joyful evangelisers.

We have heard of how St. Francis Xavier was converted to a life dedicated to Christ by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Francis, who had been Ignatius’ most difficult convert, would later always regard Ignatius as the “dear father” of his soul. He would write letters to Ignatius while kneeling, and seal Ignatius’ signatures, cut out from his letters, in a locket hung from his neck. So faithful and obedient was Francis to Ignatius that Ignatius’ plans became his plans. Pope Francis wrote, “The believer is essentially 'one who remembers'.” He quoted the letter to the Hebrews: "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God" (Heb 13:7). He exhorted us to constantly implore the grace of remembrance, for “The joy of evangelizing always arises from grateful remem­brance…”. (Evangelii Gaudium, #13)

Perhaps less known is the influence of Francis’ spiritual upbringing. In the castle of Xavier, where he was born and grew up, was a family chapel with a life-size crucifix called the “Christ of the Smile”. The features of the Crucified One must have left a deep impression on Francis’ young heart every time he heard his mother explained Jesus’ story then. His family’s piety had also been characterised by devotions to Our Lady and to the Saints.

In compiling stories on St. Francis Xavier’s life, Fr. Albert Jou wrote that his eldest sister, Magdalena’s death in 1533 might have also helped Francis change his life. A nun in a convent of Gandia, Spain, her virtuous and saintly life might have influenced Francis. She had prophesied the great honour that Francis would bring to God, and encouraged their brother Miguel to continue financing Francis’ studies in Paris.

Francis became one of the founders of the Society of Jesus led by Ignatius Loyola. Two of their hallmarks were their ministry to the sick and incurables, and austerity. Wherever they went, they lived at or near hospitals. They begged for their food, and also for the poor and the sick. Once, Francis was serving in a hospital in Venice. The patients were suffering from the contagious syphilis that rotted the body gradually. Sores full of smelly puss covered their bodies, and a continuous headache tortured them. One day, a patient asked Francis to scratch his back, covered with sores. While doing so, fear of contracting the disease suddenly seized Francis. To overcome it, Francis put his fingers into his mouth. At night, he dreamt of his throat having been infected and kept coughing and spitting all night. He not only did not catch the disease, but he was free forever from all disgust in serving the patients.

Evangelii Gaudium #15 reads, “It is not by proselytising that the Church grows, but 'by attraction'”. Later, in his missions, Francis continued to attract people by his saintly charity, humility, and friendliness. He was always smiling, cheerful and speaking about God, and made himself the servant of all. He was exemplary even in the most challenging circumstances. For instance, in the arduous voyage to the East Indies, many fell sick or died. Francis was seasick and weak, but he went around helping the suffering and cooked the food that he begged. Seeing his charitable acts, the people listened to Francis readily. He preached at “dry Masses” and instructed the children and workers. On Saturday evenings, they would all meet and sing hymns to Mary and pray to her and the Saints. Francis Xavier’s conduct reflected Pope Francis’ exhortation to us to let the joy of faith slowly revive us even amidst the greatest distress. (Evangelii Gaudium, #6)

Pope Francis wrote, “evangeliza­tion is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him.” (Evangelii Gaudium, #15) Francis Xavier embodied this best by his zealousness in bringing the Gospel to everyone and to save souls. In the short ten years in the East, he baptised and catechised thousands of people, and converted those who strayed from the faith. Always on the move, his apostolic enterprise and harvest have been unparalleled since the Apostles’ time.

Again, echoing Evangelii Gaudium (#10), St. Francis Xavier is the epitome of one who has lived his life to the fullest by answering the Church’s call to evangelise. As we answer that call ourselves, let us ask for St. Francis Xavier and Mother Mary’s intercessions.

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