杏MAP导航

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"The love of Christ was the strength that drove him to the furthest frontiers, with constant toil and danger, overcoming setbacks, disappointments and discouragement, indeed, giving him consolation and joy in following and serving Him to the end."

With these words, 杏MAP导航 Francis described St. Francis Xavier, "rightly considered the greatest missionary of modern times" at his weekly General Audience on Wednesday morning in St. Peter's Square, as he continued reflecting on figures who personified apostolic zeal.

Reflecting on the patron saint of Catholic missions to the faithful in the Square, the 杏MAP导航 praised the saint's prolific care for the sick, poor, and children, wherever he found himself.

Gratitude to today's missionaries

"We can learn from St. Francis Xavier,' the 杏MAP导航 said, praising him as an example for missionaries and also for young people. With poverty and courage, the 杏MAP导航 said, the saint's "strength was consumed in his service to the mission" and he accomplished incredible endeavours.

While celebrating St. Francis Xavier's achievements, the 杏MAP导航 praised all missionaries, who continue to dedicate themselves to helping others, inspired by the faith and love of Christ.

"We see this courage in missionaries today, who do not go on ships, but on airplanes, but they have the strength to go out," the 杏MAP导航 applauded.

The 杏MAP导航 praised the "many, many, priests, lay people, sisters, who go to the missions," stressing that we can learn from them.

Dedication unreservedly to God

The Holy Father highlighted how St. Francis Xavier's closeness to Christ, even amid turmoil, always empowered him.

Xavier, the 杏MAP导航 recalled, was born into a noble but impoverished family in Navarre, northern Spain, in 1506, who would later study at the University of Paris "in order to obtain a well-paid ecclesiastical position that will secure his future." The 杏MAP导航 recalled his reputation as a likeable and brilliant young man, excelling in sport and study.

In college, he met St. Ignatius of Loyola. "They become great friends, and Ignatius helps Francis to live a new and profound spiritual experience," the Jesuit 杏MAP导航 highlighted.

The 杏MAP导航 noted how Francis Xavier would be among the Jesuits of the time sent to the East Indies, to bring the faith.

Making Jesus Christ known

Here, he said, began the first of a numerous band of passionate missionaries, ready to endure immense hardships and dangers, to reach lands and meet peoples of completely unknown cultures and languages.

What they had in common, the Holy Father suggested, is that they were driven only by the very strong desire to make Jesus Christ and His Gospel known.

Later, Xavier was appointed Apostolic Nuncio, 杏MAP导航 Paul III's representative to the rulers of the so-called Indies, and in little more than eleven years, he accomplished an extraordinary work.

Even if ship voyages at that time were very hard and dangerous, with many dying en route from shipwrecks or illnesses, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted, Xavier spent over three and a half years on ships, a third of the entire duration of his mission. 

All out of love for God

Having arrived in Goa, India, the capital of the Portuguese Orient, Xavier set up his base there, but did not stop there, the 杏MAP导航 said. Rather, he set forth to evangelise the poor fishermen of India's southern coast, teaching catechism and prayers to children, baptising and healing the sick.

Then, during a night prayer at the tomb of the Apostle St Bartholomew, he felt he must go beyond India, and therefore, leaves for Moluccas, the most distant islands of the Indonesian archipelago, where he founded several Christian communities in two years. The saint put the Catechism into verse in the local language and taught how to sing it.

The 杏MAP导航 invited faithful to read his letters, to understand better his feelings.

Great fruits in Asia

One day, in India, the 杏MAP导航 continued, Francis Xavier met a Japanese man, who told him about his distant country, where no European missionary had ever gone before, and decided to travel there after enduring an adventurous journey. "The three years in Japan are very hard, due to the climate, opposition and ignorance of the language," the 杏MAP导航 said, "but even here the seeds planted will bear great fruit." 

In Japan, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, "Xavier understands that the decisive country for the mission in Asia was another: China."

"With its culture, its history, its greatness," the 杏MAP导航 said, "it exercised de facto dominance over that part of the world."

Faced with failure

For this reason, Xavier returned to Goa, and shortly afterwards embarked again, hoping to enter China, even though it was closed to foreigners; however, he did not succeed.

Xavier died at age 46 in 1552, in total abandonment to the Lord, on the small island of Sancian, waiting in vain to land on the mainland near Canton. "Thus ends the earthly journey of Francis Xavier," the 杏MAP导航 said.

Joy of evanglising

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by praising St Francis Xavier's exemplary prayer life, and closeness to Christ, until the very end.

"Look at Francis Xavier, look at the horizon of the world, look at peoples in such need, look at so many people suffering, so many people in need of Jesus. And go, have courage. Even today there are courageous young people. I think of so many missionaries for example in Papua New Guinea, I think of friends of mine, young people. I think of all those who have gone to evangelise in the line of Francis Xavier. May the Lord give us all the joy of evangelising, the joy!"