From USCCB:
December 3, 2010
St. Francis Xavier, priest
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Today we remember St. Francis Xavier, who followed his friend and mentor St. Ignatius Loyola and became one of the first Jesuit priests. St. Francis Xavier spent his life traveling and living among the poor, ministering and evangelizing many people throughout India, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Learn more about this saint by listening to a podcast from American Catholic.
Text: December 3
St. Francis Xavier
(1506-1552)
Jesus asked, “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26a). The words were repeated to a young teacher of philosophy who had a highly promising career in academics, with success and a life of prestige and honor before him.
Francis Xavier, 24 at the time, and living and teaching in Paris, did not heed these words at once. They came from a good friend, Ignatius of Loyola, whose tireless persuasion finally won the young man to Christ. Francis then made the spiritual exercises under the direction of Ignatius, and in 1534 joined his little community (the infant Society of Jesus). Together at Montmartre they vowed poverty, chastity and apostolic service according to the directions of the pope.
From Venice, where he was ordained priest in 1537, Francis Xavier went on to Lisbon and from there sailed to the East Indies, landing at Goa, on the west coast of India. For the next 10 years he labored to bring the faith to such widely scattered peoples as the Hindus, the Malayans and the Japanese. He spent much of that time in India, and served as provincial of the newly established Jesuit province of India.
Wherever he went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and rough accommodations. He spent countless hours ministering to the sick and the poor, particularly to lepers. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but, as we know from his letters, he was filled always with joy.
Francis went through the islands of Malaysia, then up to Japan. He learned enough Japanese to preach to simple folk, to instruct and to baptize, and to establish missions for those who were to follow him. From Japan he had dreams of going to China, but this plan was never realized. Before reaching the mainland he died. His remains are enshrined in the Church of Good Jesus in Goa.
Comment:
All of us are called to “go and preach to all nations” (see Matthew 28:19). Our preaching is not necessarily on distant shores but to our families, our children, our husband or wife, our coworkers. And we are called to preach not with words, but by our everyday lives. Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis Xavier be free to bear the Good News to the world. Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. The greatest gift we have is our time. Francis gave his to others.
Patron Saint of:
Japan
Missionaries
Pray
A Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace.
Pray the Rosary
Prayer is an underutilized resource in the work of justice. Join with CCHD and Catholics across the country in praying this online version of the Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace. We pray the Luminous Mysteries to help us follow more closely the example set by Jesus in His ministry to the poor and the vulnerable.
Open yourself to the mystery
In praying the Rosary, we open ourselves to the mystery of God’s love by focusing our attention on the scriptures, God’s Word which continues to speak to us today.
In doing so, John Paul II reminds us that our focus on the life of Jesus “cannot fail to draw attention to the face of Christ in others, especially in the most afflicted.”
On this Friday in October, staff and friends of CCHD along with Catholics across the country are praying this mystery and calling upon our Blessed Mother with both a spirit of humility and a commitment to justice.
Please join us in prayer now.
Jesus begins his public ministry being baptized by John.
Our Father . . .
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21
Hail Mary . . .
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee!
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen
He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in . . . Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” Lk 3:3
Hail Mary . . .
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Lk 3:10-11
Hail Mary . . .
Jesus also had been baptized . . . heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Lk 3:21-22
Hail Mary . . .
Here is my servant whom I uphold, / my chosen one with whom I am pleased, / Upon whom I have put my spirit. Is 42:1
Hail Mary . . .
A bruised reed he shall not break, / and a smoldering wick he shall not quench. Is 42:3
Hail Mary . . .
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice. Is 42:6
Hail Mary . . .
I formed you, and set you / as a covenant of the people, / a light for the nations. Is 42:6
Hail Mary . . .
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because he has anointed me / to bring glad tidings to the poor.” Lk 4:18
Hail Mary . . .
“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to let the oppressed go free, / and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Lk 4:18-19
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever.
Amen
LORD JESUS, HELP US TO PERSEVERE IN
LIVING OUT OUR BAPTISMAL PROMISES.
On this Friday in October, staff and friends of CCHD along with Catholics across the country are praying this mystery and calling upon our Blessed Mother with both a spirit of humility and a commitment to justice.
Please join us in prayer now.
Jesus performs his first public sign revealing his true identity, at the request of his mother.
Our Father . . .
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." Jn 2:3
Hail Mary . . .
Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." Jn 2:4
Hail Mary . . .
His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Jn 2:5
Hail Mary . . .
Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." Jn 2:7-8
Hail Mary . . .
The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jn 2:9-10
Hail Mary . . .
If I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
Jn 13:14-15
Hail Mary . . .
To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Lk 6:27-28
Hail Mary . . .
Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Lk 6:37
Hail Mary . . .
Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Lk 9:23
Hail Mary . . .
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. Jn 15:12
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .
LORD JESUS, OPEN US TO THE POWER OF YOUR
GRACE TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS AND LIVES.
On this Friday in October, staff and friends of CCHD along with Catholics across the country are praying this mystery and calling upon our Blessed Mother with both a spirit of humility and a commitment to justice.
Please join us in prayer now.
After John was arrested, Jesus began proclaiming the Good News of God’s kingdom.
Our Father . . .
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. Mk 1:14
Hail Mary . . .
This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Mk 1:15
Hail Mary . . .
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because he has anointed me / to bring glad tidings to the poor. Lk 4:18
Hail Mary . . .
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to let the oppressed go free, / and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Lk 4:18-19
Hail Mary . . .
Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. Lk 4:21
Hail Mary . . .
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you . . . when someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. Mt 5:38-39
Hail Mary . . .
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Mt 5:43-44
Hail Mary . . .
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . But store up treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Mt 6:19-21
Hail Mary . . .
Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. Mt 7:12
Hail Mary . . .
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Mt 10:8
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .
LORD JESUS, FILL US WITH THE DESIRE TO
STRIVE FOR ONGOING CONVERSION.
On this Friday in October, staff and friends of CCHD along with Catholics across the country are praying this mystery and calling upon our Blessed Mother with both a spirit of humility and a commitment to justice.
Please join us in prayer now.
Photo courtesy of Ken Touchton
Jesus is seen with Moses and Elijah, confirming that his suffering will end in glory.
Our Father . . .
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Mt 17:1-2
Hail Mary . . .
Two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Lk 9:30-31
Hail Mary . . .
Peter and his companions . . . saw his glory and the two men standing with him. Lk 9:32
Hail Mary . . .
Peter said . . . “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents. . . .” But he did not know what he was saying. Lk 9:33
Hail Mary . . .
A voice [said], “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Mt 17:5
Hail Mary . . .
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. Mt 17:7-8
Hail Mary . . .
Through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn 1:4-5
Hail Mary . . .
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him. Jn 1:18
Hail Mary . . .
All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
Hail Mary . . .
You are the light of the world . . . your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Mt 5:14, 16
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .
LORD JESUS, GRANT US THE COURAGE TO
SHINE YOUR LIGHT IN OUR LIVES.
On this Friday in October, staff and friends of CCHD along with Catholics across the country are praying this mystery and calling upon our Blessed Mother with both a spirit of humility and a commitment to justice.
Please join us in prayer now.
Photo Courtesy of Ken Touchton
At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to remember him in celebration of the Eucharist.
Our Father . . .
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. Jn 13:1
Hail Mary . . .
My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. Mt 26:18
Hail Mary . . .
I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.
Lk 22:15-16
Hail Mary . . .
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”
Lk 22:19
Hail Mary . . .
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” Lk 22:20
Hail Mary . . .
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
1 Cor 11:26
Hail Mary . . .
I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one . . . that the world may believe that you sent me. Jn 17:20-21
Hail Mary . . .
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 1 Cor 12:27
Hail Mary . . .
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:13
Hail Mary . . .
If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 1 Cor 12:26
Hail Mary . . .
Glory be . . .
LORD JESUS, MAKE OF US A SIGN OF THE
UNITY FOR WHICH YOU PRAYED.
Reflect
Reflect on the last chapter of The Gospel of Matthew and Jesus’ instruction to the apostles to “make disciples of all nations,” (Mt 28:29), as St. Francis Xavier endeavored to do during his lifetime
Matthew
Chapter 28
1
1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, 2 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2
3 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
3
His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow.
4
The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men.
5
Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
6
4 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7
Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."
8
Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce 5 this to his disciples.
9
6 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
10
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
11
7 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened.
12
They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13
telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'
14
And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble."
15
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day).
16
8 The eleven 9 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
17
10 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
18
11 Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19
Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Table of Contents Previous Chapter The Book of Mark
Footnotes
1 [1-20] Except for Matthew 28:1-8 based on Mark 16:1-8, the material of this final chapter is peculiar to Matthew. Even where he follows Mark, Matthew has altered his source so greatly that a very different impression is given from that of the Marcan account. The two points that are common to the resurrection testimony of all the gospels are that the tomb of Jesus had been found empty and that the risen Jesus had appeared to certain persons, or, in the original form of Mark, that such an appearance was promised as soon to take place (see Mark 16:7). On this central and all-important basis, Matthew has constructed an account that interprets the resurrection as the turning of the ages (Matthew 28:2-4), shows the Jewish opposition to Jesus as continuing to the present in the claim that the resurrection is a deception perpetrated by the disciples who stole his body from the tomb (Matthew 28:11-15), and marks a new stage in the mission of the disciples once limited to Israel (Matthew 10:5-6); now they are to make disciples of all nations. In this work they will be strengthened by the presence of the exalted Son of Man, who will be with them until the kingdom comes in fullness at the end of the age (Matthew 28:16-20).
2 [1] After the sabbath . . . dawning: since the sabbath ended at sunset, this could mean in the early evening, for dawning can refer to the appearance of the evening star; cf Luke 23:54. However, it is probable that Matthew means the morning dawn of the day after the sabbath, as in the similar though slightly different text of Mark, "when the sun had risen" (Mark 16:2). Mary Magdalene and the other Mary: see the notes on Matthew 27:55-56; 57-61. To see the tomb: cf Mark 16:1-2 where the purpose of the women's visit is to anoint Jesus' body.
3 [2-4] Peculiar to Matthew. A great earthquake: see the note on Matthew 27:51-53. Descended from heaven: this trait is peculiar to Matthew, although his interpretation of the "young man" of his Marcan source (Mark 16:5) as an angel is probably true to Mark's intention; cf Luke 24:23 where the "two men" of Matthew 24:4 are said to be "angels." Rolled back the stone . . . upon it: not to allow the risen Jesus to leave the tomb but to make evident that the tomb is empty (see Matthew 24:6). Unlike the apocryphal Gospel of Peter (9, 35--11, 44), the New Testament does not describe the resurrection of Jesus, nor is there anyone who sees it. His appearance was like lightning . . . snow: see the note on Matthew 17:2.
4 [6-7] Cf Mark 16:6-7. Just as he said: a Matthean addition referring to Jesus' predictions of his resurrection, e.g., Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19. Tell his disciples: like the angel of the Lord of the infancy narrative, the angel interprets a fact and gives a commandment about what is to be done; cf Matthew 1:20-21. Matthew omits Mark's "and Peter" (Mark 16:7); considering his interest in Peter, this omission is curious. Perhaps the reason is that the Marcan text may allude to a first appearance of Jesus to Peter alone (cf 1 Cor 15:5; Luke 24:34) which Matthew has already incorporated into his account of Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi; see the note on Matthew 16:16. He is going . . . Galilee: like Mark 16:7, a reference to Jesus' prediction at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:32; Mark 14:28). Matthew changes Mark's "as he told you" to a declaration of the angel.
5 [8] Contrast Mark 16:8 where the women in their fear "said nothing to anyone."
6 [9-10] Although these verses are peculiar to Matthew, there are similarities between them and John's account of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene (John 20:17). In both there is a touching of Jesus' body, and a command of Jesus to bear a message to his disciples, designated as his brothers. Matthew may have drawn upon a tradition that appears in a different form in John. Jesus' words to the women are mainly a repetition of those of the angel (Matthew 28:5a, 7b).
7 [11-15] This account indicates that the dispute between Christians and Jews about the empty tomb was not whether the tomb was empty but why.
8 [16-20] This climactic scene has been called a "proleptic parousia," for it gives a foretaste of the final glorious coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 26:64). Then his triumph will be manifest to all; now it is revealed only to the disciples, who are commissioned to announce it to all nations and bring them to belief in Jesus and obedience to his commandments.
9 [16] The eleven: the number recalls the tragic defection of Judas Iscariot. To the mountain . . . ordered them: since the message to the disciples was simply that they were to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:10), some think that the mountain comes from a tradition of the message known to Matthew and alluded to here. For the significance of the mountain, see the note on Matthew 17:1.
10 [17] But they doubted: the Greek can also be translated, "but some doubted." The verb occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in Matthew 14:31 where it is associated with Peter's being of "little faith." For the meaning of that designation, see the note on Matthew 6:30.
11 [18] All power . . . me: the Greek word here translated power is the same as that found in the LXX translation of Daniel 7:13-14 where one "like a son of man" is given power and an everlasting kingdom by God. The risen Jesus here claims universal power, i.e., in heaven and on earth.
12 [19] Therefore: since universal power belongs to the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:18), he gives the eleven a mission that is universal. They are to make disciples of all nations. While all nations is understood by some scholars as referring only to all Gentiles, it is probable that it included the Jews as well. Baptizing them: baptism is the means of entrance into the community of the risen one, the Church. In the name of the Father . . . holy Spirit: this is perhaps the clearest expression in the New Testament of trinitarian belief. It may have been the baptismal formula of Matthew's church, but primarily it designates the effect of baptism, the union of the one baptized with the Father, Son, and holy Spirit.
13 [20] All that I have commanded you: the moral teaching found in this gospel, preeminently that of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The commandments of Jesus are the standard of Christian conduct, not the Mosaic law as such, even though some of the Mosaic commandments have now been invested with the authority of Jesus. Behold, I am with you always: the promise of Jesus' real though invisible presence echoes the name Emmanuel given to him in the infancy narrative; see the note on Matthew 1:23. End of the age: see the notes on Matthew 13:39 and Matthew 24:3.
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