Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest ~ 3 December 2015

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the memorial of St.Francis Xavier, one of the greatest Christian missionaries. 

• 7 April 1506, Francis Xavier was born in Navarre, Spain. He was born into a noble family and was the youngest of five children, two girls and three boys.
• Late summer of 1525, Francis left home to pursue his studies at the University of Paris.
• In March 1530, completing his philosophical studies, he received a Master of Arts degree. 
• From 1530 until 1534,he was an instructor in philosophy in the College of Beauvais. 
• From 1534 to 1536, he was studied theology. Francis met two other students who would have a huge influence on his life, Pierre Favre and Ignatius of Loyola.
• In Paris, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier and Pierre Favre were joined by four others: Simon Rodriguez, Jaime Laynez, Alphonso Salmeron and Nicolas Bobadilla. Together these seven companions were united in wanting to spread the Gospel and devoting their lives to the service of God. 
• They decided that they would take vows of chastity and poverty and then make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 
• 15 August 1534 (on the feast of the Assumption), in the chapel of Montmartre near Paris, these seven companions made their vows. This was an important step in the foundation of the Society of Jesus.
• 24 June 1537, Francis Xavier was ordained a priest in Venice.
• 1540, Francis traveled from Rome to Lisbon. He spent a year, living at a hospice and helping to care for the sick, visiting the poor, and visiting those in prison. 
• 1541, Francis Xavier went on his first missionary journey to India.
• From August 1541 to March 1542, Francis had to remain in Mozambique because of the dangerous seas during wintertime.
• 6 May 1542, Francis reached Goa, India. He was forced to spend the next four months in Goa due to the monsoon weather.
• September 1542, he reached his initial destination the coast in Southern India. Francis was known as a cheerful and good humoured man. 
• October 1543, Francis return to Goa, India. He learned that the Society of Jesus had been formally approved by the Pope and that Ignatius had been elected general and that his companions had taken solemn vows. Francis himself took his own vows before the bishop of Goa. Francis now became superior of India.
• September 1545, Francis Xavier set sail for Malacca.
• Francis Xavier reached Japan. Francis worked for more than two years in Japan spreading the gospel and founding churches and saw his successor-Jesuits established.
• 1552, Back to India and he began to make preparations for his next journey.
• 17 April 1552, Leaving Goa, India to embark journey to China.
• September 1552, reached the Chinese island of Shangchuan, Southern coast of China.
• Between 2 December and 3 December 1552, he died on the Island of Shangchuanon near the coast of China. His dying words were: In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum (�In you, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded�.)
• 11 December 1553, Francis's body was shipped to Goa. The body, having resisted extensive decay, is now in the Basilica of Bom J�sus in Goa, 
• 2 December 1637, his body was transferred into a silver casket.

source: www.gardinerstparish

O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1

Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

�A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.�

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD�s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
�Not everyone who says to me, �Lord, Lord,�
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

�Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.�

What does Jesus' prayer (Luke 10:21-22) tell us about God and about ourselves?

First, it tells us that God is both Father and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all his children. All fatherhood and motherhood are derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15). Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God.

source: Don's Daily Email, Kairos-EME

Luke 10:21-22

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, �I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.�

Ephesians 3:14-15

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named

John 10:30
I and the Father are one.

John 17:21
that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Prayer for the Pope ~ Pope Francis

V. Let us pray for Francis, our Pope. 

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Psalm 40:3] 

** Say the Our Father and the Hail Mary. 

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Mary, the Immaculate Conception ~ Pope Francis

~ *~ You are all-beautiful, O Mary! ~*~

�Virgin most holy and immaculate, 

to you, the honour of our people, 

and the loving protector of our city,

do we turn with loving trust.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!

In you there is no sin.

Awaken in all of us a renewed desire for holiness:

May the splendour of truth shine forth in our words, 

the song of charity resound in our works, 

purity and chastity abide in our hearts and bodies,

and the full beauty of the Gospel be evident in our lives.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!

In you the Word of God became flesh.

Help us always to heed the Lord�s voice:

May we never be indifferent to the cry of the poor,

or untouched by the sufferings of the sick and those in need;

may we be sensitive to the loneliness of the elderly and the vulnerability of children, 

and always love and cherish the life of every human being.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!

In you is the fullness of joy born of life with God.

Help us never to forget the meaning of our earthly journey:

May the kindly light of faith illumine our days,

the comforting power of hope direct our steps,

the contagious warmth of love stir our hearts;

and may our gaze be fixed on God, 

in whom true joy is found.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!

Hear our prayer, graciously hear our plea:

May the beauty of God�s merciful love 

in Jesus abide in our hearts,

and may this divine beauty save us, our city 

and the entire world.

Amen.�

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ 8 December 2015

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

The Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary herself. From the very first moment of her life, it was God's plan as her prepared her to be the highly favoured one to become the mother of Son of God, Jesus. She preserved from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception in her mother, St.Anne's womb, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race. Many have mistaken that the feast celebrates Jesus� conception, but in actually it celebrates Mary�s Immaculate Conception.

Loving God, We thank you for the example of Mary, whom you chose to be the mother of your only Son, Jesus. She lived her life with love for you and for others. Help us to do the same. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

On this Solemnity, then, by contemplating our beautiful Immaculate Mother, let us also recognize our truest destiny, our deepest vocation: to be loved, to be transformed by love, to be transformed by the beauty of God. Let us look to her, our Mother, and allow her to look upon us, for she is our mother and she loves us so much; let us allow ourselves to be watched over by her so that we may learn how to be more humble, and also more courageous in following the Word of God; to welcome the tender embrace of her Son Jesus, an embrace that gives us life, hope and peace. (Pope Francis, 2nd Sunday of Advent, 8 December 2013)

Reading 1

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, �Where are you?�
He answered, �I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.�
Then he asked, �Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!�
The man replied, �The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.�
The LORD God then asked the woman,
�Why did you do such a thing?�
The woman answered, �The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.�

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
�Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.�

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.


Reading 2

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin�s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
�Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.�
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
�Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.�
But Mary said to the angel,
�How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?�
And the angel said to her in reply,
�The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.�
Mary said, �Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.�
Then the angel departed from her.