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.�

The Miraculous Novena of Grace ~ devotion to Saint Francis Xavier

This is a Catholic devotion addressed to Saint Francis Xavier, usually recited from March 4 to March 12 and the devotion spread far and wide and it has been instrumental in obtaining many favours, spiritual and temporal. It can be recited also at any time outside the mention period for the same purpose. 

"Most amiable and most loving Saint Francis Xavier, in union with thee I reverently adore the Divine Majesty. I rejoice exceedingly on account of the marvellous gifts which God bestowed upon thee. I thank God for the special graces He gave thee during thy life on earth and for the great glory that came to thee after thy death. I implore thee to obtain for me, through thy powerful intercession, the greatest of all blessings--that of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beg of thee to secure for me the special favour I ask in this novena. (Here you may mention the grace, spiritual or temporal, that you wish to obtain.) In asking this favor, I am fully resigned to the Divine Will. I pray and desire only to obtain that which is most conducive to the greater glory of God and the greater good of my soul."

It is then customary to say:

V. Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, Who didst vouchsafe, by the preaching and miracles of Saint Francis Xavier, to join unto Thy Church the nations of the Indies, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who reverence his glorious merits may also imitate his example, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Then add 3 Our Father's and 3 Hail Mary's in memory of Saint Francis Xavier's devotion to the Most Holy Trinity, and Glory be to the Father 10 times in thanksgiving for the graces received during his 10 years of apostleship.