Saint Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

Saint Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

1506–1552 · Reformation · Society of Jesus

Feast day: December 3

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Give me the children until they are seven, and anyone may have them afterward.

Biography

Francis Xavier, (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Latin: Franciscus Xaverius; Basque: Xabierkoa; French: François Xavier; Spanish: Francisco Javier; Portuguese: Francisco Xavier; 7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552) venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Navarrese cleric and missionary. He co-founded the Society of Jesus and, as a representative of the Portuguese Empire, led the first Christian mission to Japan. Born in the town of Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre, he was a companion of Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity at Montmartre, Paris in 1534. He led extensive missionary work across Asia, primarily within the Portuguese Empire in the East, and played a significant role in the evangelization of early modern India, particularly through his activities in Portuguese India. In 1546, Francis Xavier wrote to King John III of Portugal proposing measures to strengthen the Christian faith in Goa. Some historians interpret this letter as a request for the establishment of the Goan Inquisition, while others contend that he instead called for the appointment of a special minister dedicated solely to promoting Christianity in Goa. As a representative of the King of Portugal, he was the first major Christian missionary to venture into Borneo, the Maluku Islands, Japan, and other areas. In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India. Xavier also extended his mission to Ming China, where he died on Shangchuan Island. He was beatified by Pope Paul V on 25 October 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622. In 1624, he was made co-patron of Navarre. Known as the "Apostle of the Indies", "Apostle of the Far East", "Apostle of China" and "Apostle of Japan", he is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle.

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Prayers

  • Prayer to Saint Francis Xavier

    intercession

    O great Saint Francis, well beloved and full of charity, with thee I reverently adore the divine Majesty; and since I specially rejoice in the singular gifts of grace, bestowed on thee in life, and of glory after death, I give thanks to God, and beg of thee, with all the affections of my heart, that by thy powerful intercession thou mayest obtain for me above all things the grace to live a holy life and die a holy death. Moreover, I beg of thee to obtain for me (here insert some special spiritual or temporal favour); but if what I ask does not tend to the glory of God and the greater good of my soul, do thou, I beseech thee, obtain for me what will more certainly attain these ends. Amen.

    — The Raccolta, 1910 edition, p. 344 (no. 390)

  • Novena of Grace to Saint Francis Xavier

    novena

    O 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 marvelous 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 favor I ask in this novena. (Here mention the grace desired.) In asking this favor, I am fully resigned to the divine will; I pray and beseech my divine Lord to grant my request, if it be for His greater glory and for the greater good of my soul. V. Pray for us, Saint Francis Xavier. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. 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.

    — My Prayer Book (F.X. Lasance), 1908 edition, p. 605 (Novena of Grace)

Patronages

Sources: Wikipedia (5). Wikipedia content used under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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