03/12/2024
3rd December
Saints of the day
Happy Feast day of
Saint Francis Xavier, SJ, priest and father of mission.
His heart was on fire for mission, born in Spain in 1506, he met Saint Ignatius of Loyola and with 7 other took vows that formed the Society of Jesus in 1534, he was ordained a priest in with five other brothers in 1537 and was sent as Jesuit first missionaries in 1540, the year Jesuits was formally approved, to East Indies, together with Simon Rodriguez, they stopped off at Lisbon
With Simon Rodriguez, they stopped off at Lisbon, where Simon was retained, Francis Xavier after 8 months continued his journey with a band of Portuguese Jesuits. His major mission was in Goa India, there he demonstrated his Missionary zeal, ministering to the sick and imprisoned, teaching children catechism and labouring to correct the immoral characters of the Portuguese there, especially denouncing concubinage. He further went to Sri Lanka and baptized thousands of people, evangelized, Malaca, New Guinea, and Molotia near Philippines. Enroute to Japan, they touched Congo and a group of the Portuguese his team came to Nigeria, that's the first encounter Nigeria had the the missionaries.
Around 1545. Francis Xavier through the Mediterranean landed Japan and China. Because of fatigue and cold, Francis Xavier died in China alone except Anthony a Chinese in 1552.
Saint Francis Xavier with possible exception of brother Paul, was the greatest of all Christian missionaries. He traveled thousands of miles to the most inaccessible places under the most harrowing conditions.
He lived with the natives and won them to Christianity by the favour of his preaching, the example of his life and concen for them. His miracles are legion. He is Apostle of Indies and Japan.
He was canonized in 1622 and was proclaimed Patron of all Foreign Mission by Pope Pius X.
Uka di na Omume
You are also a great missionary if you live out the gospel dictates
Saint Francis Xavier and all ye Holy Angels and Saints of God, pray for us. Amen
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