Saints for December |
Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552)
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! (Romans 10:15)
Francis Xavier, born in Spain, was a young teacher of philosophy in Paris when he met Ignatius Loyola. In 1534, at the age of 28, he left behind a promising academic career to join Ignatius in the newly-formed Society of Jesus. After being ordained a priest in Venice, Francis traveled to India, landing in Goa. He preached the gospel, baptized thousands of converts, and ministered to the poorest of the poor, moving from India to Malaysia, and from Malaysia to Japan. Francis Xavier had dreamed of carrying the gospel to China, but he died on the island of Sancian, just off the China coast. A friend who witnessed his death wrote, “with the name of Jesus on his lips, he gave his spirit to his Creator and Lord with great peace and repose.” His feast day is December 3.
In His Words
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight, and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to ask for rest;
to labor and seek no reward
save that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen.
Links
•
An
article about St Francis Xavier and the images associated with him, from the
Jesuit publication Company Magazine
•
A biography
of St Francis Xavier from the Catholic Encyclopedia
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1)
The story begins on Saturday, December 9, 1531, just before dawn. Juan Diego, a humble native peasant, was at the base of the hill called Tepeyacac, when, just at the break of day, “he heard singing atop the hill, resembling singing of varied beautiful birds. The song, very mellow and delightful, excelled that of the coyoltototl and the tzinizcan and of other pretty singing birds.” Suddenly the song ceased, and Juan Diego perceived a beautiful lady, a native like him, who called to him affectionately, saying, “Juanito, Juan Dieguito.” She told him that she was the Virgin Mary, and commissioned Juan Diego to tell the Bishop of Mexico City to build a great church on that very spot. By various signs and wonders—the famous miracles of the roses and the tilma—the doubting prelate was convinced, and a great church rose, dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Americas. Her feast day is December 12.
In Her Words
My dearest Son, I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God for whom we live … and it is my desire that a church be built here in this place for me, where, as your most merciful Mother and that of all your people, I may show my loving clemency and the compassion that I bear to you and all the inhabitants of this land, and to those who love and seek me.” Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego
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