Witness of faith and love

St. Francis Xavier often spent whole hours during the day and into the night before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, Who gave Him the grace and the strength to lead so many souls to Christ. His devotion to Our Eucharistic Lord was so great that Fr. Stefano Manelli, O.F.M. writes:

 

 

"What shall we say of St. Francis Xavier who at times when distributing Holy Communion felt so carried away by a sense of adoration toward Our Lord Who was in his hands, that he got on his knees and in that position continued giving Holy Communion? Did that not present
a witness of faith and love worthy of heaven?"

St. Francis Xavier

Spain ~ 1506-1552

Jesuit, Patron of missionaries

Known as the "Apostle to the Far East"

FEAST DAY - December 3

 

St Francis Xavier is an Advent saint:  he announced the dawn

of the reign of God in the coming of Christ to peoples in the Far East. 

Like St John the Baptist, the Advent prophet, he sacrificed his life

for the word he preached.  (Magnificat, December 2010)

Ste Francis Xavier, ora pro nobis!

 

O Lord, you sent St Francis Xavier to the lands

of the Rising Sun to preach there the end of the

world's long night of sin and death.  Enlighten all

who do not yet believe, and strengthen those who do,
that your kingdom may dawn on all people through

Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  (Magnificat, Dec 2010)