Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, priest

Today's Mass Readings

The second reading in the Liturgy of the Hours for Office of Readings includes St. Francis Xavier’s lament at those who are indifferent to missionary work and the abundant harvest of souls available for Christ: “Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity: ‘What a tragedy: How many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you!’ I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.”

Francis Xavier knew what it was to be immersed in the world and the path of his career in education academics since he was at the University of Paris when he met St. Ignatius, who was 15 years his senior. Francis Xavier was living and teaching in Paris, in what was a comfortable intellectual life, but Ignatius, having undergone an extraordinary conversion himself, challenged him to consider where all the studies would lead him. Ignatius told him: It might lead to a professorship, a position in the Church, a life marked with honor and acclaim in the eyes of men. Then, Ignatius asked Francis Xavier a crucial question: Is this enough? What will profit you if you win all honors if, in the process of their pursuit, you should suffer the loss of your immortal soul?

Shortly after, Ignatius led Francis Xavier in the Spiritual Exercises, which guided him toward greater generosity in the service of God. Many of us know of Francis Xavier’s extraordinary missionary efforts which took him to India and Japan, travels that were rather remarkable for the 16th century. We might imagine ourselves on mission, zealously teaching and winning souls for Christ, and while Francis Xavier did just that, his letters also reveal his experience of rejection, persecution, loneliness, and depression—it wasn’t all joy, it wasn’t all success, but it is precisely because of the formation he received that he was able to place his confidence in Christ time and time again. The hardships Francis Xavier endured, he endured because he carried them out for love of Christ.

Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB