Francis Xavier
ONE
Today, December 3 is the feast of St. Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries in the history of Christianity.
But Francis Xavier would not have become a missionary or saint without his friends, beginning with Ignatius of Loyola. Born in the Castle of Xavier, in Spain in 1506, Francis went to college in Paris and it was there that he met St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Ignatius was a former military officer who was wounded in battle and converted as he recovered. Ignatius took the initiative to develop a deep friendship with Francis Xavier, Peter Faber, Diego Lainez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicolás Bobadilla, and Simón Rodríguez.
These seven friends shared life together. They often met in one another’s home to share a meal, to talk about everything going on in their lives, to enjoy leisure together and to pray.
In a letter of June 16, 1547 Diego writes; “Every few days we would take our provisions and eat at the home of one of the companions, and after that at the home of another. We would visit each other often, and I think this helped us to stay close. In this time the Lord gave us special help with our studies, in which we did fairly well, directing them always to the glory of the Lord and to the help of our neighbors. We had a special love for one another, and we even helped one another financially as much as we could.”
These seven friends with Ignatius of Loyola at the head, became the Company of Jesus, otherwise known as the Jesuits. And the Jesuits became some of the greatest missionaries and educators in the history of the Church and it all started with friendship with Jesus and friendship with one another. Ignatius gathered a little team and the whole world changed.
TWO
Like Ignatius, Francis Xavier and the first Jesuits, we all need companions, a small group of family or friends with whom we share life regularly.
The Christian family or a small group is the fundamental building block of the Church. For this reason, both the individual believer and the entire Church need small communities for both the individual and the parish to flourish.
In the Movement we commit to a family or a little group of people with whom we share life regularly to enrich each other with our strengths and stretch one another by our differences. Do you have your family or little group or team or whatever you want to call it? Do you spend time and share life with them regularly, habitually? Do you pray together?
We commit to live in a constant state of invitation and hospitality. St. John Paul II called us to live hospitality in all its forms, from opening the door of one’s home and still more of one’s heart.
Our family or little group is the place where we invite others that they too may encounter the love of God. Are you living out this regular invitation and hospitality?
Who are the handful of people you will invest in, become deep friends with and help them to friendship with Jesus and to do the greatest good for the world? Your spouse, your kids, grandkids, friends – who is your company, your team?
THREE
In 1541, St. Francis Xavier went to India, and then Japan to bring Christ to others. His dream was to convert China however it was not God’s will as he died just off the coast of China in 1552. From India, Francis Xavier wrote this letter to St. Ignatius. These are powerful words on which to reflect:
“We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago. No Portuguese live here - the country is so utterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God’s Law.”
“I have not stopped since the day I arrived. I conscientiously made the rounds of the villages. I bathed in the sacred waters all the children who had not yet been baptized. This means that I have purified a very large number of children so young that, as the saying goes, they could not tell their right hand from their left. The older children would not let me pray or eat or sleep until I taught them one prayer or another. Then I began to understand: ‘The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’”
“I could not refuse so devout a request without failing in devotion myself. I taught them, first the confession of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, then the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father and Hail Mary. I noticed among them persons of great intelligence. If only someone could educate them in the Christian way of life, I have no doubt that they would make excellent Christians.”
FOUR
Xavier continues his letter writing; “Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only - there is nobody to make them Christians. 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.”
This thought would certainly stir most of them to meditate on spiritual realities, to listen actively to what God is saying to them. They would forget their own desires, their human affairs, and give themselves over entirely to God’s will and his choice. They would cry out with all their heart: Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like – even to India.
FIVE
The Movement of the Holy Family is not a program. It is a simple way of life that consists of three things: The Rosary; Commitment to your family or small group of friends; and an openness of heart that we live out through invitation and hospitality. That’s it.
How do we build a community of faith where we live?
Let’s take it step by step.
Step one is to pray the Rosary every day.
Step two is to share the Rosary or invite someone to pray the Rosary with you.
Step three is to invite someone to your home, give them hospitality, feed them, be genuinely interested in them, talk with them and invite them to pray the Rosary with you.
Where are you in the steps? We just want to take the next right step.
I see two scenarios – one for families with kids at home; and one for couples and those who live alone.
For those who are married and have kids of any age at home, you and your spouse pray the Rosary every day. Then you and your spouse and kids pray the Rosary together once a week. And then once a month invite another family or friends to share a meal with you and invite them to pray the Rosary with you.
For couples without kids at home or those who live alone, you are still called to build a domestic Church.
Begin by praying the daily Rosary together. Then once a week invite someone to your home for a meal and the Rosary. Give them hospitality, feed them, talk with them and pray with them and build the church in your home.