1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 16:15-20
St. Francis Xavier, together with St. Therese, are the Patrons of the Missions and Missionaries.
But for St. Francis Xavier, to be priest was not his idea of what he wanted to be in life, much less a missionary.
He came from a noble family and he was studying at the University of Paris where he met St. Ignatius of Loyola.
St. Ignatius urged and pestered St. Francis Xavier to join him to answer the call to serve Jesus and to spread the Good News of salvation.
St. Francis Xavier finally relented, and with St. Ignatius and others, founded the Society of Jesus.
He went on as a missionary to the East, and converted thousands in India, the Malay Archipelago, and Japan.
He had intended to enter China but died before doing so.
Besides baptizing tens of thousands of people, he was known for adapting to local cultures and languages.
St. Francis Xavier’s mission was to spread Christianity, but he also focused on the well-being of the people he encountered.
Indeed, in every age and time, God calls men and women to serve Him in the mission of salvation, just like He called St. Francis Xavier.
Let us pray for those God has called that they will respond with faith and love.
Let us also ask for the prayers of St. Francis Xavier that we will also be willing to be God’s instruments in the mission of salvation.