Among the Saints: Journeys of Faith
Welcome to a space dedicated to those extraordinary souls who have illuminated the path of faith. We explore the inspiring lives of saints canonised by the Catholic Church, delving into their stories, their calls, and their lasting legacies. May their journeys inspire your own.
The rich tapestry of devotion, sacrifice, and love that defined the lives of the saints. From humble beginnings to profound spiritual transformations, their stories are a testament to God's grace and the human spirit's capacity for holiness. Each saint offers a unique window into living a life dedicated to Christ, providing comfort and guidance for our own spiritual walk.
Every saint answered a unique call from God, a personal invitation to serve, love, and spread the Gospel. Whether through quiet contemplation, tireless service, or courageous martyrdom, their responses remind us that God calls each of us to a special purpose. Reflect on their callings and consider how you might respond to God's whisper in your own life, finding inspiration in their unwavering faith.
The saints undertook missions that profoundly impacted their communities and generations to come. From establishing religious orders to championing the poor and vulnerable, their work continues to inspire us to be agents of positive change. Explore their missions and discover how their unwavering dedication to Christ's teachings led to extraordinary acts of love and service, encouraging us to act with similar conviction.
St Francis Xavier
St Francis Xavier (1506 – 1552) is in the Catholic Church Calendar on the 3rd of December. Here is a little about him from Universalis.
He was born in the Basque country of Spain in 1506. He met Ignatius Loyola when he was a student in Paris, and he was ordained priest in 1537. In 1541 the Pope sent him as part of a mission to India, and he spent the rest of his life in the East, preaching the Gospel in Goa and Malacca.
He made many converts and fought against the exploitation of the native population by the Europeans. He spent two years on a successful mission to Japan, laying the foundations of many Christian communities; and in 1552, after entering China secretly to preach the Gospel there, he died of fever and exhaustion on the Chinese island of Shangchwan.
A letter from St Francis Xavier to St Ignatius Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel –
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 say my Office 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.
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.
Father Peter Comments
With his mission extending as far as it did,
St Francis Xavier was very much a saint of our part of the world.
Reading his letter to St Ignatius perhaps he is in many respects also a saint for our times – think about it.