3rd December, St Francis Xavier, Confessor

St Francis Xavier, Confessor

St Francis Xavier (1506-1552), touched, after long resistance to the words constantly repeated to him by St Ignatius: "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul," became one of his most zealous fellow-workers in the newly-formed Society of Jesus.

The Epistle and Gospel allude to his preaching in India and Japan, to more than fifty kingdoms. He has earned the glorious title of Patron of the Propagation of the Faith.

Loquebar de testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar: et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quae dilexi nimis. * Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes, laudate eum, omnes populi: quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus, et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.

I spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed: I meditated also on Thy commandments, which I loved. * Praise the Lord, all ye nations, and glorify Him, all ye people; because His mercy is confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
(Psalm 118:46-47 and Psalm 116, from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui Indiárum gentes beáti Francísci praedicatióne et miráculis Ecclésiae tuae aggregáre voluísti: concéde propítius; ut, cujus gloriósa mérita venerámur, virtútum quoque imitémur exémpla.
O God, who by the preaching and miracles of blessed Francis, was pleased to add to Thy Church the nations of the Indies; grant mercifully, that we who venerate his glorious merits may imitate his virtues.
(Collect)

Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06233b.htm