In this world of uncertainty, suffering, poverty and discrimination, the struggle for life can often be an experience to look beyond the horizon of existence. This is unknown, unseen but a reality only for those who can perceive. St Francis Xavier renounced the world of emptiness to experience the realm of spirituality when he was pursuing higher studies at the University of France and he was dreaming of an ambitious career to gain worldly fame to make a name for himself to be well known and famous.
But God sees in us what others fail to see, so to say, and Francis makes a U- turn in his life after his mentor Ignatius of Loyola strikes him with these words: “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul.” From then on Francis looks back no more but launches on a new journey to gain spiritual life to eternity and shares with others the Good News that they too may partake in the everlasting life of eternity.
Francis lived a simple life moving among the poor, the lowly, the downtrodden and the deprived. He touched them with his gentle touch, serving them in times of need, caring for those who were neglected and sick, sheltering the homeless and feeding the hungry. It’s difficult to do all these for someone like Francis who was coming from a wealthy noble family of high repute in Spain to leave behind the comforts of life and adopt to a different life of an ordinary society of people who had no standing in high society of that time. But Francis does it only with one motive: to be the follower of Jesus and lead others to the path of enlightenment that they too may receive the Good News and be saved to eternal life
Francis Xavier worked tirelessly, day and night. He was restless and impatient to move to places wherever he could go swiftly. The greatest Jesuit missionary, Francis touched many lives in a unique way, perhaps only God had destined him to do so. His life too was inspiring and continues till date to inspire many of his devotees following him. Of the many places he went on his missionary work, many wonder if Francis Xavier, before being declared a saint in 1662, chose Goa to be his choice to permanently rest his sacred remains at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
Privileged indeed, Goa today attracts world attention for nine days during the novena services in preparation for the feast of St. Francis Xavier, on Dec. 3, which culminates to the grandeur display of his life, a Samaritan with a touch to impact many lives to change and follow in his footsteps to be his followers. Like St. Francis Xavier let us go and do likewise to touch lives and make this world a place for all to live in love, peace, and joy.
