A favourite quote from the Bible comes to mind while I put down my thoughts on the life of St Francis Xavier, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jer 29, 11.
According to the plan of God, though Ignatius Loyola promptly appointed Nicholas Bobadilla, one of the first Jesuits from Spain and Simao Rodrigues, one of the co-founders of the Society of Jesus, to come to India at the last moment, however, Bobadilla became seriously ill.
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With some hesitance and uneasiness, Ignatius asked Francis to go in Bobadilla’s place. As if the Lord saying to Isaiah: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And he said, “Here am I; send me!”
Though he was originally not supposed to go, to the mission, Francis volunteered in his place.
Thus, Francis Xavier began his life as the first Jesuit missionary though accidentally yet deigned by the Finger of God.
Francis Xavier left Lisbon on April 7, 1541, his 35th birthday, along with two other Jesuits and the new viceroy Martim Afonso de Sousa, on board the Santiago. As he departed, Francis was given a brief from the pope appointing him apostolic nuncio to the East. From August until March 1542 he remained in Portuguese Mozambique, and arrived in Goa, then capital of Portuguese India, on May 6, 1542, 13 months after leaving Lisbon.
He arrived in Goa, India, the capital of the Portuguese East, the cultural and commercial capital. And Francis Xavier set up his base, but did not stop there. He went on to evangelise the poor fishermen of the southern coast of India, teaching catechism and prayers to children, baptising and caring for the sick.
Both his actions and his writings show practicality, prudence, and sound spirituality. His success was promoted also by his exemplary apostolic zeal, his personal holiness, and his ability to mix easily with persons of all classes, races, and beliefs. One could see how he used Prudence, for it is the virtue by which we give everything its right importance and place. A prudent person prioritises properly and act in accordance to right judgement. His immense courage or fortitude he practised in two ways: Proactive way: Courage, to tackle challenges with strength and determination. Passive: Patience, to accept the calamities and difficulties he suffered in life and his Temperance, the virtue by which hedealt or accepted his appetites, emotions or passions. which included his sobriety, chastity, self-control in general.
In addition, he was a man much devoted to prayer, a mystic. Unlimited confidence in God, his most basic spiritual trait, freed him from discouragement in the face of obstacles and reverses. These characteristics, together with his reputation as a wonder-worker, led Christians, Muslims, and pagans alike to refer to him as “the holy father”, and “the great father”. Since his death, he has been venerated as the ideal missionary and, as such, has inspired thousands to devote their lives to spreading the gospel far afield.
The theme for the feast ‘Like St Francis Xavier let us do what Jesus did’, is a challenge to every follower and devotee of St Francis Xavier, without caste and creed. For each one is called to follow the path of culture of life and culture of love in today’s throw away culture. To give meaning and importance for the crown of creation, that is human being together with due respect for the creation. There are innumerous and simple things in our day-to-day life which we can do in an extraordinary way. Even the simplest one by just giving a gentle smile to the one with whom my relationship is sour and torn apart.
St Francis Xavier encourages us to live the faith and be examples to others just as he had love for his faith and love for Jesus which he shared with others. His life is relevant not only in this age, but till the end of time. Saints always have a message for the laity and the Church. Xavier was from an affluent background, who wanted name and fame. But his plans did not work out as God came into his life through St Ignatius of Loyola who said to him: ‘What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ And these words had a telling effect on Xavier.
He was like any of our ambitious youth who had plans to make a bright future. His story can be the story of the millions of today’s cream of the society. Francis sacrificed his worldly comforts for the sake of faith. Likewise, we should love and live our faith and be examples to others in the spirit of synodality fostering communion and participation for a greater mission.
