OCR Text |
Show ST. FRANCIS XAVIES. Holy Mother Church celebrates on next Sunday, Dec. 3, tha feast of St. ' Francis Xavier. A young Spanish gentleman, in the dangerous days cf the Reformation, was making a name for himsolf as a I professor of philosophy in the university univer-sity of Paris, and had seemingly no higher aim, when Saint Ignatiious of Loyala won him to heavenly thoughts. After a brief aposialate- amongst his l countrymen in Heme he was sent by ! St. Ignatius to the Indies, where for twelve years he was to wear himself out, bearing the guspel to Hindostan, to Maiacca, ar.d to Japan. Thwarted , by the jealousy, covetousnss. and ! carelc?encs3 of those who should have helped and encouraged him, neither their opposition nor the difficulties of ' every sort which he encountered could make him slacken his, labors for souls. The vast, kingdom of China appealed ; to his charity, and he was resolved to risk his- life to force an entry, when-God when-God took him to Himself, and on the 1 3rd of December, -ir"2, he died, like Moseu. in sight of the land of promise. Reflection: Some are specially called 'to work for souls; but there is no one. who cannot help much in their salvation. salva-tion. Holy example, earnest intercession, interces-sion, the offerings of our actions in . their behalf, all this needs only the spirit which animated Saint Francis Xaiver, the desire to make some return re-turn to God. St. Francis Xaiver pray for us: Prayer of St. Francis XavieT: Lord, nil henrts are in thv hands, thou cans't bend as it pleus.?s Thee the most stubborn, and soften the most obdur- ate: do that honour this day, to the Blood, Merits, Wounds, Name, and Influence In-fluence Heart of Thy beloved Son by granting the conversion we ask. Amen. |