Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier. He was born in Spain in 1506 in the town of Xavier. He was a companion of Ignatius of Loyola, one of the first seven men to profess vows of poverty and chastity as Jesuits, and among the first Jesuit missionaries to work in India, Japan, China and other parts of Southeast Asia.
In November 1552 he became ill while staying on an island just off mainland China, and died in early December. He was beatified in 1619 and canonized in 1622. Among his many titles, he is known as the Apostle of Japan and the Apostle of the Far East.
It’s notable that today’s Gospel is Matthew’s version of the feeding of the multitudes. This miracle – the only miracle to appear in all four Gospel accounts – is a foretaste of the Eucharistic celebration instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, and celebrated every day around the world.
It is the Eucharist which nourished Francis Xavier in his missionary work. Similarly, the Eucharist nourishes us to be missionary disciples each and every day. The last words at Mass are “Go…Go in peace, Go and announce, Go and glorify your life.” All three dismissals start with “Go.” We are to take what we receive in Eucharist out beyond the four walls of the church. That is what it means to be a missionary disciple. That is what Francis Xavier did in his work.
As missionary disciples, may we be nourished by the Body of Christ to be the Body of Christ for the Body of Christ. And further, may we receive the Body of Christ to see the Body of Christ in the Body of Christ. Francis Xavier practiced this in his missionary work. May we do so today and every day.
Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl is the Director of the Social Action Office for the Southwest part of Catholic Charities in Cleveland. He serves St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Michelle. They have two adult children, and a granddaughter who all live in California. Paul is on the Parish Social Ministry Leadership for Catholic Charities USA, and is co-chair for NACSAM.