"Gardening with God" extract II
"History and Lore:
Francis Xavier was a Spanish Basque and an early Jesuit missionary who worked in Goa and Sri Lanka. Ignatius of Loyola had only recently formed the Society of Jesus. in support of Counter-Reformation ideals, and Francis, as well as evangelising, did much to reduce the scandal of bad Catholic example wherever he found it. He met with some success during a short spell in Japan.....Remarkably for a man who had difficulty in learning foreign languages, he translated a simplified Christian creed into Japanese, and it is estimated that by the time he returned to Goa in 1552, there were some 200 Christians in Japan. After a short while he setn out again, this time for China......He was never to set foot on the mainland. During the journey he contracted the illness that would eventually lead to his death on an offshore island, in sight of his goal. His body is in Goa. Until recently it was incorrupt, but it is no w showing signs of deterioration. His right arm is in the Gusu, in Rome. Bute's 1906 translation of the Roman Breviary reports amazing miracles, even while Francis was still alive. It claims the gift of prophecy for him but does not elaborate. He was canonised by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 and in 1927 was made Patron of the Foreign Missions by Pope Pius XI."
Towards Meditation:
"The harvest is rich but the labourers are few." (Lk. 10:2)
In my garden a curry plant and annual chillies represent Francis Xavier's Goan years and in the courtyard a Japanese Maple in a large pot commemorates his Japanese legacy. Francis was a prolific correspondent, and today in the second Office reading (new Breviary), the Church invites us to ponder a passage from his letter to St. Ignatius. In it, he describes an actual village and how the spiritual poverty of its people prevented him from eating, sleeping, or saying his Office, until he had taught them the essentials of the Faith. He goes on to bemoan the lack of other missionaries and criticises those who spend their time arguing theological points when they could be out and about helping Christ to save souls. Francis Xavier's conversion methods have been criticised, as have those of many missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant*. My answer is that Christ can only come to us as we are, namely, as creatures of our own times. The efficacy of our response to the needs of those times will depend on how open we are to His Holy Spirit, and upon how much we really desire him to move us forward and bring us closer to the doing of His will. The fact that we are sinful and unworthy to preach the word does not diminish the word itself. Through the Divine Office the Church enables St. Francis Xavier to continue preaching it almost half a millennium after his death. And 265 Xaverian Brothers also preach it in the places worldwide to which God still calls them. Truly the saint after whom they are named is the first illuminating halt on the Advent road.
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
*Seven years on from the writing of this, it is probably unnecessary to explain the asterisk added at today's typing.
coyright Jane Mossendew
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