Prayer to Saint Francis Xavier — patron of the missions

Spanish Jesuit priest, born in the castle of Xavier (Navarre) on 7 April 1506. As a student in Paris he shared a room with Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who won him for Christ. He set out as a missionary to India (Goa), the Moluccas and Japan, crossing immense distances on foot and by sea and baptising countless peoples. He died on 3 December 1552 on the island of Sancian, at the gates of the China he so longed to evangelise; his body, found incorrupt, is venerated in Goa. Canonised by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622, together with Saint Ignatius. Proclaimed, with Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, patron of all the Catholic missions by Pope Pius XI (decree Apostolicorum in Missionibus, 14 December 1927). Feast: 3 December.

O God, who through the preaching and the wonders of Saint Francis Xavier willed to gather the peoples of the nations into your Church: grant us that same burning zeal for the salvation of souls, so that, like him, we may seek not the honours of earth but the glory of your name, and that no distance, weariness or danger may keep us from carrying the Gospel to the ends of the world. Through his intercession, awaken in many the desire for the missionary life. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.