St. Francis Xavier
Feast day: December 3
Known as the Apostle to the Indies and to Japan, Francis was born in Navarre, the youngest in a noble Spanish family. He studied at the University of Paris, where he met St. Ignatius of Loyola, who convinced him to become one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. He was one of the very first Jesuits and was ordained with his fellow members in 1537. From 1541 to his death in 1552, Francis served as a missionary in the East Indies, Mozambique, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan. Francis was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. He is patron of foreign missions.
Collect
O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier
won many peoples to yourself,
grant that the hearts of the faithful
may burn with the same zeal for the faith
and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice
in an abundance of offspring.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
