Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Saturday 22 April feast of the Virgin Mother of the Society of Jesus is the day chosen by Prepositor General Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach for the celebration of a Triple Jubilee of the first three companions: St Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis Xavier and Blessed Pedro Fabro to thank God for these men. This year 2006 is the 450th anniversary of the death of St Ignatius of Loyola and the 500th anniversary of the birth of Francis Xavier and Blessed Pedro Fabro. Jesuit communities all over the world will celebrate the recurrence with various initiatives.
On 22 April Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Holy See secretary of state will preside a special concelebrated Mass in St Peters at which the Jesuit general curia and fathers present in Rome will take part. At the end of the Mass Benedict XVI will come down to the Basilica to address the participants.
Commemorative celebrations have been organised in many Spanish cities. In Madrid papal nuncio Archbishop Manuel Monteiro di Castro will a special preside Mass in the Jesuit church dedicated to St Francis Borja at 8pm. Present for the occasion from Rome a relic of Francis Xavier. A solemn mass was celebrated on the arrival of the relic on 20 April. There will be daily masses in honour of the relic on 22 and 23 April and on 24 April it will be flown back to Rome to be returned to the Church of the Gesu where it is normally preserved. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/4/2006 - Righe 19, parole 289)
