Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - On the First Sunday of Advent December 3, the feast of Saint Francis Xavier patron of the missions, in this 500th year since his birth, (1506-1552), Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (CEP) presided a special concelebration of Mass at the Jesuit ‘Gesù’ Church in Rome. The concelebrants included Archbishop Robert Sarah, CEP secretary and secretary adjunct Archbishop Henryk Hoser, president of the Pontifical Mission Societies; CEP under secretary Fr . Massimo Cenci, PIME; priest members of the staff of CEP and PMS head offices. Present also the rector of Urban University Mgr Ambrogio Spreafico, and representatives of the various realities which comprise the family of Propaganda Fide.
In his homily Cardinal Dias traced the life of Saint Francis Xavier highlighting the role played by Divine Providence: from the call of Saint Ignatius, who asked Francis to take the place of a confrere about to depart on mission, to his great missionary work in the Far East where he announced the Gospel simply and directly, “just as a mother teaches the faith to her children”. In his work of evangelisation in Japan, Saint Francis looked to China as a new important step to announce the Good News. Sadly he fell ill and died without seeing his dream come true. Cardinal Dias recalled the persecution and martyrdom suffered by the Church in Japan.
Two hundred and fifty years later the Pope sent his apostolic delegate to those lands with an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, still venerated today in Nagasaki. Since others had introduced themselves as representatives of Christianity the Apostolic delegate was asked if he was sent by the Roman Pontiff (“the man dressed in white”), if he was married, if he venerated Mary. After his replies the Delegate was recognised as an authentic representative of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Dias said that Francis Xavier is an example for missionary work today: “a simple person who speaks as a mother would to her children, the missionary has profound love for God and Our Lady, and plants a seed so deep that its fruits can be admired even after 250 years”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2006 - righe 29, parole 400)
