The Life of St. Francis Xavier

On the Shores of China

The Cry of Samuel

 

In many of his missionary journeys, Francis Xavier would often visit the same place a number of times. These locations became centers for both the local Christian community and the team of missionaries and catechists that worked in the surrounding districts. In Francis’ time, they created small and dynamic centers of Christianity, that through its faith, love and joy, would influence the entire population.

 

Worried over the large number of newly baptized Christians that he was leaving behind, Francis wrote to Fr. Rodriguez in Spain to send more Jesuits to Japan. Fr. Rodriguez, who had recruited many members in Portugal, quickly sent 17 missionaries to Japan.

 

In January 1544, Francis wrote: “I am tempted to return home so that like crazy I would scream in the Sorbonne and the other universities of Europe, that thousands upon thousands, and millions upon millions are waiting to hear God’s Word… and I felt that not one student was willing to say ‘Here I am, Lord. What do you want me to do?’ like Samuel in the Bible.”

 

In Kyoto, the sacred city, Francis Xavier debated a number of times with the bonzes of the ancient temple of Chionin. After a while, the bonzes declared that the religion of the “foreign monk” was harmful to the country. Although the accusation startled Francis, he persuaded himself to return to this center of Buddhism and to attempt once amore to convert the people there.

 

When Francis once again met with failure, he decided to leave for China. Francis never departed from the path he had chosen. He continued searching ways to share Christ with those who did not know him.

 

 

The Work Continues

 

Departing from Japan after three years of missionary work there, Francis Xavier was leaving behind more than 5,000 Christians. He had left Kyoto with the hope of eventually finding a ship that was going to Goa.

 

When Francis arrived in Goa, he met with Father Camero whom he named superior of all Jesuits working in India. He then boarded a ship headed for Singapore and Canton. With him was a young Chinese who had previously been named Lopez by his masters. The ship left Goa on April 15, 1552.

 

Unfortunately, the skipper of the “Santa Maria” miscalculated his route. Instead of landing in Canton, he arrived in Sancian, a small island to the southwest of Hong Kong, about six miles from the shore of mainland China.

 

On October 22, Francis wrote to the priests in Goa telling them of the dangers involved in any attempt to enter the port of Canton secretly. Already there was a number of Portuguese sailors in prison. But, as he wrote “the greater danger is to lose confidence in God. It is for the love of God, and the good of souls that I have arrived at this island. I have decided to enter China at all costs.”

 

A month passed. Francis still waited for a ship to take him to the mainland. Now, he had a high fever and wasn’t feeling well. With Francis was his faithful Hindu friend Anthony and his interpreter Lopez whom Francis baptized with the name of Peter. The captain of the ship was anxiously waiting for the appearance of some good headwinds so that he could set sail again. It was the season of typhoons and sailing became impossible!

 

Francis spent most of his time in prayer. By prayer, we recognize our humanity, for we are God’s children.

 

By November 22nd, Francis was completely taken by the high fever. At midnight, Anthony lit a candle and placed it in Francis’ hand, as he was dying. Later in the night, he cried out, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, remember me!” These were the last words Francis Xavier ever spoke. On Saturday, December 3rd, 1552, he made his last voyage, to Heaven.

 

The Christians who had been instructed by St. Francis Xavier never forgot their “Dear Father” nor his “words of Life!” In the hill overlooking Nishiraka, Japan, there are the crosses of 26 Japanese martyrs who had died in the persecution of 1597. On that hill there is a flat rock which recalls an incident that occurred in 1865.

 

Some Japanese Christians accidentally encountered three Europeans there. “Are you married?” they asked. “Oh no!” answered the Europeans. “Do you honor the Virgin Mary?” “We certainly do. She is the Mother of God,” the foreigners replied. “Do you obey the Pope in Rome?” the Japanese persisted. “Yes, we do,” the foreign priests answered. By listening carefully to the responses the strangers made to each of their questions, these humble Japanese Christians were reassured that the strangers were truly Catholic missionaries.

 

They then informed the other Christians of Nagasaki – Christians who in fact were descendants of those baptized by St. Francis Xavier. This incident clearly marked the end of 250 years of religious persecution. From the time of that fateful meeting, the missionary work in Japan has come back to life and the number of Christians has increased.

 

The driving force of Francis Xavier to enter China did not die in Sancian near the island of Taiwan. Centuries later, in 1898, the Xaverian Missionaries began their mission to China. They remained in China until 1954 at which time they were thrown out by the communist revolution.

 

After their expulsion from China, the Xaverian Missionaries went to work in Indonesia, in Japan, in Bangladesh, in the Philippines, in Taiwan. Yet, China is not abandoned. It is the hope and dream of the Xaverian family to return to the land in which the “sun never sets.” China will never be forgotten by the Xaverians who dare to share the dream of their Patron Saint, Francis Xavier.

 

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