riday 7 April marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Francis Xavier (1506-1549), the patron saint of missions. Important events were celebrated in Navarra, Spain. The special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela archbishop of Madrid, presided a solemn concelebration of the Eucharist to mark the 5th anniversary of the birth of St Francis Xavier in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain. Concelebrants included various cardinals and bishops, the Archbishop of Pamplona, the Papal Nuncio in Spain,
members of the Society of Jesus and the Xaverian Missionaries.
In his homily the Cardinal recalled that Francis Xavier “left an indelible mark on the history of both the Church and humanity for having carried the name of Jesus and the symbol of the Cross to new worlds and promoting the theological concept of the dignity of the human person, image of God, a free individual, with inviolable rights, called to help fulfil the plan of God’s love”. The Cardinal said Francis Xavier “incarnated radical obedience to the Lord’s mandate to his apostles: Go, make disciples of all nations!”.
What was the spiritual key to Francis’ vocation, the Cardinal asked? “For Francis as for Paul preaching was not a motive for pride, instead it was an insuppressible existential need”. He was concerned above all for the “treasures of the Gospel”. He was concerned for souls “his own and all souls”; he wanted “Christ and his definitive victory over death through the Cross”, to be known and so he “consumed his young life to spread the deeply transforming knowledge of the Cross to the ends of the earth”; he wanted “every man and woman to be saved” and he worked “to carry the Christian faith to as many people as possible, striving tirelessly to reach the most remote areas where the Good News had yet to be heard”.
Cardinal Rouco Varela underlined the need to “rediscover the soul in the personal life of every Christian in the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ”, and also to restore the soul to society in Spain and the rest of Europe because without soul it will be “difficult to open to a future of life, justice, solidarity and peace."
"He wanted Christ and his definitive victory over death through the
Cross, to be known and so he consumed his young life to spread the deeply transforming knowledge of the Cross to the ends of the
earth; he wanted every man and woman to be saved”
Card. Varela
With regard to participation in these centenary celebrations, Fr. Ricardo Sada, rector of Xavier Shrine, said this year three times as many people took part in the Novena of Grace and the great numbers of people visiting Xavier
Castle are proving a test for organization. “I think St Francis Xavier is still popular because of the lucidity of his criteria and values, the generosity and joy of his dedication, the conviction and enthusiasm with which he preached Jesus Christ, his hidden treasure - says the rector of Xavier Shrine -. If some of this could have an impact on people especially young people of today in this materialist world, filled with things but empty of deep ideas and profound serious and stable criteria and so much egoism, it could lead to a new different society. St Francis Xavier is an example and stimulus for believers and non believers alike”.
With regard to important moments of this Jubilee already past, Fr. Ricardo recalled the opening on Dec. 3rd 2005: “The almost total presence of the Society of Jesus in the person of major superiors from all over the world was a magnificent act of homage to Francis Xavier. There were many other events, yet the massive daily participation in the Novena of Graces was for me the most impressive, for numbers and intensity. The two Xaverian Days (Javieradas) were splendid”.
However the 5th centenary did not end with the great celebration on Friday Apr. 7th 2006: many more activities have been planned as the rector recalls: “At weekends we have visiting groups from towns and parishes and each leave us with aspects of their deep faith and their own popular hymns and devotions”. Other initiatives include:
Youth Mission Meeting (Apr. 21-23); National Youth Meeting (Aug. 4-6); Youth Mission Day
(Oct. 28); annuals days for diocesan mission delegates and directors in Javier
(June 20-22); Navarra Missionaries meeting (Aug. 3); Day of Reflection for missionary institutes and congregations
(May 28); various congresses, concerts and cultural events on the figure of St Francis Xavier. “Above all - concludes Fr. Ricardo - we are convinced that these events will bring people from all over Spain not only from Navarra, to visit the cradle of St Francis Xavier”.
(From Fides Service)