sign in sign up
<<
Home , Francis Xavier, Novena of Grace

The OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD Cup No. 20, April 2006 of the New Covenant Rediscovering Our Patron by Barry Fischer, C.PP.S.

INTRODUCTION This year marks the quincentenary celebration of the birth of St. , that great Jesuit under whose protection St. Gaspar placed our Congregation. It only seems fitting that in celebrating our patron we dedicate some time to reflecting upon this figure whom many would say is the greatest mis- sionary since St. Paul. What can he teach us today about being missionary and how can we be inspired by his example in our own response to our missionary charism? These are some of the questions which have motivated

See page 15 ☛

The Relevance of Xavier in His Quincentennial St. Francis Xavier by Alberto Núñez, S.J. 4 San Francisco Xavier: St. Francis Xavier A School for Education and Mission and C.PP.S. Missionaries by J.M. Borreguero Fernández, C.PP.S. 7 by Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S. St. Francis Xavier, Patron The Missionaries of the Precious of mission work. We do it also by Volkmer, C.PP.S. 9 Blood join the rest of the because our Founder, St. Gaspar, world in celebrating the 500th made him the special patron of our St. Francis Xavier: anniversary of the birth of the great Congregation. We all know of St. A Precious Legacy for Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier. Gaspar’s special devotion to St. and the C.PP.S. We do this not only out of great Francis Xavier, a devotion that began by Peter Pradeep 11 respect for the man whom successive already with his mother. We know too have named as a special patron See next page ☛ T how serving at Mass at the altar of pounds in Asia port cities, he lived h e this great missionary saint in the “ St. Francis Xavier among the people, directed in his led to St. final years international missionary C u Gaspar’s own missionary vocation. can be seen as the teams, and sought out especially the p St. Gaspar and the Missionaries who pioneer of mission- company of the poor and the sick. o We have much to learn today from f have followed him have often point- ary international- ed to St. Francis’ tireless zeal for this great missionary. t ity.” h missionary work as a source of moti- e vation for C.PP.S. Missionaries. In MISSION METHOD N his scant ten years as a missionary in Francis Xavier did not write a text- of and studied there for ten e Asia, he baptized thousands of peo- book of missiology, but his example w years. There he met another country- ple, traveled more than 100,000 kilo- speaks volumes. He fostered a kind man, Inigo de Loyola, who became C meters, and founded many schools. of long before the term o his spiritual mentor. Along with a v He has been considered the greatest was even known. He recognized the e small group of others, they formed a n missionary the Church has produced importance of language, as has new apostolic congregation, the a since the Apostle Paul. already been mentioned. In his delir- n . t Important as his influence was on ium from fever shortly before he Xavier volunteered for a new mis- died, those who were with him the young Gaspar, and his image as sionary enterprise to the Indies when recount that he spoke in many differ- the tireless evangelizer has been for those first indicated were unable to ent languages. us, is there still more that we can go. Between 1541 and his death in learn from him? This is a pertinent He stressed the importance of win- 1552, he was to work in India, question for the C.PP.S. at this ning good will among the people by , the Spice Islands, and moment in its history Ð not only kindness, rather than confronting . Along the way he learned because of the quincentennial of our them with a implied superiority. In Tamil, Malayan, and Japanese. giving instructions for work to new Patron’s birth, but also because of Although Basque and Castilian missionaries recently arrived from the call from the XVIII General Spanish were his native languages, Europe in 1548, he said, “Make an Assembly to look more closely at most of his letters are in Portuguese effort where you go and stay to win our understanding and practice of (albeit liberally sprinkled with people over with good works and mission as we begin the third millen- Castilian). He not only learned lan- words of love.” Rather than stress- nium. This article will focus upon guages to a degree not known among ing their status as cohorts of the Francis Xavier the missionary. the Portuguese missionaries of his powerful Portuguese, they were to Although he has left us a great num- time, but he adapted to the local cir- be marked by their gentleness of ber of letters, he never wrote a sys- cumstances as much as was possible. spirit and of manner. tematic treatise on mission. His life, He was a genuine cosmopolitan, a however, speaks volumes. “citizen of the world.” Xavier stressed the importance of getting to know the situations in In the C.PP.S. today we speak much AN INTERNATIONAL of internationality, and an important which missionaries find themselves, MISSIONARY number of young C.PP.S. Missionar- rather than imposing a uniform Francis Xavier’s life began in the ies have shown themselves willing approach for every setting. Basque country of . During to work in international teams. St. He insisted on gaining this knowl- the first two decades of his life, his Francis Xavier can be seen as the edge directly. In in 1548, he native land lost its independence and pioneer of such missionary interna- spoke of the need to go to new places was incorporated into the Kingdom tionality. Not content to stay within in order to understand their needs of . He went to the University the confines of the Portuguese com- before sending missionaries there: “If I do not visit these lands myself,” he said, “then I do not know their “ It was Xavier’s capacity to engage all levels needs. Then I lack the necessary of society – to care for the poor and to experience to give the Fathers proper challenge intellectually the elite – that directives. For one of the main requirements of prudence is personal made him a model for subsequent genera- experience.” tions of Jesuit missionaries.” Questions always arise about local 2 customs, and what things should be them. Among the aristocracy, he dis- T h played his learning from the e , and saw the C engagement of scholars at the great u universities in Japan as a key place p for bringing the message of the o . f t It was Xavier’s capacity to engage h all levels of society Ð to care for the e poor and to challenge intellectually N e the elite Ð that made him a model for w subsequent generations of Jesuit C missionaries. Two of the greatest of o them Ð Roberto de Nobili in India, v e and in Japan Ð have n a since stood as models of genuine n inculturation, or making the Gospel t understood according to the minds and hearts of a people. Centuries before Paul VI’s eloquent teaching on evangelization given in his Evangelii nuntiandi, Xavier instructed two generations of Jesuit missionaries in how to bring the message of the Gospel to people in a way that they could understand. Students at the Colegio San Francisco Javier, Fuente de Cantos, Spain maintained from the past among new FRANCIS XAVIER AND C.PP.S. MISSION TODAY Christians. Xavier’s own approach “ His willingness to mirrored the advice that Pope A half millennium later, St. Francis Gregory the Great had given to cross ever new Xavier remains a model of mission- Augustine, the first of boundaries, his ary activity for us in the C.PP.S. His Canterbury in the seventh century: if ability to bring to- willingness to cross ever new bound- something is not clearly against the gether interna- aries, his ability to bring together Gospel, it need not be removed. He international teams of missionaries, proposed to Father Torres in Japan in tional teams of his gentleness and genuine love for 1551: “If it is not sinful, then it is missionaries, his the people, his ability to speak to all better to change nothing, lest a gentleness and levels of society Ð these remain change no longer gives due honor to essential elements for mission today. .” genuine love for All of this was made possible and Xavier gave special preference to the people, his abi- sustained by his deep prayer life. caring for the sick, for seeking out lity to speak to all His companions tell of him often those imprisoned, and for educating levels of society – spending the night in prayer. In so children. In all of these things, he conforming his own life to the mes- was genuinely a missionary “of the these remain sage and , he was people.” But he also could engage essential elements able to accomplish astonishing intellectuals and the highest refine- for mission today.” things in a short but fruitful life as a ments of a culture. He was much missionary. As we look at the chal- impressed with the learning of the lenges of mission for the C.PP.S. in Buddhist in Japan, and gladly them from India, the home of the the coming years, we can turn again entered into philosophical disputes Buddha. He engaged the monks at and again to that great missionary with them. The monks were fascinat- their own level of discussion, and who is our Patron, St. Francis ed by the fact that he had come to made a deep impression on many of Xavier. 3 T h e TTHHEE RREELLEEVVAANNCCEE OOFF XXAAVVIIEERR C u p IINN HHIISS QQUUIINNCCEENNTTEENNNNIIAALL o f t he special significance of Xa- by Alberto Núñez, S.J. The good news of Jesus Christ that h vier for us today is not simply a comes from outside me will always e T matter of rousing our missionary Xavier had pondered deeply this be a scandal for the person who N e activity, but more precisely in doing fundamental criterion: “For let each seeks to affirm his self-sufficiency or w this “ecclesially,” that is to say, evan- one think that he will benefit himself his autonomy. The history of C gelically, raising the question of our in all spiritual things in proportion as , the history of the o and For this he goes out of his self-love, will and Christian missions, confirms in prac- v intentions, desires, ends. e reason, we should recognize his rel- interest.” (Spiritual Exercises n. 189) tice this challenge. It is so at the pre- n a evance even given that he lived in a Later, in the intensity of his apostolic sent moment. Perhaps it is not easy n historical period that differs from activity, he will exclaim: “What to present our contemporaries in the t ours in its religious culture and lan- death is greater than to abandon West a Christian ideal based on guage. His relevance lies at the heart Christ for one’s own opinions and renunciation. We prefer to suggest of some themes of Christian identity. desires, after having already known “taking” to asking for “letting go.” For Xavier, what does it mean to be him! There is no work equal to this. However, the fresh inbreaking of a Christian? On the contrary, how comforting it is Christ into the life of persons will to live while dying each day, to go always call into judgment the aware- [The author continues by reflecting against our own desiring, seeking ness of our insurmountable individ- on three “strong” experiences of not our own interests but those of ual identity, placing us before the Xavier: , renunciation, and Jesus Christ!” prayer of Jesus, “that all may be one. persistence. For reasons of space, we As you, Father, in me and I in are including here only what he has you…” (Jn 17, 21). written on the last two themes.] BEYOND EGOISM The fundamental pattern of In the matter of national egoism, one can say that Xavier did not situate RENUNCIATION Christianity, Xavier reminds us, is death and transformation, which are his ideal in any earthly homeland, We could regain his strongly lived implied in the stories of since but in the heavenly homeland. renunciation that has implications the time of . “Go forth from Francis had loved the Xaviers’ plot for being Christian. In Xavier this is your native land and from your of land in Navarre, where he spent revealed in the form of a triple “exo- father’s house… “ (Gen 12, 1). It the first nineteen years of his life at dus”: leaving individual egoism presupposes a break on the personal, the side of his parents. In light of his (one’s own wants and interests), national, and cultural levels. It family situation, three paths were national egoism (patriotism and base means to welcome a presence that open to him: law and politics (fol- colonial interests), and community does not belong to me, which breaks lowing in the footsteps of his father); egoism (institutional self-satisfac- in from outside, encountering me the military; and teaching, probably tion). and drawing me more and more out in some ecclesiastical career. The experience of the Christian life of myself, creating a new reality that However, his intense spiritual trans- as exodus from oneself is found at did not exist before. formation in Paris, his “conversion,” the origins of Xavier’s apostolic as he called it, influenced the new vocation. It is present in the words of direction of his sensitivity. Xavier the gospel on which Ignatius invited “ The experience of went on to become part of an inter- national group of friends in the Lord, him to reflect repeatedly: “What the Christian life as profit would there be to gain the the Company of Jesus, and then to whole world and forfeit one’s life?” exodus from one- build his apostolate in the Indies (Mt 16, 26) This little verse that self is found at the subject to the Portuguese crown, (albeit sometimes quite critical of it, Jesus directs to his disciples is pre- origins of Xavier’s ceded by the no less blunt challenge: to be sure). “Whoever wishes to come after me apostolic vocation.” Later, having experienced the real 4 must deny himself” (v. 24). difficulties that this commitment entailed, he will write from T h , Japan, about “the great NEW PUBLICATIONS e and signal mercies” which God was Agenda 2006: Un Anno con San Gaspare (Agenda 2006: A Year with C giving him, making him work in a u St. Gaspar). edited by Gruppo di spiritualità del Sangue di Cristo and foreign country, where “we cannot p Nicola Giampaolo, C.PP.S., (Albano Laziale: Primavera Missionaria, trust in any power except in God.” In o 2005). f national egoism, Xavier saw an L’India di Soprassalto (India, All of a Sudden) by Michele Colagio- enormous impediment not only for t vanni, C.PP.S. (, 2005). h the mission but also for Christian life e itself. N e Speaking of institutional self-com- If you are interested in these publications, w placency and the connection already please contact the Generalate. C mentioned above, we notice a recur- o v ring theme in Xavier’s life: he ful- e filled his mission looking more at belonged to Christ, to the church, “seeking and finding God in all n a persons than institutions. Seeking and to humanity, to whom he felt things.” n that the Christian communities called to serve. Where did Xavier acquire that dispo- t would maintain themselves without In the mission one finds summarized sition? A process of spiritual initia- the presence of the missionaries, he Xavier’s spirituality of vocation. tion, common in Asiatic spiritual did not intend to perpetuate his own Xavier lives his Christian vocation practice, is that based on a guru and works or parallel initiatives. This is as a person chosen personally by living together with the per- Christ, in the church, in order to be sonal practice of meditation under sent in mission to humankind. The the guidance of a master. The disci- “ We notice a recur- saint identifies himself fully with ple Xavier was formed by the master ring theme in that mission, which is not just one Ignatius. Both shared a house in Paris from October 1529 until April Xavier’s life: he ful- more task added to other aspects of his life, but which constitutes a mode 1535. Meeting again in Venice in filled his mission of existence configured in Christ, a early 1537 and forming part of the looking more at life that belongs to God and to his same community in Rome from persons than insti- brothers and sisters totally and for- 1538, they were not separated again ever. That is what we would call a until the departure of Xavier, the tutions.” strong sense of belonging. missionary. However, this does not arise from THE LIBERATING TRUTH what he was hoping for in planting sheer willpower, or from personal OF CHRIST the Christian faith in Japan and in force of character, nor from an , because the people there asceticism based on the necessity of Beginning with a friendly relation- were “a people very curious who expiating sins or overcoming weak- ship living together as students in desired to know new things about nesses, but from a simple interior Paris, by means of which Loyola God and about natural things.” He conviction. That intimate conviction does not come from a dogmatic for- goes on to say, “I resolve, with great “ Xavier would al- interior satisfaction, to go to that mation solidly formed, but from a land, since it appeared to me that the spontaneous compassion that takes ways carry his com- people themselves could perpetuate hold in the contemplative. We affirm panions’ names, that it is faith, the experience of grat- the fruit that we members of the written in their own Society will accomplish.” itude for a God who saves, that drew out the wonder of Xavier, grounding hand, in a little sack it in the compassionate gaze of around his neck. He BELONGING Christ. Faith as a personal surrender held them present Finally, I believe that we need to to God, who gives Himself, is pre- recover his “strong” experience of sent in all, and calls forth that and he belonged to Christian belonging: the fidelities response that, in the spirituality them ‘in Christ’.” and loyalties of Xavier, a man who characteristic of Jesuits, is known as 5 T h e C u p o f t h e N e w C o v e n a n t

Children of the grade school, St. Francis Xavier Parish, St. Joseph, Missouri

introduced the practice of meditation psalm. Xavier would always carry undertakings. Any examination of to Xavier, the latter was capable of his companions’ names, written in his life that would not take note of discovering the liberating truth of their own hand, in a little sack this would fall short. A dialogue with Christ. Here we speak of a personal around his neck. He held them pre- Xavier that makes him present in the truth, a Word made flesh, and not of sent and he belonged to them “in fifth centenary of his birth and that one more dogma about life. The Christ.” makes him the inspiration of our pre- Spiritual Exercises were the specific Xavier lived this love for his own sent missions must arrive at such path that Ignatius showed Xavier, the congregation with extraordinary mystical experience, as a renowned method for enabling a personal freedom, yet always with reference French theologian reminds us: encounter with the saving mystery of to the hierarchical church, at whose “A dialogue between the saint and God in Jesus Christ that is destined disposition he placed himself and me begins at the moment in which I for all humankind. It is hardly sur- with which he wanted the missionar- understand that the mystery of his prising, then, that the book Xavier ies to have an affectionate and col- existence is not exhausted in the cites so often, besides the Bible, is laborative relationship. “Look at exterior ordinariness of his works the Spiritual Exercises. The Exerci- what I recommend and command and his travels. Moreover, I must ses will be the basis of the spiritual you” Ð he writes to P. Barceo in 1552 take care not only to recognize the life, as well as of the apostolate and –“that you be very obedient to the of the missionary methods of this Lord Bishop, both you and the other spiritual elements of his existence, disciple of Ignatius. Fathers, and for no reason should but also to always presume the secret presence beyond the visible events. The strong sense of belonging to the you displease him, since he loves us All of life is a journey. Only the church is manifested in Xavier by beyond all the happiness you could his experience of apostolic commu- desire, and thus there is all the more mystical journey gives genuine nity. A company “holy,” “blessed,” a reason to serve him and to love him.” meaning to the external and material “Company of love,” he called it. “If The experience of the mystery of things we see.” (Xavier Leon- any time I should forget the God in the love of Christ and in the Dufour, San Francisco Javier. Itine- Company of the name of Jesus, let community of life in the of the rario místico del apóstol, Mensa- my right hand be forgotten” he apostle animates the life story of jero-Sal Terrae: Bilbao-Santander, 6 exclaimed, paraphrasing the biblical Xavier and gives meaning to his 1998, p. 23.) T h SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER: e C u AA SScchhooooll ffoorr EEdduuccaattiioonn aanndd MMiissssiioonn p In response to the invitation to write by J. M. Borreguero Fernández, C.PP.S. awareness of life in the midst of so o f for this issue of The Cup of the New many cultures of death.” Covenant marking the fifth cente- t Fuente de Cantos bear the name of The same document recognizes the h nary of the birth of St. Francis this saint from Navarre. missionary character which our e Xavier, I would like to summarize school must have, as it states that N the experience and ministry of the e “our educational community will be educational community of the FROM THE PAST… w strengthened by being aware of the Colegio S. Francisco Javier, with TO THE PRESENT C missionary task received from God o particular attention to the missionary The Missionaries of the Precious the Father and it will try to live the v character of our Congregation. May Blood and the present educational e experience of brotherhood-sister- n this serve as worthy homage to that community of the school are con- a Spanish saint who carried the faith to vinced that education is one of the hood that is held up in the charism of n t distant lands and to those who, cen- most important ways, at least in the our Congregation: ‘the bond of char- turies later, continue the task of long run, to respond to the cry of the ity’.” evangelization in the field of teach- blood in the world. For this reason, ing. in our school and wherever we might FROM THEORY... be involved in teaching we must pro- TO PRACTICE vide: The pastoral ministry department of A LITTLE HISTORY Ð an education that supports ethics the school recognizes proclaiming It is more than fifty years since the and whose objectives aim at the the gospel as a priority and offers the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, integral progress of humanity; students moments and opportunities once settled in Spain, felt the need to Ð a humanistic education; offer the ministry of education to the Ð an education in sensitivity, in jus- designed to present this gospel as the church and to society, just as they tice, and in solidarity; norm of life, educating them in non- had in other countries. They were Ð an education in brotherhood, violence and solidarity, supporting affectivity, and self-esteem; convinced that this would be one of and reinforcing the educational Ð an education for democracy, toler- the best ways of transforming soci- activity of the teaching staff through ance, and multiculturalism. ety, raising the cultural level of its talks and media presentations, to inhabitants, at the same time form- The integral formation of the stu- both students and their parents. To ing witnesses of Jesus of Nazareth. dents must be the goal and principal this end the pastoral ministry depart- objective of a C.PP.S. school, along Destiny and a family of the town of ment is especially involved in the with handing on Christian values Fuente de Cantos did the rest. This is workshops of Domund and Manos and a progressive education in our how the Colegio S. Francisco Javier Unidas and in the special campaigns spirituality, which they should know of the center supporting the third got its start in Fuente de Cantos in and live. the year 1953. world: very concretely our mission In the We consider the Colegio S. Francis- Educational Plan of the in Guinea-Bissau. They promote the Colegio we read: “as an educational co Javier as an heir of the legacy of sensitization of the students and eco- center of the Missionaries of the the Precious Blood and of the nomic collaboration as a concrete Precious Blood, we see ourselves as form of assistance to the mission. charism of St. Gaspar by its very repositories of the message inherited name. We know that at the age of from our founder, St. Gaspar del In its fifty years of existence the two St. Gaspar suffered from a seri- Bufalo, and from our patron St. Colegio has always had a special ous illness that threatened his vision. Francis Xavier, and thus we will concern for the missions to and aid His mother’s prayers to her beloved attempt to live and to support an for the third world. An example of St. Francis Xavier and Gaspar«s rapid recovery insured that this Jesuit saint, patron of the missions, “ Education is one of the most important would always occupy a special place ways... to respond to the cry of the blood in the Congregation. It is for this rea- son that in our Iberian Province our in the world.” church in Cáceres and our school in 7 T this concern arose during the 1990s h e from a youth ministry group of the school, the first initiative of “Trade C u with Justice and Solidarity” p (Comercio Justo y Solidario) under- o taken by Fr. Queño Mora and a f group of students of the school. That t first activity in this area has, with the h e passing of the years, developed into the opening of a permanent store of N e “just trade” in the town that is now w run by Caritas of the local parish. C For several years the help provided o v by various teachers of the school at e the international seminars on the n a spirituality of the Precious Blood in n education, both in Chile and in t , as well as the meeting of lay associates in (MERLAP in 2001), were also important and were points of reflection for handing on our spirituality and missionary spirit to the rest of the teaching staff and the students. These international These students of the Colegio raise money for the Guinea-Bissau mission. seminars should continue to take place because of the enrichment that they provide for our concrete way of In the present course Fr. Pedro and health needs of the students in living the educational apostolate. Carrasco, coordinator of the pastoral Guinea-Bissau. The proposal made team of the school, has launched the to the students is to pursue a relation- The move toward the missions and campaign “Somos Hermanos” ‘We ship of brotherhood-sisterhood bet- specifically to the mission in Guinea Bissau that the Iberian Province are brothers and sisters’ for the spon- ween the students of the Colegio San opened several years ago gave rise to sorship of and a sister relationship Francisco Javier and the students of a movement of support for that mis- with the schools of Guinea-Bissau. the schools of Guinea-Bissau. sion which eventually led to the for- In this campaign of solidarity the May St. Francis Xavier, in the fifth mation of a non-governmental orga- point of departure is that these chil- centenary of his birth, bless our nization called “Solidarity with dren and young people who live in a school, and may he raise up among the Guinea-Bissau” on the part of a situation of injustice are my brothers students many priestly and missionary group of teachers of the school. and sisters. Our students who live in vocations which will courageously a situation of privilege discover that Fr. Paco Gil, one of the C.PP.S. extend the reign of God and apply the they can do something to change a Missionaries in Guinea-Bissau, was a merits of the Blood of Christ. part of the world in which students member of the community of the Colegio San Francesco Javier for live under less favorable conditions. By means of the campaign they try many years. His annual visits, coin- “ Our students who ciding with the rainy season in that to support the schools of Guinea- country, “mobilizes” all of the stu- Bissau financially and with materials live in a situation of dents and teachers during his stay at so that the schools can continue their privilege discover the Colegio. After receiving this work of education and health care. direct information from our mission- The goal that they try to achieve, that they can do ary through his conferences and beyond that of sensitizing these something to change videos about the mission, they work young people, is to collect e 4000 a part of the world in hard to collect school supplies (note- during the year. With this money the books, pencils, etc.), since Fr. Paco’s students of our Colegio will con- which students live principal work there consists in open- tribute to the salary of the professors, under less favorable ing schools in the most isolated vil- to acquiring material, to remodeling conditions.” lages so that a greater number of chil- and maintaining the school build- 8 dren can have access to education. ings, and to meeting the nutritional T h e C u p When St. Gaspar was only a year by Michael Volkmer, C.PP.S. I’m not so sure that Catholics today o and a half old, he came down with honor patron , as was more f smallpox. So serious was the threat and in 1540 was appointed to evan- common in Catholic cultures in the that his parents had him t gelize the peoples of the . past. Of course, someone like St. h confirmed. Soon the disease was Patrick continues to be very popular, Arriving at Goa in India in 1541, e healed. But then another disease perhaps not for all the right Francis spent several years pro- N caused serious eye problems, threat- claiming the gospel and ministering reasons. Many statues of St. Joseph e w ening blindness. His mother, to the sick. From there he moved on are purchased, some only to be Annunziata, so strong in faith, went to the Molucca Islands, which had buried! Devotion to Our Lady of C to the nearby Church of the Gesù Guadalupe continues to be very pop- o Portuguese settlements. Some v and prayed fervently before the altar believe that Francis also went to ular in Latino cultures. At one time e and of St. Francis Xavier for the Catholic couples were conscientious n Mindanao in the , though a healing of her little son. Her prayers his presence there is not certain. In about naming children after a saint, n were answered and Gaspar again 1549 he went to Japan, learning seeking that saint’s intercession. It is t experienced healing. From that point enough of the language to do basic not so true any more. It may also be on, Gaspar had a special devotion to catechesis. His zeal for the gospel that devotion to St. Francis Xavier St. Francis and would often kneel at that same shrine, praying with great fervor. “ ... you should not cease stimulating people Once Gaspar had founded the to practice devotion to St. Xavier... What Congregation, he wrote in a letter to Msgr. Cristaldi, a good friend and a great advocate we have in Xavier.” benefactor: “Some particular offices (St. Gaspar) have also been granted to us by the present Pontiff who also, in our suf- frages, permitted me to assign St. Francis Xavier as the Protector of led him to set his sights on mission- by Missionaries of the Precious our Institute.” (Letter 1627) In ary work in China, but in 1552 he Blood members was more prominent another letter, Gaspar wrote: “...you died on the island of Sancian near in earlier days of the Community should not cease stimulating people the coast of that country before he than it is today. could reach the mainland. In those to practice devotion to St. Xa- I was surprised to hear Fr. Barry few years, the missionary spirit of vier...What a great advocate we have Fischer say that our parish of St. Francis touched thousands of in Xavier.” (Letter 1929) Those Francis Xavier in St. Joseph, lives. He was canonized in 1622. His words of Gaspar have special mean- Missouri, is the only parish served body is enshrined in Goa, India. ing for members, lay associates, and by the Precious Blood Community all our friends as we honor our to have Xavier as its parish patron St. Francis Xavier in this fifth patron. When the city of St. Joseph centenary of his birth. It is not surprising that St. Gaspar began to grow in the late 1800s, the would name St. Francis Xavier as bishop of St. Joseph in 1890 asked that a new parish be formed and XAVIER’S LIFE the patron of the Congregation. That same missionary zeal of Francis was chose priests of the Society of the Precious Blood to oversee the build- St. Francis Xavier was one of the very much in the heart and mind of ing and staffing of the parish. It was most effective and zealous mission- Gaspar. In one of his letters Gaspar aries in the history of the certainly under the guidance of the wrote: “With two hundred copies, I Church. Born in Navarre (Spain) in Society and its first pastor, Fr. will surely be able to build up devo- 1506, Francis eventually studied at a Seraphim Kunkler, that St. Francis tion to my dear Saint, the great college in Paris, where he met St. Xavier was chosen. Xavier.” (Letter 2398) . At the age of 28 he made the spiritual exercises of St. The Constitution of our Congreation Ignatius and six years later joined says this: “By a special devotion, our ST. FRANCIS him and a small community of like- members honor the Blessed AND OUR PARISH minded priests to form the nucleus Mary, Our Lady of the Precious Has devotion to St. Francis Xavier of the Society of Jesus. He was Blood, St. Gaspar, our Founder, and had much of an impact on the parish- ordained to the priesthood in 1537 St. Francis Xavier, our Patron.” ioners? In the early days of the 9 T parish, it is likely that Precious h e Blood Missionaries led the people in some devotional prayers. No docu- C mentation is available except a copy u p of the novena mentioned later in this article. The rectory was a mission o f house, so that parishioners would have been aware of the missionary t h activities of the Precious Blood e fathers and brothers. It is quite likely N that these Missionaries occasionally e celebrated Masses and shared w with the parishioners their experi- C ences, asking for their pray- o ers. Whether it included invoking the v e intercession of St. Francis Xavier we n do not know. a n Does the patronage of St. Francis t Xavier have an impact on the people of the parish today? Perhaps not as much as it could or should have. Each First Friday we have exposition of the Blessed from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, conclud- ing with the recitation of the Rosary for religious vocations and then Benediction. During Benediction, we pray the “Prayer to Saint Francis Xavier for Vocations.” Also, on the feast of St. Francis Xavier we have an all-school Mass, always relating to the students the life of St. Francis Xavier and his great missionary exploits. We point out the large stat- ue we have of St. Francis Xavier in C.PP.S. Companions, St. Francis Xavier Parish, St. Joseph, Missouri the back of the church. When we celebrate the feast of St. crowd or whether it spiritually Each year our students write essays Gaspar, we remind the people of his enriched the parishioners. on the saints, and St. Francis Xavier is always among the saints assigned. connection to St. Francis Xavier, People seem to know much better We hold a vocation awareness week who so much influenced his mis- the other St. Francis (of Assisi), who in January and our patron is some- sionary spirit. On Mission Sunday, is popular because of his association times featured on the poster for the we include in our petitions prayers with animals, nature, and the simple priesthood and religious life. for the missions, naming the inter- life. Maybe the are bet- cession of Gaspar and Francis. ter promoters than the Jesuits! I asked one of our older Companions One blessing our Congregation has “ When we cele- and a long-time resident of the received in recent years is that a new brate the feast of parish if she had any memories of foundation seems to be flourishing in India. Our Indian Precious Blood devotion to St. Francis Xavier. She St. Gaspar, we re- Community will help us to better graciously found an old copy of the keep alive the spirit of St. Francis mind the people of “ to St. Francis Xavier. As we commemorate the Xavier.” It included one special his connection to 500th anniversary of his birth in St. Francis Xavier, prayer to the “Passion and Precious 2006, perhaps we will better appreci- Blood of Jesus,” which includes the ate and honor this great patron. The who so much influ- words: “We beseech you through the challenge to reflect on the celebra- enced his mission- intercession of your servant, St. tion has inspired me to do a much ary spirit.” Francis Xavier, who always bore in better in promoting awareness his heart thy bitter passion...” We do of the patron of my parish and our 10 not know if the novena drew a large Congregation. T h e ST. FRANCIS XAVIER: A PRECIOUS C u LEGACY FOR INDIA AND THE C.PP.S. p o f INTRODUCTION by Peter Pradeep was his mission in India, a mission t h St. Gaspar had a lifelong devotion to that inspired our Founder so e December 3. So great was deeply? St. Francis Xavier because he had N Gaspar’s devotion to Francis that he received a special grace through Francis was born in Navarre, Spain, e wanted to travel to Goa in India w him when he was a child. Suffering of a noble Basque family in 1506. (where Xavier worked and is now C from a disease that threatened his At the age of twenty he entered the o vision, Gaspar was healed through buried) to continue the apostolate of v St. Francis. This dream has been University of Paris to begin his the- e the intercession of Xavier, to whom n realized today through the ological education and came under a his mother had a great devotion. the influence of the St. Ignatius, n When on mission Gaspar always Missionaries of the Most Precious t another Basque and a former soldier carried pictures of St. Francis and of Blood, who for more than twenty who had experienced a profound the Blessed Virgin. Later he made years have been working in differ- religious conversion. Together with him the patron of the Congregation ent areas of India. some other young men they vowed of the Missionaries of the Most to bind themselves to the service of Precious Blood. He urged the Mis- EARLY LIFE, EDUCATION, sionaries to have a great devotion God in 1534. This was the begin- towards him and called for the spir- AND THE SOCIETY OF JESUS ning of the Society of Jesus. itual activities in honor of the cele- Who was this great Francis Xavier, Francis was ordained in Venice in bration of the feast of the saint on who inspired so many souls? What 1537. In 1541 he left for India as

The , India 11 T on the very tip of India. The Paravas h e there had already been converted to Christianity but there were not C u enough priests to instruct them. p Francis went into their villages, o taught and administered f the , with his limited t h knowledge of the local language, e Tamil. Xavier actually memorized N prayers and instructions in the lan- e w guage. His ministry was so intense that he once noted that “…there was C o such a great multitude of those who v e are being converted, that it frequent- n ly happens that my arms become a n exhausted from baptizing.” On a t single day he baptized an entire vil- lage. For a whole year, Francis traveled to and fro, up and down the 140 miles of coastline visiting all 30 villages more than once. In the hot season walking was like mile after mile of live coals, and in the rainy season one floundered through a sea of mud. A native who often saw Francis said: “He would sometimes go two days eating only a few morsels. As for sleep, three hours was often all he snatched.” Other people noticed that he spent his night praying as often as not under the stars. St. Francis Xavier Church, Goa, India

apostolic in the East, arriv- ministering to the sick and impris- IN DEFENSE ing in Goa in 1542 after a long and oned, often in terrible conditions. OF THE MARGINAL dangerous journey. His catechesis was simple, and he He noticed that the Paravas were not would gather the young by going kindly treated by their Portuguese through the streets ringing a little GOA AND THE PEARL fellow Christians who used them as bell and asking parents to send their FISHERY COAST slaves whom they could buy children to catechism. or carry off as they liked. Francis Goa was for many years a Hindu Eventually Francis was able to exploded, asking how they could city and was later occupied by make the six hundred mile journey expect these Indians to be attracted Muslims, who were defeated by the from Goa to the Pearl Fishery Coast by Christianity, when Christians Portuguese admiral Albuquerque about the time of the birth of Francis. It was an important eco- “ So great was Gaspar’s devotion to Francis nomic center for the Portuguese. that he wanted to travel to Goa in India to Francis immediately placed himself continue the apostolate of St. Francis.” 12 at the service of the church in Goa, themselves set such a terrible ex- T h ample. C.PP.S BROTHERS SYMPOSIUM e He was soon to come to the rescue C u of the Paravas in quite another way. July 24-28, 2006 p They were being pillaged and o attacked by a certain warlike tribe Spiritual Center of Maria Stein f from the north who feared the Maria Stein, Ohio, USA t h Paravas as allies of the Portuguese. e Villagers were either massacred by N swift moving cavalry or put to Celebrating C.PP.S. Brothers, e w flight, many dying of hunger, thirst Past, Present and Future C or exposure. Many refugees made o v their way as far south as possible to e Cape Comorin where Francis was, The goals of the Brothers Symposium are: n a because the Paravas had no defense To affirm the vocation of within the C.PP.S. n t against further raids except the To identify the experiences of the vocation of broth- bravery of Francis. He was unselfish erhood, and to share information about the voca- in his ministry to these poor people tion of brother who were left without any care and To enhance a worldwide awareness of C.PP.S. such was the love for the people. brotherhood This love and concern allowed To design a process to bring azareness of this voca- Francis to move very freely with the tion back to all regions of the Congregation people. He may have converted as many as 10,000 people. He shat- To celebrate our global bond of charity tered their idols but gave them a new life in Christ. For more information NEW VENTURES: MALAYA, contact Bro. Tom Bohman at [email protected] JAPAN, AND CHINA In the course of a retreat, Francis decided to set his sights beyond in China. He actually reached an ST. FRANCIS India, to Malaya, Japan, and China. island off the coast of that country. AND THE MISSIONARIES There he came down with a fever OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD Francis did not expect to stay long and grew ever weaker, finally bid- in Malaya, but ended up spending Francis came to India with the ding farewell to this earth on several months there, re-evangeliz- belief that “outside the Church there December 3, 1552. Shortly after his ing the Portuguese who had fallen is no salvation.” Many missionaries death his body was transferred to interpreted this to mean that non- away from their faith. Here he Goa where it remains to this day. Christians had no chance to be learned another language, Malayan, Francis Xavier was canonized in saved. When we are tempted to crit- a difficult task given his strenuous 1622 and his feast is kept on icize some of the missionaries who schedule of ministry. December 3. came to India we should always In Malaya Xavier learned about Japan and subsequently spent just over two years there, leaving behind “ We Missionaries are called to follow this some 2000 converts. He then great missionary, following in his footsteps returned to Goa after being appoint- ed provincial of the new Jesuit to work in any condition, in any circum- province of India. Here he began stances or situations.” plans to carry out missionary work 13 T remember this phrase. By today’s h e standards, many people would take OUR AUTHORS Xavier to task for his methods of C Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S., is the Bernardin Center Vatican II Professor u conversion. If they remember this p of Theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago and is a gen- phrase and how he understood it eral councilor of the Congregation. He is a member of the Cincinnati o f they might not be so quick to judge. Province. We must remember that Francis t Alberto Núñez, S.J., is a professor of theology at the University of h simply wanted the people of Asia to Deusta, Spain. e know the good news, the Gospel. N José Maria Borreguero Fernández, C.PP.S., a member of the Iberian Francis had great love for the people e Province, is on the staff of the Colegio Francisco Javier in Fuente de w who were suffering in the Pearl Cantos, Spain. C Fishery Coast. Many times he could o Michael Volkmer, C.PP.S., is pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, St. v not tolerate the deeds of his own fel- e low countrymen because they were Joseph, Missiouri, and a member of the Kansas City Province. n a treating the poor illiterate Indians so Peter Pradeep is a candidate of the Indian Vicariate. n t badly. A man who had no knowl- edge of oriental languages took great care and trouble to learn the languages of the people in order to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ. He believed that, in the words of his Master, that those poor people were like “sheep without a shepherd,” and thus he thought to become a good shepherd, as his Master would want. He worked tire- lessly with little sleep and comfort. He also prayed earnestly before all his missionary activity. The stirring story of his life challenges us even today. Even though we live in a very different world than Francis, he remains an inspiring patron for us to take as an example in our lives. We Missionaries are called to follow this great missionary, following in his footsteps to work in any condi- tion, in any circumstances or situa- tions. As the late Pope John Paul II put it, we are called “to go where others cannot or will not go and to undertake missions which seem to hold little hope of success.” Surely the inspiring life of our patron St. Francis Xavier embodies a generous and loving response to such a challenge. May his legacy encourage and challenge us as we also carry out the mission of Jesus 14 Christ in our world today. The altar of St. Francis Xavier in the church of the Gesù, Rome Continued from front page ☛ T “ Fr. Núñez also notes that Francis Xavier h us to dedicate an issue of The Cup of e the New Covenant to reflection on had a keen awareness that the mission he C u his life and work. had undertaken was not a personal one, p but one that he exercised in the company o f IN THIS ISSUE of others, as part of an apostolic commu- t We offer our readers a number of h nity.” e articles focusing on St. Francis Xavier from a variety of viewpoints N e and experiences. but one that he exercised in the com- Fr. Michael describes how the patron w Our lead article by Fr. Robert pany of others, as part of an apos- saint of his parish has influenced the C tolic community in the Society of life of the parish by means of prayers o Schreiter explores the missionary v and novenas. He mentions that in the dimension of the life and work of Jesus. e writing of this article he felt called to n Francis Xavier, highlighting those Fr. José María Borreguero offers us a do more reflection on how to bring n aspects relevant to our own C.PP.S. an interesting insight into how an to life St. Francis for his parish com- t Congregation today. Francis’s preoc- educational community in the munity. cupation was to bring the Gospel Iberian Province that bears the name message to the people in a way they of St. Francis Xavier finds inspira- Our closing article is written by one could understand. Fr. Schreiter iden- tion and a particular missionary sen- of our Indian students, Peter tifies several key elements in his sitivity in its formation programs Pradeep. He gives us a biographical missionary approach: the importance from the patron saint of the missions. sketch of the life and ministry of of learning the local languages; the Francis, especially referring to his emphasis on good works and preach- presence in India. Peter emphasizes ing words of love, rather than using “ We see reflected in the catechetical efforts of St. Francis coercive methods; acquiring a first- his life an example and the many sacrifices he endured hand knowledge of the people and for the sake of ministry as well as his their needs; respect for the local cus- of what Gaspar defense of the marginalized on the toms as long as they are not sinful; refers to when he Pearl Fishery Coast. He concludes an ability to be missionary to people writes: ‘Unlike stat- with a call to all of us not to judge St. of all categories; and an openness to ues, missionaries Francis Xavier by today’s mission- dialogue with other . ary criteria but within the historical A contribution from Fr. Alberto are not motionless. times in which he lived. Núñez, S.J. follows. He wrote a They serve wher- longer article that is to be published ever God wills to A PRAYERFUL MAN by the Xaverian Missionaries, who call them’.” graciously allowed us to excerpt a While the articles published in this portion for our publication. He issue certainly do not exhaust the richness of this dynamic missionary explores the vocational journey of He describes the practical initiatives priest, I hope they will spark in our St. Francis and particularly the great the community is involved in to raise “renouncements” which Francis the consciousness and level of soli- membership a renewed interest in made in his spiritual journey: to him- darity concerning social justice our Patron and contribute to our self, to nationalism, and to institu- issues and to help the students and ongoing reflection on our missionary tions. These renouncements led him teachers discover the missionary charism, one of the pillars of our to belong more fully to Christ, to the character of their baptismal commit- C.PP.S. Identity. As we look for church, and to humanity. The ment. ways of responding to the mandate renouncements and sense of belong- The following article is a reflection of the XVIII General Assembly to ing stemmed from a life rooted in by Fr. Michael Volkmer, pastor of St. engage on a process for arriving at a Jesus Christ. Fr. Núñez also notes Francis Xavier Church in St. Joseph, common theology of mission and to that Francis Xavier had a keen Missouri (USA). His parish is the respond to the Holy Father’s call to awareness that the mission he had only parish we have in the United “go where no one else wants to go,” undertaken was not a personal one, States which bears the saint’s name. we can find inspiration in Francis’s 15 T missionary experience. We see h e reflected in his life an example of “ It is through prayer that the missionary what Gaspar refers to when he C u writes: “Unlike statues, missionaries grows in communion with God and puts p are not motionless. They serve wher- o ever God wills to call them.” himself totally at God’s disposition.” f t As we reflect on what it means to be h a missionary, I would like to empha- e size that the missionary dimension General Assembly in Rome: “like a person who sings out, but at N “Mission is, first and last, God’s the same time being deaf, does not e of this dynamic man, who achieved hear the harmony.” (Letter 911) In w incredible results in just ten years of presence and activity in the world. another letter he writes: “God is the C missionary endeavors, was born of God is the source and end of mission o master to be served; it is always he his deep, personal relationship with and the role of missionaries is subor- v that does the work: I am merely an e Jesus Christ. He was formed in this dinate to, and at the service of, n instrument of his glory.” (Letter a aspect of his life by his companion God’s role… Only a contemplative n 1698) and mentor, Ignatius of Loyola, who spirit will enable us not to impose t Pope John Paul II in his encyclical schooled him in the “Spiritual our own agendas on the already Redemptoris Missio affirms that “the Exercises.” His prayer was one lived existing dialogue between God and true missionary is the saint.” Again in his daily occupations, in long people, but rather to enter into this our own St. Gaspar writes: “Let us hours of prayer at night, and when he dialogue with the heart and mind do great work for the glory of God was alone. It was that prayer which of Christ and thus discover God’s and let us become saints. May the gave him the strength and the trust to agenda.” love of God inflame our souls with confront the enormous difficulties St. Gaspar reminds us as well of the holy zeal, and lead us each day to the and loneliness which his extensive importance of prayer and warns us perfection that is proper for us.” missionary endeavors entailed. that to neglect these times of prayer could lead to the danger of being (Letter 300). It is through prayer that the mission- ary grows in communion with God and puts himself totally at God’s dis- position. Fr. Michael McCabe of the Next Issue: OCTOBER, 2006 Society of the Missionaries of Africa “C.PP.S. Brothers” said as much when he shared his reflections on mission at our last

Printed by Stilgraf Cesena - Italy The Cup of the New Covenant A Publication of the C.PP.S. General Curia Viale di Porta Ardeatina, 66 - 00154 Roma ITALY web site: http://www.mission-preciousblood.org

16