Commemoration: Wednesday in the First Week of Advent – III Classis
“For with the heart, we believe unto justice; but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:10)
On this Wednesday within the first week of Advent, Holy Mother Church sets before us, in a commemorative spirit, the life and zeal of Sanctus Franciscus Xaverius, the great missionary confessor whose labors in India and the East bore abundant fruit for the Kingdom of God. Providentially, the Epistle and Gospel of his feast harmonize with the Advent theme of Christ’s coming—not only in Bethlehem, but in the hearts of men through the preaching of the Gospel.
The Epistle (Romans 10:10–18) speaks of the interior assent of faith (“with the heart, we believe”) and the necessary external proclamation (“with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation”). St. Paul builds this upon the universal call of the Gospel:
“How then shall they call on Him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe Him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?” (v.14)
This missionary logic resounds deeply in the heart of St. Francis Xavier, whose life was consumed with preaching Christ where He was yet unknown. The Church Fathers—those ancient voices who guide us in the true faith—echo the same conviction that fides ex auditu (“faith comes from hearing”) demands apostolic zeal.
The Fire of the Word: Patristic Witness
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, declares:
“Preaching is the wing of the Spirit: it quickens the soul, raises the mind, and plants the cross in the heart of the hearer.”
(Chrysostom, Hom. on Romans 17)
In other words, salvation comes not merely through private belief, but through the public ministry of the Word—an apostolic work which reaches its high expression in the life of St. Francis Xavier.
St. Ambrose likewise insists on the necessity of sending preachers to the nations:
“Christ is the Truth that must be proclaimed. The voice of the preacher makes Christ present to the Gentiles; the Word is not bound by place but goes forth as light upon the mountains.”
(Commentary on Romans)
Such was the mission of the great Confessor whose commemoration we keep: to bear the “unbound Word” across oceans, cultures, and languages, driven by the conviction that faith comes through hearing, and that none can be saved who have not known the Christ who saves.
The Gospel: “Go ye into the whole world” (Mark 16:15–18)
From the heart of the Risen Christ, we hear the command that governed St. Francis’ entire life:
“Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
The clarity of Our Lord’s words to the Eleven reveals both a commission and a prophecy. His words are not merely an encouragement to human efforts, but an assurance of divine accompaniment.
“These signs shall follow them that believe: in my name they shall cast out devils… they shall lay hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17–18)
The Acts of the Apostles and the lives of the saints bear witness to this truth. Indeed, many contemporaries of St. Francis Xavier attested to miraculous occurrences during his missions—healings, the gift of tongues, and even raising of the dead. Yet, his greatest miracle, like that of the Apostles, was not healing the body but converting hearts through the power of the Gospel.
A True Apostle in the Spirit of the Early Church
In St. Francis Xavier, we find a reflection of that early apostolic fire. Like the Apostles, he left all. Like St. Paul, he became “all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22). Like Christ Himself, he had “compassion on the multitudes.”
St. Gregory the Great teaches that the true preacher must be both contemplative and active:
“The preacher must first rest on the mountain with God before descending to preach among men. For he must drink deeply from the fountain of truth, lest he pour out empty words.”
(Hom. in Ez., lib. I, hom. 7)
Indeed, Francis Xavier’s life of prayer sustained his mission. The man who catechized thousands also spent nights in solitude, praying for the grace of conversion for his flocks. He knew, as the Fathers knew, that the voice of the preacher must be preceded by the silence of adoration.
Advent and Mission: Awaiting Christ by Making Him Known
In this Advent season, as we await the coming of the Lord, the commemoration of St. Francis Xavier invites us to ponder not only Christ’s coming to us, but our going out to Him, as we help prepare His way in the hearts of others.
The lesson of this holy Confessor is clear: the light of Christ must be shared, and we, too, are sent. Whether through missionary labors abroad or fidelity in our daily vocations, we must echo the words of Isaiah (quoted by St. Paul):
“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace.” (Rom. 10:15)
May the intercession of St. Francis Xavier inflame in us the same apostolic spirit—a readiness to proclaim Christ, to suffer for Him, and to rejoice when the lost are found.
Collect of St. Francis Xavier (from the traditional Roman Missal):
Deus, qui ad animarum salutem sanctum Franciscum praedicationis gloria decorasti: concede, quaesumus; ut ejus meritis et exemplo, evangelicae vocationi fideliter semper demus obsequium.
O God, who through the preaching of blessed Francis didst win many souls to Thy Church: grant, we beseech Thee, that we who venerate his glorious merits may also imitate the example of his virtues.
Amen.