In a letter written to his colleague Saint Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556), we get a glimpse of the love of God and neighbor seizing Saint Francis Xavier (d. 1552) and the great challenge faced in China:
We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago. No Portuguese live here – the country is so utterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God’s Law.
Later, Saint Francis Xavier expresses is most pressing concern:
Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians.
Friends, every day we meet people who are discouraged, afraid, angry, and dissatisfied, far removed from the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. They don’t care how much we know – only that we care. We need not embark upon missionary endeavors to the Far East when there are so many to bring to Christ in our midst. It all being with our genuine love of God and sincere concern for others.
Saint Francis Xavier, pray for us!
