When we look at the life of the messengers who model God’s love, it is difficult to find the right words to describe them. For sure, our portrayal will always be limited, so one of the best ways to get involved in their lives is to draw them from reliable sources. Our Xaverian Constitutions define our patron saint, Saint Francis Xavier, with these two characteristics; one ‘who worked and suffered for the spreading of the Kingdom of God’. In reality, these features are for every Christian; hence these are human realities. Furthermore, it can also be equated to life itself. Then and now these two things are always present in the life of every missionary.
The work is nothing else than that contribution to God`s creation itself. As the missionary work is the spreading of the Good News, this can be seen as the work of recreation of everything in Christ. Looking at Saint Francis and thinking about this dimension of life, one can also realize how we can contribute to the unceasing divine activity to humanity. Francis emphasizes in one of the letters how God is working through him: “All these dangers and discomforts, when borne for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, are treasuries filled with heavenly consolations, so much so that [...] one might lose one’s eyesight from weeping so abundantly the sweetest tears of joy” (Letter to the Society at Rome, 21 January 1548). He cried for joy when beholding God’s work. Even when he gives instructions for his confreres in the mission, he clearly pictures out what he himself did not so long time before. The fatigue of spreading the Kingdom was for him great solace at all times. ‘May God our Lord grant us in time the gift to perceive his holy will. He wishes that we should be ready to fulfil it whenever he manifests it to us and lets us feel it within our souls. To fare well in this life, we must be pilgrims ready to go wherever we can serve God our Lord the more.’ (To Fr. Francisco Mansilhas, April 7, 1545)
The second definition of Saint Francis Xavier from our Constitutions embraces the reality of suffering, a part of the many bad experiences on traveling, the biggest challenges are on land. Once more, from a letter to St. Ignatius, we can capture the many trials he experienced and the recommendations for those who will come after him. “On the basis of my experience of Japan, I would like to offer some advice to the Fathers who will go there to care for souls, especially those who will go to the Universities. Two things are necessary: first of all, they should have an experience of trials and persecution in the world, and possess a great knowledge of self, since in Japan they will perhaps be persecuted far more than they ever were in Europe. It is a cold land with a lack of clothing. They do not sleep on beds because there are none. There is a scarcity of food. They despise foreigners, especially those who go to preach the Law of God, and this resistance persists until they discover God themselves. The priests of Japan will always persecute them. I fear that those who go to the Universities will not be able to take the things necessary for Mass because there are thieves everywhere. Among the sufferings and tribulations there is also the lack of consolation of the Mass and the spiritual strength it gives. This will give you an idea of the virtues needed by the Fathers who will go to the Universities in Japan.” (From letter to Fr. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, from Goa, 9 April 1552). The necessary things to face the challenges of life that every missionary needs to have inside—"experience of trials and persecution in the world and a great knowledge of self"—are the keys that can open gates to overcome the things outside.
Our Constitution's text clearly states that: “By virtue of our vocation, a special bond unites us to the Apostles and to our Patron, Saint Francis Xavier, who worked and suffered for the spreading of the Kingdom of God.” (C50) The work and the suffering are integral parts of the missionary life. We need to underscore this reflection, calling to mind the words of St. Guido M. Conforti: “Let us take inspiration from the example of Francis Xavier and let us always remember that if we wish to be worthy Apostles of the Gospel, we too must belong entirely to God, our neighbor, and ourselves. In this way alone shall we be able to give to God all the glory that is due to Him.” (July-August, 1923. “La parola del padre”; Pagine Confortiane, 339–340).
