Today is the feast of Saint Francis Xavier, probably the greatest missionary in the history of the Church since Saint Paul.  He was a friend and fellow classmate of St. Ignatius of Loyola and one of the original men in what would eventually become the Jesuit order.   One day,  St. Ignatius told him that he sensed Francis was being called to the mission field.  So great was his zeal that he went home, repaired a hole in his extra pants and was ready to leave the next day!  Through his cooperation with the Holy Spirit, Francis was personally responsible for converting and baptizing thousands of people and he is a great intercessor for us as we work to help our families toward deeper conversion.

From today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.