St. Francis Xavier was a 16th-century Jesuit priest and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus. He was known for his missionary work in Asia, where he helped to spread Christianity to the EaSt. Today, he is considered a patron saint of missionaries and his feast day is celebrated on December 3rd.
The St. Francis Xavier prayer is a powerful invocation that seeks his intercession and guidance, asking for strength and courage to carry out God’s mission in the world. It is a reminder of the importance of evangelization and spreading the message of Christ to all corners of the earth.
Historical Context
Saint: Francis Xavier
Feast Day: December 3
Patronage: Missionaries, foreign missions, sailors
Era: 1506-1552 AD
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 1
O God,
Who was pleased to gather to your Church
the peoples of the East
by the preaching and miracles of St Francis Xavier,
mercifully grant that we,
who honour his glorious merits,
may also imitate the example of his virtues,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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St. Francis Xavier Prayer 2
Eternal God,
Creator of all things,
remember that You alone created the souls of unbelievers,
which You have made according to Your Image and Likeness.
Behold, O Lord, how to Your dishonour
many of them are falling into Hell.
Remember, O Lord, Your Son Jesus Christ,
Who so generously shed His Blood and suffered for them.
Do not permit that Your Son, Our Lord,
remain unknown by unbelievers,
but, with the help of Your Saints and the Church,
the Bride of Your Son,
remember Your mercy,
forget their idolatry and infidelity,
and make them know Him,
Who You have sent, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord,
Who is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection,
through Whom we have been saved and redeemed,
and to Whom is due glory forever.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 3
My God,
I love thee; not because I hope for heaven thereby,
nor yet because who love Thee not are lost eternally.
Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me upon the cross embrace;
for me, didst bear the nails and spear,
and manifold disgrace.
And griefs and torments numberless
and sweat of agony;
even death itself, and all for one
Who was thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ
should I not love thee well,
not for the hope of winning heaven,
or of escaping hell.
not with the hope of gaining aught,
nor seeking a reward,
but as thyself has loved me,
O ever-loving Lord!
Even so, I love Thee and will love
and in thy praise will sing,
solely because thou art my God,
and my eternal king.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 4
O my Lord Jesus,
Teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as you deserve;
to give, and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to ask for rest;
to labour, seeking no reward,
save that of knowing that I do Thy will.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 5
Lord Jesus,
You have sent us to proclaim the Gospel to all nations,
and have promised to always remain with us.
Look upon this family gathered on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier.
Pour out the abundance of your Spirit upon each one of our brothers and sisters
especially on those who are called to ponder upon the journey made
and to plan what has still to be done,
so that we may offer a more authentic service to mission.
Grant that we may ever be faithful to the Gospel
and to give an answer to the hopes
which the world places before your church today.
Stay with us, Lord,
when we gather around the table of your Bread and your Word,
and when we walk the paths of the world side by side with our brothers and sisters.
Grant that we all find ourselves in heaven, our homeland,
after having been members of the same family on earth.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 6
O devoted Servant of God,
Saint Francis Xavier,
your heart was burning with love for Jesus.
Impelled by his love,
you went from country to country
and spent yourself unto death
to proclaim the name of Jesus
and the good news of salvation.
That is why the Father filled you with glory in heaven
and preserved your body from corruption here on Earth.
Filled with joy for these unique gifts,
we join you in praising the Father.
And Now we ask your intercession for ourselves.
(Each one makes ones’s intention silently)
We ask you to obtain for us the fulfilment of these desires
if they are pleasing to the Father.
And for everything together with you
we praise the Father, through Jesus in the Spirit.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Francis Xavier Prayer 7
O devoted Servant of God,
Saint Francis Xavier,
your heart was burning with love for Jesus.
Impelled by his love,
you went from country to country
and spent yourself unto death
to proclaim the name of Jesus
and the good news of salvation.
That is why the Father filled you with glory in heaven
and preserved your body from corruption here on Earth.
Filled with joy for these unique gifts,
we join you in praising the Father.
And Now we ask your intercession for ourselves.
(Mention your request here…)
We ask you to obtain for us the fulfillment of these desires
if they are pleasing to the Father.
And for everything together with you
we praise the Father, through Jesus in the Spirit.
Amen.
