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St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552)
Image Courtesy: –Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Born in Northern Spain, Basque Province and given the birth name Francisco (Francis) de Jasso y Azpilicueta, Francis studied and taught Philosophy at the University of Paris according to SQPN and planned a career as a Professor. Francis’ friend St. Ignatius of Loyola (Feast Day: 31 July) after converting Francis to Christianity, he would convince him to use his natural abilities to spread the Gospel.

In 1534 Francis would join St. Ignatius of Loyola newly formed group ‘The Company of Jesus’ today known as the ‘Society of Jesus’ (Jesuits) which received Papal approval in 1540 Together at Montmarte, they took vows of poverty, chastity and apostolic service according to the direction of Pope Paul III (1534-1549)

From Venice, where Francis was Ordained a Priest in 1537 Fr. Francis Xavier, went on to Lisbon and from there, set sail to the East Indies landing in India Gao — While in Gao awaiting on a ship according to SQPN Fr. Francis Xavier witnessed for Christ on the streets, cared for the sick and taught children their Catechism, it is said that he walked through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. During Fr. Francis Xavier stay in Gao, its reported that he was able to convert the entire city to Christianity. For the next 10 yrs he labored to bring Christianity to such widely scattered people as the Hindu’s, the Malayans and Japanese. Fr. Francis Xavier would however spend much of that time in  India and served as Provincial of the newly established ‘Jesuit’ province of India.

Wherever Fr. Francis Xavier went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and tough accommodations. Fr. Francis Xavier would spend countless hours caring and ministering to the needs of the sick and poor but especially to those with Leprosy. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but as we know from his letters, Fr. Francis Xavier was always filled with joy.

Fr. Francis Xavier went through the islands of Malaysia and then to Japan, where he learned enough Japanese to speak to people, preach, baptize Christians and to establish missions for those who followed him. From Japan, he had dreams of going to China to minister but this was never realized as he died this month in 1552 at China, Sancian Island, where St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church was built in his honor.

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(uCatholic) In 363 during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate, Apronianus was appointed as the Governor of Rome, the era marked the start of brutal persecutions of Christians — Bibiana and her sister Demetria came from a devout Catholic family though were orphaned at an early age.

Bibiana and Demetria, devoted their lives to piety, fasting and prayer in the home they lived, their steradfast faith in Jesus, caught the attention of Governor Apronianus, who summoned the sisters before him.

Demetria, declared her faith in Christ Jesus and mysteriously died on the spot, leaving her sister Bibiana to face further trial and persecution.

Bibiana was handed over to a merciless woman named Rufina who tried unsuccessfully to corrupt Bibiana, despite facing both physical abuse and temptation, Bibiana’s faith in Jesus remained unshaken. Governor Apronianus frustrated by Bibiana’s resilience, ordered more severe punishment of her, binding Bibiana to a pillar, savagely having her beaten with lead weighted scourges until she finally succumbed to her injuries. Throughout the torture, Bibiana maintained a joyful spirit.

• Jesus: “Do not fear those who kill the body but can not kill the soul, rather fear Him (Almighty God) who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.” –Matthew 10:28

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Blessed Charles de Foucauld, Martyr for Christ (1858-1916)
Image Courtesy: Salt of the Earth

(Franciscan Media) Born in France Strasbourg, into an aristocratic family, Charles was orphaned by the age of 6 he and his sister Mary, according to SQPN were raised by their devout Christian Grandmother and studied from 1872-1875 at the Jesuit schools in Nancy and Paris.

Charles as a teenager came to reject his Catholic heritage and in 1876 entered the French Army Saint Cyr Military Academy, in 1880 Charles would join the 4th Hussar regiment and his unit was sent to Algeria, Charles would take along his mistress Mimi. When Charles declined to give Mimi up, he was discharged from the Army in 1881 for misconduct and moved back to France Evian.

When Charles eventually broke it off with Mimi he reenlisted into the Army (during the revolt of Bon Mama in Algeria, South Oran) Charles would reenlist into the Army and fought during the 8 mo rebellion. During this period of time, Charles became so fascinated with the Arabs he met, when he could obtain a leave-of-absence to study their beliefs, he would resign his commission.

During the next 15 months Charles would spend time learning Arabic and Hebrew — In May, 1885 Charles received the ‘Gold Medal’ of the French Geographic Society for his work. Charles subsequently began an exploration of Algeria and Tunisia from Sept 1885 to January 1886 and following, returned to Paris to begin working on his book Reconnaissance au Maroc (available at Amazon.com) which was published in 1888

Charles lived simply, sleeping on the floor, spending hours each day in prayer at home and in Church. From November 1888 to February 1889 Charles visited and explored Israel, during much of the rest of 1889 he would spend time at spiritual retreats.

On the 16 January, 1890 Charles would join the Trappist Monks at the Monastery of Notre Dame-des-Neigis, taking the name Brother Marie-Alberic, he would subsequently move to the Monastery in Syria at Akbes in June–In October 1896 Charles was sent to Rome to study but after 3 months, it was clear that his heart wasn’t into being there and he was released from his vows. During the subsequent year, Charles would make another pilgrimage to Israel on foot before returning to France to begin studying for the Priesthood.

In June 1901 Charles was Ordained at Viviers, he would subsequently move to the Oran region of Morocco to establish a base and would found an Order to evangelize Morocco — In 1902 Fr. Charles de Foucauld, began a program of purchasing Slaves in order to free them. In 1904 he began to evangelize nomadic Tauregs in the area of south and central Sahara great desert.

Fr. Charles  de Foucauld would translate the Gospels into the language of the Tauregs, in November 1903 he would translate Tauareg poetry to French and would spend years compiling a Taureg lexicon. In March 1909 Fr. Charles de Faucauld succeeded in founding the ‘Union of Brothers and Sisters of the Sacred Heart’ to evangelize the French Colonies in Africa.

Martyred for Christ: Fr. Charles de Foucauld was killed on this date in 1916 when he got caught in the middle of combat in Algeria between the Army of France and Arab insurrectionists.

Fr. Charles de Foucauld was Venerated by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2001 and Beatified in November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI

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