Advent Saint

St. Francis Xavier, a close friend of St. Ignatius Loyola and one of the first Jesuits, traveled to the Far East: India, China and Japan, to bring the Good News of the coming of Christ. Like John the Baptist, he was a herald, one to prepare and proclaim, and like the Baptist, sacrificed his life for the sake of Jesus. His was a perpetual Advent, as he preached and waited for a response, as he helped people move from darkeness to light and spent himself lowering mountains and filling in valleys. Never daunted by the challenges posed by languages and customs foreign to him, he pressed on fearlessly and courageously until a fever took his life at the young age of 46. Even today he serves as a model and guide, not only for missionaries, but for all of us. It's early in Advent but by the third week, when weariness might be on the verge of overtaking us, we can picture St. Francis preaching by word and deed, practicing a new language, and eating foods he never heard of. As nothing save death stopped him, so let nothing stop us in our Advent practices and in a deeper living of our faith.'
I will be in West Virginia Saturday through Tuesday, giving a day of recollection to the faculty of Bishop Donahue High School, so I cannot guarantee a new slice of daily bread, but recommend looking back over some of the ones that you particularly liked. Google St. Nicholas on Monday for inspiration. Mr. Chris Sullivan will offer a reflection on December 8th. You'll not starve!
Bro. Rene