A charge to go and preach to all nations was given by Christ to His Apostles. This commission has been faithfully carried out down to this present time; and in every age God raises men and women who are filled with His Holy Spirit to carry out the important function of bringing the people of the nations to the fold of Christ. This conversion of nations according to the divine commission is the prerogative of the Catholic Church. Among those who in the sixteenth century laboured most successfully was St. Francis Xavier, whose feast we celebrate today.

As the early Christians were filled with joy, unflagging courage and zeal in proclaiming the Gospel so are we challenged to do the same. Some people nowadays console themselves by saying that things are not as easy as they used to be. History tells us that the early Christians did not have it easy during the time of the Roman Empire. The situation then was not conducive to the Gospel message! Thus, the early Christians had to struggle for justice and the defense of human dignity. And in every period of history, we find the presence of human weakness, self-absorption, complacency and selfishness, to say nothing of the concupiscence which preys upon us all. Therefore, let us not say, that things are harder today; they are simply different, (cf. JG No. 263).