St. Xavier's Miracles and how the Church sees it
To answer non-Catholic criticism of Xavier's miracles, it is enough to appeal to the evidence of contemporary history. But Catholics have also another norm by which to pass judgment in the matter --the declarations of ecclesiastical authority. Here the evidence is most conclusive. For every official statement of the Church on the subject credits the Apostle of the Indies with thaumaturgic powers that are not only considered real, but so extraordinary that, with the possible exception of Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua, they are unique in the history of Christian hagiography.
Thus in the Brief of Beatification, issued in 1619 by Pope Paul V, he declares that "Francis Xavier, during his life as a priest, was endowed by the Lord with many and outstanding "multis et eximiis" gifts of virtue, of grace and of miracles."
In the Allocution of 1622, when Gregory XV in a private Consistory proposed to the Cardinals that Francis Xavier should be canonized, he said: "In as much as holiness of life, a reputation for miracles -- claritudo miraculorum -- and the desires of the people concur in their judgment on this remarkable man, the true Apostle of the Indies, it is expedient that he should be raised to the honours of sainthood." The Cardinals who assisted, individually, gave their judgment, in writing, on whether Xavier should be canonized. Their votes are only a paragraph each, some less than fifty words, yet all of them, and mostly in explicit terms, refer to his "claritudo miraculorum" as a sure sign that the Holy Spirit desires His servant to be honoured as a saint.
According to Cardinal a Monte, "He shone with the splendor of many miracles." And Bandini, "He drew the hardened hearts of men to the true faith by innumerable miracles." Cardinal Ginnasii, "By the power of God, he healed the sick, raised the dead, spoke with the gift of tongues." Cardinal Millini, "He was resplendent with so many and such great miracles that I believe he may without hesitation be entered by Your Holiness in the catalog of the saints".
In the Bull of Canonization issued by Urban VIII on August 6, 1623, the miracles of St. Francis make up the bulk of the nineteen pages, in folio, of the papal docuмent. Regarding the phenomena which happened during the saint's life, the Pope says, in general, that "He was found worthy to be richly endowed with apostolic charismata; the evidence of his apostolate being manifested... in signs and prodigies and powers." Then follows a careful description of eighteen miracles in the life of St. Francis which the Church accepted as authentic:
Omitting those already mentioned, the first phenomenon noted in the docuмent was the gift of rapture. While celebrating Mass, Xavier was often so rapt in ecstasy that those in attendance could with difficulty rouse him back to normal consciousness.
At other times during the Holy Sacrifice, he was seen raised from the ground a cubit and more so that "while seeing the greatness of the miracle, the people might acknowledge the sanctity of the servant of God."
After his arrival in the Indies, one of the "more outstanding prodigies which he wrought for the edification of the faithful," occurred when a mob of pagan Badages made a surprise attack on a Christian village, intending to kill the inhabitants. But the mob was put to flight when Francis went out to meet them, accompanied by a mysterious figure whose majesty and splendor terrified the assailants.
At Comorin, when the pagans were not moved by his words, Xavier asked that a tomb which had been sealed the day before should be opened. Then indicating that this would be a sign of God's approval of Christianity, he called to the body to rise. The dead man came to life, with hundreds of natives embracing the faith as a consequence.
In the same city on another occasion, Francis healed a beggar with ulcerous legs when in a burst of heroism he drank the putrid water in which the running sores had been washed.
Also in east India, Xavier brought back to life a young man who had died of a pestilential fever, and was being carried to the cemetery.
In the city of Combutura (Coimbatore), a boy had fallen into a deep well and drowned. His body was later brought up to the surface. Francis prayed over the dead child and then, "taking it by the hand, ordered it in the name of Jesus Christ to rise. Immediately the boy returned to life."
In Japan, a merchant, blind for years, was given back his sight when Francis recited the Gospels and made the sign of the cross over his head.
On one occasion, a small crucifix which the missionary had lost in the ocean was restored to him by a sea crab when he reached the shore. Thre are some paintings on this in the Bom Jesu basilica in Old Goa.
Again out at sea during a storm, the landing boat of the ship on which he was sailing was torn from its mooring and lost in the waves. Three days later, in answer to Xavier's prayers, the boat floated back to the ship and rested alongside the hulk, ready for landing, as though nothing had happened.
As examples of his prophetic powers, Francis predicted the fate of two ships sailing out of port -- that one would be destroyed in a storm and the other, a smaller and older vessel, would reach its destination in safety. At another time, as he arrived at the altar for Mass, he suddenly turned to the people and asked them to pray for the soul of a wine merchant who had just died, at a distance of twelve days' journey away. He also promised a generous benefactor that God would reward him by telling him the time of his death. Years later, in apparent good health, the man was suddenly forewarned and died in the peace of God.
Since his canonization in 1623, a series of new honours has been conferred on Francis Xavier by the Holy See, culminating in his declaration in 1922 as the heavenly patron of all Catholic Missions. And consistently the Roman Pontiffs, in their letters and decrees, have emphasized in a singular way his extraordinary gift of miracles and prophecies.
Thus Alexander VII, shortly after Xavier's canonization, authorized the following insertion to be made in the Roman Martyrology for the third of December: ". . . the Apostle of the Indies was conspicuous in the number of infidels he converted to Christ, and in the greatness of his miracles, especially in raising the dead to life and in the spirit of prophecy".
Pope Pius XI, on the third centenary of St. Francis' canonization, described the "Heavenly Patron of the Propagation of the Faith" as one who, "in the interest of souls, many times traversed vast expanses of land and sea, was the first to bring the name of Christ to the nation of Japan, suffered many dangers and underwent incredible trials, administered the saving waters of Baptism to countless souls, and performed innumerable miracles of every kind (infinita omne genus portenta)".
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In the light of all the evidence, therefore, scientific as seen in the canonical processes, and authoritative as shown in the statements of the Church, it is impossible to deny to Francis Xavier the title which posterity has given to him, of "the wonder-worker of modern Christianity." The miracles which he worked, the Bollandists conclude, are disconcerting only to those who deny the supernatural. To anyone else, they are a fulfillment of Christ's promise to His disciples: "In My name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak in new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall get well."
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(Compiled by)
Bernhard Thamm
Bremen, Germany
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Topic: MIRACLES OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER ( FEASTDAY DECEMBER 3RD) (Read 2786 times)