Relying on the Lord’s Merciful Heart

The following is a reflection written by St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis Xavier celebrates his feast day on December 3rd. He was one of the first members of the Society of Jesus and preached in India and Japan. 

Lord God, have mercy on us. Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Holy Spirit, have mercy on us…. True God, as a good and faithful Christian, I confess from my will and heart the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three Persons, one sole God. I firmly believe, without doubting, all that our holy mother, the Church of Rome, believes and teaches; and I also promise, as a true Christian, to live and die in the holy Catholic faith of my Lord Jesus Christ. And when at the hour of my death I shall not be able to speak, I now, for that moment of my death, profess with all my heart my belief in my Lord Jesus Christ…. God says: “Those who keep these Ten Commandments will go to paradise.” I beseech you, my Lord Jesus Christ, that you give me the grace today, on this day, in all the time of my life, to keep these Ten Commandments.

I beseech you, my Lady, Saint Mary, that you may deign to ask your blessed Son, Jesus Christ, for me so that he may grant me the grace today, on this day, in all the time of my life, to keep these Ten Commandments. I beseech you, my Lord Jesus Christ, that you may forgive me the sins which I have committed this day, in all the days of my life. I beseech you, my Lady, Saint Mary, Queen of Angels, that you obtain pardon for me from your blessed Son Jesus Christ for all the sins which I have committed today, on this day, in all the days of my life. God greet thee, Queen, Mother of Mercy, sweetness of our life, our hope…. Pray for us that we may be worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ. I beg and beseech my Lady, Saint Mary, and all the saints that they may pray for me to my Lord Jesus Christ, so that he may be willing to pardon my present sins…and those committed in the past that have been forgotten; and that from now on he may grant me his grace to keep me from sinning and bring me to enjoy the glory of paradise. Amen

St. Fracnis Xavier, pray for us