“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength and knowledge.” Isaiah 11
This year the community at Xavier High School reflects on the Xaverian value of zeal; an enthusiastic commitment to the mission of the Catholic Church. “Zeal enables us to share God’s love as nourishment for others, as bread that is broken through a life of gospel service. It unifies the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools in single-minded devotion and intense passion for the formation of the whole person, bringing about the more abundant life proclaimed by Jesus Christ.” Zeal lead St. Francis Xavier, whose feast day we celebrate today, to become the greatest missionary since Paul the Apostle. His tireless work of evangelization epitomized his zeal, his “single-minded devotion and intense passion” for preaching and conversion.
Today, Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools bestow the Theodore James Ryken Award on a member who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the ideals of Xaverian education by living out the charism of the Brothers and integrating core values, including zeal. As we await the birth of Christ, may we all reflect the zeal of Francis Xavier in our daily lives.
O God, you gave your Church St. Francis Xavier to preach the Gospel to those who did not know you. Let us share in his zeal. Inflame our hearts with the power of your Spirit, knowing that nothing great is achieved without much labor, effort, and zeal. Amen.
Brother Thomas Ryan, CFX