The Advent saints feed us a steady diet of virtue, missionary zeal, evangelistic fervor and just plain ol' exciting stories.

Although it's late in the day and the post is short St. Francis Xavier must be mentioned!  Since morning mass he's been the topic of the day around our house: his friendship with St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits; his fearless travels into unknown territory (India, Japan); the some 30,000 or so souls he baptized into the Body of Christ; his desire to spread the Gospel to China and his death before  reaching its shores.

St. Francis Xavier is just one many Jesuits who gifted the world with the treasure of his letters and/or diaries.  These chronicles of heroism are inspiring and just the sort of encouragement that spurs us on to wait with courage for the coming of the Savior. 

Here's a letter from Japan.  Lots of interesting tidbits in there including his desire to travel on to China:

I am beginning to have great hopes that God will soon provide free entrance to China, not only to our Society, but to religious of all Orders, that a large field may be laid open to pious and holy men of all sorts, in which there may be great room for devotion and zeal, in recalling men who are now lost to the way of truth and salvation. I again and again beg all who have a zeal for the spreading of the Christian faith to help by their holy sacrifices and prayers these poor efforts of mine, that I may throw open an ample field to their pious labors....

Please be sure to mention the missions and missionaries throughout the world tonight in your prayers!