The Relic of St. Francis Xavier

(right side of the alter)

　

　

                 

 

This relic of St. Francis Xavier was enshrined at Kanda Catholic Church on the 3rd of December 2000, in the 2000th Jubilee year of the Nativity of Christ.

     Thanks to the kind assistance of Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi, Kanda Church, which is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, now houses this relic. The pedestal of the reliquary, shaped in the form of Kanda Church, bears the Latin inscription "Here is a relic of St. Francis Xavier, May the spirit of St. Xavier stay with those who pray in front of this relic!"

  On 3rd December, 2000 which was the Grand Jubilee, equivalent to the 2000th year since Jesus Christ was born, the relic of St. Francis Xavier were enshrined at Kanda Catholic Church　which commemorates him as the patron saint, thanks to Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi.  It is kept with care in a monstrance on a shrine situated on the altar at the right hand side.　 (a picture above)

  This church was named after St, Francis Xavier because it aimed to become a base for starting missionary work again after the Meiji government had lifted their interdiction for propagandizing Christianity.  Enshrining the relic in the final year of the 20th century may help us refresh our eagerness for missionary work in the 21st century.

　

   We enshrined theCatholic  relic at this church hoping that everybody who offers prayer in front of the relic of the Saint could, on leaving the church, become another Xavier　and be a witness to the Good News of Christ.

　

  Kanda Church is anxiously waiting, in an atmosphere of silence for everybody who offers prayer to develop missionary work in the 21st century

　

Prayer for St, Francis Xavier (under preparation)