S E N T T O T H E W O R L D F O R T H E G R E A T E R G L O R Y O F G O D

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND THE MISSIONARY CHURCH

CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD TODAY

EARLY HISTORY OF MISSIONS

• The Apostolic Period• The Twelve, St. Paul, and others mentioned in Gospels

associated with traditional missions from Spain (St. James) to India (St. Thomas); Ukraine (St. Andrew) to Ethiopia (St. Matthew)

EARLY HISTORY OF MISSIONS

• The Middle Ages• Missionary

monasticism throughout Europe

• E.g. St. Patrick (Ireland), Augustine of Canterbury (England), St. Boniface (Germany), Sts. Cyril & Methodius (Slavs)

CHRISTENDOM IN 1500

• Christianity in 1500 was beleaguered• In east by Ottoman incursions on Hapsburg Holy Roman

Empire • Internally through rising discontent with abuse of power

and prestige

• Few elements to unite members of faith in common cause• Rising discontent takes form in 1. secular humanism of

the Renaissance and 2. Protestant Reformation

A NEW WORLD

• Age of Exploration opening with the Portuguese navigators and Spanish crown conquistadors create new opportunities for Christian expansion• With each voyage of a Catholic-sponsored explorer,

missionary priests follow• First Franciscans and Dominicans

• To West Indies and Mexico with Spanish; Africa, India, and East Indies with Portuguese

• Later Jesuits would follow under both flags with greater success• Methods shift from importing European culture carrying Christian

doctine to inculturation of Christian doctrine into local customs and language

• INCULTURATION = dynamic relationship or living exchange b/w Gospel and local cultures, mutually transforming expression• http://www.silk.net/RelEd/inculturation.htm

MISSONS – SENT FORTH

• Major Events in Christianity - 16th Century• Christianity takes root in outposts of traders and locals

living in ports• Usually more popular among the disenfranchised with little to

lose from self-exclusion from society• Some missionaries, like DeNobili and Ricci have success with

elite and intelligensia through adaptation and inculturation

• By 1600, Christianity has outpost communities on 5 of 7 continents with rapidly growing numbers of adherents to faith• Localization of communities results in leadership growth

in some areas (India, SE Asia) and European hierarchy in others (Africa, Japan)

Examples of Non-Western Christianity

• Christianity in India has roots as deep as 2nd century tradition, with several re-encounters through missions from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant communities• http://indianchristianity.org/

• Japanese Christianity is limited to small, but very devout population today after repression of centuries• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,7951

98-1,00.html

• African Christianity flourishes as location of greatest growth in the world• http://www.sacbc.org.za/Site/index.php?option=com_con

tent&task=view&id=196&Itemid=194

FRANCIS XAVIER

•http://dpto.educacion.navarra.es/elmundodejavier/index_uk.htm

• Website with full interactive history, maps, reflection, achievements of St. Francis Xavier

JOURNEY OF FRANCIS XAVIER