St. Ignatius Loyola receives St. Francis Borgia as Duke of Gandia

SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA
Confessor

SIMPLE / WHITE
Francis Borgia (1510-72), who has been called the "second founder of the Jesuits," began his public career as Duke of Gandia and Viceroy of Catalonia at the court of his friend and relative Emperor Charles V. He was the widowed father of eight before he entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 40. Always courteous, humble, and generous, he was given charge of all Jesuit missions abroad, and in 1565 he was elected General of the order. Working always in closest co-operation and friendship with Pope St. Pius V and St. Charles Borromeo, he shares their stature as a great figure of the Catholic Reform. Though he longed to go as an apostle to India, he wrote to another would-be missioner: "You will find your India wherever the Society needs you."

Mass of an ABBOT, except

COLLECT
O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the model of true humility and the reward of the humble. Let us share Your contempt for worldly honor, as Your blessed confessor Francis did, so that we may also share with this saint the glory of being Your follower; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

SECRET 
May the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed Francis. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed Francis protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through our Lord . . .