Today the Church honors St. Francis Borgia, a nobleman turned Jesuit who, after suffering great personal losses, gave himself fully to God’s service.
His story reminds us that no matter what we lose, we can always gain everything in Christ when we surrender in love.
Prayer of the Day
Lord God,
Through the intercession of St. Francis Borgia, whose life turned from wealth and position to humility and service, grant that we too may be willing to surrender all earthly attachments for the love of You.
Help us to seek Your Kingdom above all things, to serve others generously in imitation of your Son, and to rejoice in the treasures of heaven rather than those of this world.
Through Christ our Lord.Amen.
Mass Reading of the Day
First Reading: Galatians 3:1-5
St. Paul cautions the Galatians: did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by faith in what you heard? He emphasizes that God gives the Spirit on the basis of faith, not merit or human effort.
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.”
This psalm praises God’s mercy, remembering His promise of redemption and faithfulness to His covenant.
Gospel: Luke 11:5-13
Jesus teaches about persistence in prayer: ask, seek, knock — and the door will be opened. He assures us that God, our Father, gives good gifts to those who ask, especially the Holy Spirit.
Reflection
The readings today invite us to live by faith (not by obligation), to trust in God’s mercy, and to persist in prayer. St. Francis Borgia’s life mirrors this — when worldly security dissolved, his faith and prayer sustained him and led him to heroic service
Saint of the Day: St. Francis Borgia (1510–1572)
Francisco de Borja (later Borgia) was born into Spanish nobility in 1510. He served in the royal court under Emperor Charles V, rising to high rank. He had wealth, prestige, and a noble lineage.
But life changed dramatically when his wife died and his two children passed away. Struck by grief and the impermanence of worldly honors, Francis underwent a deep spiritual conversion. He renounced his titles, gave away his wealth, and entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) — a newer religious order dedicated to serving the Church.
Within the Society, he humbly labored, prayed, and served. Eventually, he became the third Superior General of the Jesuits, guiding the order with wisdom and holiness. Under his leadership, the Jesuit mission expanded, colleges were founded, and the spiritual formation of the order was strengthened.
Francis Borgia died on September 30, 1572. He is remembered as a model of generosity, humility, and radical conversion: a man who traded crowns for the Cross, and serves as a reminder that everything belongs to God.
10 Facts About St. Francis Borgia
- Born October 28, 1510 in Gandía, Spain.
- He was originally a duke and nobleman in the Spanish court before entering religious life.
- He married Leonor de Castro and had children; after her death he was deeply affected by loss.
- He experienced a profound conversion, renounced his titles, and joined the Jesuits.
- He became the third Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
- Under his leadership, the Jesuits expanded missions into the Americas (Mexico, Peru, Florida).
- He was instrumental in the founding of Jesuit colleges and in forming young members.
- He is sometimes called the “second founder” of the Jesuits because of his reforming influence.
- He died on September 30, 1572.
- He was canonized as a saint in 1670 by Pope Clement X.
