Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Missionaries
When the Gospels say that Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, the word used for “sent” is related to the word “apostle” in Greek and the word “mission” in Latin. That’s why when we call someone a missionary, we are merely saying that such a person has been sent by Jesus, much as the apostles were sent, to preach the Good News about the coming of the kingdom of God.
The first missionaries were, of course, the Twelve. Most missionaries in Church history have been priests, as was the great Apostle Paul. At first, these missionaries left the Holy Land to preach in pagan territories throughout the Roman Empire. As time passed, they traveled to the British Isles by boat, ventured into the regions inhabited by Germanic tribes, journeyed along the Silk Road to enter China, and braved the ocean to reach India, China, Japan, North and South America, and Africa.
However, not all missionaries have been priests. Deacons, religious brothers, religious sisters, and the laity have also been effective evangelists. Whatever their other vocations might be, missionaries have the great joy of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people who probably would otherwise not even know his name.
