The patron saint of
missionaries and one of the founders of the Jesuit order, Saint Francis Xavier
sought religious converts throughout Asia during the 1500s.
“In this life, we find our greatest comfort
living in the midst of danger, that is, if we confront them solely for the love
of God.”
Saint Francis Xavier was
born on April 7, 1506, in a castle near Sangüesa in Navarre (part of
present-day Spain). With encouragement from his friend Ignatius of Loyola,
Xavier devoted himself to religious service and became one of the founders of
the Jesuit order. Much of his life was spent tending to missions in areas such
as India and Japan. He was 46 when he died on China's Shangchuan Island on
December 3, 1552.
On April 7, 1506, Francis
Xavier was born in Xavier Castle, located near Sangüesa, in the kingdom of
Navarre (part of present-day Spain). He was a member of a noble family, and his
childhood was one of privilege—however, it was disrupted by his father's death,
as well as by outside efforts to take control of Navarre.
In 1525, Xavier went to
study at the University of Paris. There, he encountered Ignatius of Loyola, who
had experienced a religious conversion while recovering from a war wound.
Loyola did his utmost to convince Xavier to join him on the same path of
devotion.
Though at first hesitant,
Xavier was eventually inspired by his friend's example. On August 15, 1534, in
the Montmartre section of Paris, Xavier, Loyola and five others pledged themselves
to the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). In addition to vows of celibacy and
poverty, they also promised to visit the Holy Land.
While waiting in Venice,
Italy, to depart for the Holy Land, Xavier worked in a hospital, aiding those
in need. He also became a priest, on June 24, 1537. When fighting between
Venice and the Ottoman Empire made a trip to Jerusalem impossible, Xavier
instead went to Rome, where he and others in the society offered their services
to the pope.
Impressed by the Jesuits,
King John III of Portugal asked the order for missionaries to work in his
empire. Though Loyola initially selected others for the task, Xavier stepped in
when a fellow priest became ill. He left Rome on March 15, 1540.
Xavier arrived in Goa,
India, on May 6, 1542. He came to be admired in that country for his ability to
live and work side by side with the poor. Seeking more converts, Xavier
continued to travel; his stops included Ceylon, the Molucca Islands, the Banda
Islands and the Malay Peninsula.
On August 15, 1549, Xavier
landed at Kagoshima, Japan. As he had at his other missions, Xavier adapted to
local mores and arranged for the translation of religious texts. These steps
helped him reach more converts in the year and a half he spent in Japan.
Xavier's next focus for
missionary work was China. He traveled to Sancian (Shangchuan) Island, near
Canton, but was not able to access the mainland because borders had been closed
to foreigners. Before he could find a way inside the country, illness
incapacitated Xavier. He died on the island on December 3, 1552, at the age of
46. His body was then taken to Goa.
Though he passed away at a
relatively young age, Xavier had accomplished much in his life. In addition to
being a founding member of the Jesuit order—the Society of Jesus was officially
recognized by Pope Paul III in 1540—he baptized an estimated 30,000 people.
Xavier was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619, and canonized by Pope Gregory XV
in 1622. A famed missionary himself, he is now the patron saint of
missionaries.
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