St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier

(1506 - 1552)

Known as 'Apostel of the Far East', Francis Xavier was born in the family castle of Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre on 7 April 1506. Born to an aristoctratic family of Navarre, the youngest son of Juan de Jasso, privy counselor to King John III of Navarre and Maria de Azpilicueta y Xavier, sole heiress of two noble navarrese families. His father died when he was only 9 in 1515. Later, he went to Venice, Italy and there he was ordained to the priesthood on 24 June 1537.

The vision of St. Francis Xavier by Giovanni Battista Gaulli

Statue of St. Francis Xavier in Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa, India

Altar with the still fairly well incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa, India

The head of St Francis Xavier

Left hand of the saint. With his 2 hands, where he was baptised about 1 million souls in his 11 years of apostolic work in Asia

Walking the burning sands of South India or the freezing snow of Japan. Almost always barefeet. Watering these lands with the blood of his feet

After read some of the information on the net, I was so surprise that he has been to Malacca in October, 1545. He waiting for 3 months in vain for a ship to Macassar and he gave up the goal of his voyage and left Malacca on January 1, 1546.

He was beautified by Paul V on October 25, 1619 and was canonized by Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. He is a Catholic saint and as well as the patron saint of missionaries. His feast day is December 3.