Saint Francis Xavier is renowned as a pioneering missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus, celebrated for his extensive evangelization efforts across Asia and his enduring legacy as the patron saint of missions.
Saint Francis Xavier, a pivotal figure in the early modern period, is primarily known as a zealous missionary and one of the original companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola, with whom he co-founded the Society of Jesus. His tireless work took him to the farthest reaches of Asia, including India, Southeast Asia, and Japan, where he dedicated his life to proclaiming the Gospel, baptizing countless converts, and establishing nascent Christian communities. His profound commitment to spreading the faith and his remarkable journeys made him a preeminent figure in missionary history, earning him the title of Patron of Missions and inspiring generations of evangelists through his unwavering devotion and spiritual fervor.
Saint Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta on April 7, 1506, at Javier Castle in the Kingdom of Navarre, Spain, emerged from a noble Basque family. His early life was marked by privilege and a keen intellect, which led him to pursue higher education at the prestigious CollĂšge Sainte-Barbe within the University of Paris. Initially, Francis harbored ambitions for an academic career, perhaps even dreaming of ecclesiastical advancement within the Church. He excelled in his studies, particularly in philosophy, and began teaching at the university, seemingly set on a path of worldly success and intellectual renown. However, Providence had a far grander design for this brilliant young man, a design that would irrevocably alter his course and the landscape of global Christianity.
The pivotal moment in Francis Xavierâs life occurred during his time in Paris when he shared lodgings with a charismatic and deeply spiritual Basque compatriot, Ignatius of Loyola. Initially, Francis was resistant to Ignatius's persistent calls to a more profound spiritual life, often mocking his earnestness. Yet, Ignatius, with remarkable patience and insight, repeatedly challenged Francis with the profound question, âWhat profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?â This persistent spiritual counsel, coupled with Ignatiusâs own radical conversion and commitment to Christ, gradually broke through Francisâs worldly ambitions. By 1534, Francis, along with Ignatius and five other companions, including Peter Faber, made vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in Montmartre, Paris, laying the foundational stones for what would become the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, a religious order that would become instrumental in the Catholic Reformation and global evangelization.
After their foundational vows, Francis and his companions eventually made their way to Rome, where they received papal approval for the Society of Jesus from Pope Paul III in 1540. Shortly thereafter, a desperate plea arrived from King John III of Portugal, seeking missionaries to evangelize the vast, newly acquired territories in the East. The original plan was for another Jesuit, Nicolas Bobadilla, to undertake this arduous journey, but when Bobadilla fell ill, Francis Xavier, with characteristic zeal and obedience, stepped forward without hesitation. His immediate willingness to embrace this immense and perilous mission underscored his profound spiritual transformation and his burning desire to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. On April 7, 1541, his 35th birthday, Francis departed from Lisbon, embarking on a journey that would define his legacy.
Francis Xavier arrived in Goa, India, on May 6, 1542, a city then serving as the capital of Portuguese India. He found a community largely neglected spiritually, with many nominal Christians and a vast unevangelized indigenous population. Francis immediately immersed himself in his missionary work, not from a position of authority, but by living among the poor and sick, ministering to their physical and spiritual needs. He taught catechism, often adapting prayers and doctrines into local languages, and baptized thousands, particularly among the Pearl Fishers along the Comorin Coast. He traveled extensively throughout southern India, establishing churches and schools, and working tirelessly to deepen the faith of existing Christians while bringing new souls to Christ. His simple lifestyle, profound charity, and tireless preaching earned him immense respect and countless converts.
Driven by an insatiable desire to expand the reach of the Gospel, Francis Xavier continued his missionary endeavors beyond India. In 1545, he sailed eastward to Malacca (modern-day Malaysia), and then further to the Moluccas (Spice Islands) in Indonesia, where he continued his work of evangelization amidst challenging conditions. His most significant and ambitious venture, however, began in 1549 when he became the first Christian missionary to reach Japan. Recognizing the intellectual and cultured nature of the Japanese people, Francis adopted a different approach, engaging with local daimyo (feudal lords) and scholars, presenting Christianity not just as a new religion but as a profound philosophy. Despite initial difficulties with language and cultural barriers, he laid the groundwork for a burgeoning Christian community in Japan, leaving behind a small but fervent group of converts and a lasting impression on the Japanese elite.
Francis Xavierâs missionary heart yearned for even greater horizons. His ultimate goal became China, a vast and ancient empire then largely closed to outsiders, which he believed held the key to the evangelization of all of East Asia. Despite warnings of the extreme dangers and nearly insurmountable obstacles, he set sail for China in 1552. However, he fell gravely ill on Sancian Island, just off the coast of mainland China, while awaiting passage to the mainland. Exhausted by years of relentless travel and labor, and weakened by fever, Saint Francis Xavier died on December 3, 1552, at the age of 46, with his eyes fixed on the land he longed to evangelize. His body, reportedly incorrupt, was later translated to Goa, where it remains a venerated relic.
Saint Francis Xavier's impact on the Christian tradition is immeasurable. He is revered as one of the greatest missionaries in Church history, a tireless evangelist who traversed vast distances and endured immense hardships to spread the Catholic faith. His unwavering commitment to the Great Commission, his adaptability in diverse cultures, and his profound personal holiness continue to inspire countless missionaries and lay faithful to this day. Canonized in 1622 alongside his spiritual brother, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier is honored as the patron saint of Catholic missions, a testament to his enduring legacy as a pioneer of global evangelization and a true apostle to the East. His feast day, December 3rd, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of faith and the enduring call to share the Gospel with all nations.
One evening, while Saint Francis Xavier was tirelessly preaching the Gospel to the people of the Molucca Islands, a storm of tremendous fury suddenly descended upon them. The waves, whipped into a frenzy, crashed against the shore, threatening to capsize the small vessel in which Francis and his companions were sailing. In the midst of the tempest, as the boat was tossed violently, Francis, ever reliant on divine Providence, stretched out his arm to bless the raging waters, hoping to calm them. In that moment, the crucifix he always wore around his neck, a cherished symbol of his faith and mission, slipped from his grasp and plunged into the tumultuous depths of the sea. Grief-stricken, not for the material loss, but for the sacred object, Francis continued his journey, trusting in God's will.
The next day, as Francis Xavier stepped ashore in the village of Ceram, after a night filled with prayer and exhaustion, a most extraordinary sight greeted him. From the frothing waves, a small crab emerged, scuttling purposefully towards him. To the astonishment of all who witnessed it, the crab carried in its claws the very crucifix that Francis had lost the previous night. The creature, as if guided by an unseen hand, carefully placed the crucifix at the missionary's feet before retreating back into the ocean. Overwhelmed with wonder and gratitude, Francis retrieved his crucifix, seeing in this miraculous event a profound sign of God's favor and approval of his arduous missionary labors. This event served not only to strengthen his own faith but also to deeply impress the local people, many of whom subsequently embraced the Christian faith, witnessing such a clear demonstration of divine power accompanying the holy missionary.
January 15, 1544
May the grace and charity of Christ be ever with us! Amen.
Since it is a very long time since I wrote to you and to all my Fathers and Brothers of the Society, I determined to write to you at length about the countries to which I have come, about my work, and about the great need there is of helpers. I have now been a year in the Indies, where I have been engaged in preaching the Gospel of Christ to the heathen. It is now a year since I came to this country, where I have been engaged in the work of preaching the Gospel of Christ to the heathen. The population of this country is very numerous, and the greater part of them are idolaters. There are some Christians, but they are very few. Those that are Christians have been converted by the Portuguese, and they are very ignorant. They know nothing of the Christian doctrine, and they live as if they were heathen. It is a great pity to see how little they know of God and of our holy faith. They are very poor, and they have no one to teach them. I have been going about from village to village, teaching them the Catechism, and baptizing those that are willing to receive baptism. I have baptized a great many children, and some adults. The children are very intelligent, and they learn very quickly. I have great hopes of them. The adults are more difficult to teach, but some of them are very good and sincere. I have been greatly consoled by the conversions that I have seen.
I have been traveling through many villages and towns of the Paravas, a race of men who live on the coast of these seas, and who are pearl fishers. I have baptized many thousands of them. I have been going about from village to village, with a bell in my hand, calling the children and adults together. I teach them the Catechism for an hour or so, and then I dismiss them. In this way, I have gone through a great part of the country, and I have baptized many thousands. I have also been teaching them the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father, and the Hail Mary. They are very simple people, and they learn very quickly. They are very grateful to me for teaching them, and they show me great affection. I have been greatly consoled by the conversions that I have seen. I have also been visiting the sick and administering the Sacraments to them. I have heard many confessions, and I have given Communion to many. I have also been preaching in the churches, and I have been greatly consoled by the devotion of the people.
Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is no one to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and shouting at the top of my voice, âAh, what a multitude of souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you!â I wish I could make them understand the serious evil of their neglect, because many of them have more learning than charity. The result is that they are more anxious to get rich and to gain high positions than to spread the true religion. They are not at all disturbed by the thought that so many millions of souls are being lost through their fault. This thought is enough to make me weep all the tears in my eyes. I have often been on the point of writing to the King of Portugal, asking him to send more missionaries to these parts. But I have refrained from doing so, because I know that he is doing all that he can. The harvest is indeed great, but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
I am so greatly consoled by the conversions that I see, that I often feel as if I am in paradise. I have no words to describe the joy that I feel when I see these poor people embracing the faith of Christ. I often wish that I had a thousand bodies, so that I could go to all the villages and towns of these countries, and teach the Catechism to all the people. I have been greatly helped by the children, who are very intelligent, and who learn very quickly. They are very useful to me, because they help me to teach the adults. I often make them repeat the Catechism after me, and they do it very well. I have great hopes of them. I have also been greatly helped by the Portuguese, who are very zealous for the salvation of souls. They often accompany me on my journeys, and they help me to teach the Catechism. They are very good and devout men.
I beg you, my dearest Fathers and Brothers, to pray for me and for these poor people. I have great need of your prayers. I also beg you to send me more helpers. I have great need of them. I am all alone, and I cannot do all that has to be done. I am very tired, but I am greatly consoled by the thought that I am working for the salvation of souls. I hope to see you all again in heaven. May God bless you all. Amen.
From Cochin, January 15, 1544.
June 13, 1940
24. But in the illustrious array of those who, following the example of St. Ignatius, have in the past and in the present distinguished themselves in the various fields of Catholic action, there is one who shines forth with a unique and almost divine splendor, St. Francis Xavier, whom We Ourselves not long ago proclaimed the heavenly Patron of all Catholic missions throughout the world. He was the first of the Society of Jesus to bring the light of the Gospel to the Far East, and to the vast regions of India and Japan. He was indeed a man sent by God, an apostle in the true and full sense of the word, whom the divine grace had so filled with the love of Christ that he seemed to be carried away by a sort of sacred delirium. He had so completely renounced himself and all worldly things that he lived only for God and for the salvation of souls. He was a burning torch that enlightened and inflamed all whom he met, and he was a torrent of divine charity that swept away all obstacles.
25. It is indeed a most striking fact that the Society of Jesus, which was founded for the defense and propagation of the faith in Europe, should have almost immediately turned its attention to the evangelization of the peoples beyond the seas. This was due, in the first place, to the divine Providence, which had destined the Society for this great work, and in the second place, to the ardent zeal of St. Francis Xavier, who was consumed with the desire of bringing the light of the Gospel to the remotest corners of the earth. He was indeed a man of extraordinary courage and fortitude, who feared no dangers, and who shrank from no labors. He crossed vast oceans, he traversed immense continents, he penetrated into unknown regions, he faced the most ferocious barbarians, he endured hunger and thirst, heat and cold, sickness and fatigue, all for the sake of Christ and for the salvation of souls. He was truly a hero of the faith, a giant of charity, a marvel of holiness.
26. The story of his apostolate is a continuous series of miracles. He healed the sick, he cast out devils, he raised the dead, he spoke in unknown tongues, he multiplied food, he calmed storms, he walked on the waters. All these miracles, which are attested by numerous and trustworthy witnesses, show that God was with him, and that He confirmed his preaching with signs and wonders. But the greatest miracle of all was the conversion of so many thousands of infidels, who, at his word, renounced their idols and embraced the faith of Christ. This was indeed a work of divine grace, which showed that the Spirit of God was powerfully at work in him.
27. But what is still more wonderful is that St. Francis Xavier, in the midst of his arduous labors, never lost sight of the importance of prayer and of personal sanctification. He spent many hours in prayer, he practiced severe mortifications, he meditated constantly on the Passion of Christ, he received Holy Communion daily. He knew that without prayer and without holiness, all his efforts would be in vain. He was indeed a man of God, who lived in constant union with Him, and who drew from Him the strength and the grace that he needed for his apostolic work. He was a living example of that evangelical perfection which he preached to others.
28. He was also a man of profound humility. He never sought his own glory, but always the glory of God. He never boasted of his achievements, but always attributed everything to the divine grace. He was always ready to serve, and he never refused any task, however humble or arduous. He was truly a servant of God, who sought only to do His will. He was a model of that humility which is the foundation of all virtues.
29. And what shall We say of his charity? It was indeed boundless. He loved God with all his heart, and he loved his neighbor as himself. He had a burning desire for the salvation of all men, and he spared no pains to bring them to Christ. He embraced all, without distinction of race or condition, with a most tender and compassionate love. He was indeed a true brother to all men, and he showed them, by his words and by his deeds, the infinite love of God. He was a living image of that charity which is the soul of all apostolate.
30. Such was St. Francis Xavier, the great apostle of the Indies and Japan. His life was a continuous hymn of praise to God, and his death was a triumph of faith and charity. He died on Sancian Island, at the gates of China, consumed by his zeal for the salvation of souls, and with his eyes fixed on the land which he longed to evangelize. His last words were a prayer for the conversion of China, and for the spread of the Gospel throughout the whole world. He was indeed a true disciple of Christ, who followed Him even unto death, and who gave his life for the salvation of souls.
Public Exposition of his Incorrupt Body
Saint Francis Xavier's body, believed to be incorrupt, is interred in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. Periodically, typically every ten years, his sacred relics are brought out for public veneration, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world.
Grand Feast Day Celebrations
The feast day of Saint Francis Xavier is a major public holiday and religious festival in Goa, marked by solemn high Masses, processions, and cultural festivities, reflecting his profound impact as the Apostle of the Indies and patron saint of the region.
Praying the Novena of Grace
This novena is associated with Saint Francis Xavier due to a promise he reportedly made to a Jesuit priest in Naples in 1633, stating that all who devoutly pray for nine days would receive their intentions, if it was for their spiritual good. It commemorates a miracle attributed to his intercession.
Special Prayers for Missions
As the patron saint of missions, Saint Francis Xavier's feast day is an opportune time for Catholics worldwide to offer special prayers for the success of missionary endeavors, the conversion of souls, and the growth of the Church in all nations, inspired by his tireless evangelization.