| The life of saint Francis Xavier |
Click to enlarge He was born at the castle of Xavier in Navarre, Spain, on April 7, 1506. In 1525, having completed a preliminary course of studies in his own country, Francis Xavier went to Paris, where he entered the college de Sainte-Barbe. Here he met the Savoyard, Pierre Favre, and a warm personal friendship sprang up between them. In 1529, at this same college, he met St. Ignatius Loyola. On August 15, 1534, Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier, Peter Favre, Lainez, Salmerón, Rodríguez, and Bobadilla, made the famous vow at Montmartre to form the Society of Jesus. On 24 June, 1537, he received Holy orders with St. Ignatius. Xavier was appointed , at the earnest solicitation of the John III, King of Portugal, to evangelize the people of the East Indies (Goa). He left Rome on March 16, 1540, and reached Lisbon about June. On 7 April, 1541, he embarked in a sailing vessel for India, and after a tedious and dangerous voyage landed at Goa on 6 May, 1542. There he set about learning the language and writing a catechism for the instruction of converts. About October, 1542, he started for the pearl fisheries of the extreme southern coast of the peninsula, desirous of restoring Christianity which, although introduced years before, had almost disappeared on account of the lack of priests. He devoted almost three years to the work of preaching to the people of Western India, converting many, and reaching in his journeys even the Island of Ceylon. On August 15, 1549, Francis and companions landed at the city of Kagoshima in Japan. The entire first year was devoted to learning the Japanese language and translating into Japanese, with the help of Pablo de Santa Fe, the principal articles of faith and short treatises which were to be employed in preaching and catechizing. When he was able to express himself, Xavier began preaching and made some converts, but these aroused the ill will of the bonzes, who had him banished from the city. Leaving Kagoshima about August, 1550, he penetrated to the center of Japan, and preached the Gospel in some of the cities of southern Japan. Towards the end of that year he reached Meaco, then the principal city of Japan, but he was unable to make any headway here because of the dissensions rending the country. He retraced his steps to the center of Japan, and during 1551 preached in some important cities, forming the nucleus of several Christian communities, which in time increased with extraordinary rapidity. After working about two years and a half in Japan he left this mission in charge of Father Cosme de Torres and Brother Juan Fernandez, and returned to Goa, arriving there at the beginning of 1552. Xavier turned his thoughts to China, and began to plan an expedition there. During his stay in Japan he had heard much of the Celestial Empire, and though he probably had not formed a proper estimate of his extent and greatness, he nevertheless understood how wide a field it afforded for the spread of the light of the Gospel. With the help of friends he arranged a commission or embassy the Sovereign of China, obtained from the Viceroy of India the appointment of ambassador, and in April, 1552, he left Goa. In the autumn Xavier arrived in a Portuguese vessel at the small island of Sancian near the coast of China. While planning the best means for reaching the mainland, he was taken ill, and as the movement of the vessel seemed to aggravate his condition, he was removed to the land, where a rude hut had been built to shelter him. In these wretched surroundings he breathed his last on December 2, 1552 at the age of 46. |
| Virtual tour |
Saint Francis Xavier chapel (in Italian)
 |
|
Saint Francis Xavier photo gallery (in Italian)
|
| Useful links |
St. Francis Xavier - Missionary to the Far East (www.sjweb.info)
|
| Bibliography |
De Rosa Giuseppe,
"Aprire vie nuove al Vangelo". San Francesco Saverio, missionario in Oriente,
"La Civiltà Cattolica", n. 3732, 2005, IV, pp. 541-554.
|
Last update: January 3rd, 2008
Chiesa del Gesù, Via degli Astalli, 16 - 00186 Rome (Italy)
Tel. +39 06.697001 - Fax +39 06.69700263 - For sending an e-mail
Copyright © 2005 - Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina - Rome (Italy)
Chiesa del Gesù, Via degli Astalli, 16 - 00186 Rome (Italy)
Tel. +39 06.697001 - Fax +39 06.69700263 - For sending an e-mail
Copyright © 2005 - Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina - Rome (Italy)