St. Francis Xavier: Apostle of the Indies and Japan
Quick answer
St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552) was a Basque nobleman who met St. Ignatius of Loyola at the University of Paris and became one of the first Jesuits. Sent to Asia in 1541, he preached and baptized in India, the Malay Peninsula, the Moluccas and Japan. He died on an island off the coast of China, hoping to enter that country. He is the patron of missions. His feast is December 3.
Key takeaways
- He was Ignatius's roommate in Paris and was won over slowly.
- He sailed to Goa, India, in 1541 at the request of the King of Portugal.
- He taught children the catechism, cared for the sick, and adapted his preaching to each people.
- He died on Shangchuan Island off China on December 3, 1552, at age 46.
In eleven years, St. Francis Xavier traveled tens of thousands of miles by sea and on foot to bring Christ to people who had never heard His name. His heart was as large as the oceans he crossed.
A Student in Paris
Francisco de Jasso y Javier was born in 1506 at the castle of Javier in Navarre, in northern Spain. In 1525 he went to study at the University of Paris, where he was a gifted student and athlete with ambitions for a career in the Church.
His roommate was an older Basque, Ignatius of Loyola, who kept repeating to him the words of Jesus: “For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Slowly Francis gave in. In 1534 he was one of the seven companions who took vows at Montmartre, the beginning of the Society of Jesus.
To India
King John III of Portugal asked for missionaries for his territories in Asia. The priest chosen fell ill, and Ignatius sent Francis instead. He left Lisbon in 1541 and reached Goa in 1542.
In India he lived simply among the poor, nursed the sick, visited prisons and walked through villages ringing a bell to call children to learn their prayers. He worked especially among the pearl fishers of the southern coast. He translated the creed and prayers into local languages, as best he could, and taught them by heart.
Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan
He went on to Malacca and the Moluccas. In 1549 he reached Japan, where he saw a cultured people and learned to change his approach. He began to dress more formally, bring gifts and engage in discussion. Small Christian communities took root and later produced many martyrs.
Within Sight of China
Francis believed that if China received the faith, Japan and much of Asia would follow. In 1552 he reached the island of Shangchuan, off the Chinese coast, waiting for a boat to take him secretly to the mainland. He fell ill with fever and died on December 3, 1552, with a crucifix in his hands.
He was canonized in 1622, on the same day as St. Ignatius, St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Philip Neri and St. Isidore the Farmer.
A Prayer for Missionaries (Original Prayer)
St. Francis Xavier, you crossed the world for Christ. Pray for missionaries everywhere, for those who have never heard the Gospel, and for me, that I may share my faith where I am. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read about St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Isaac Jogues, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux, co-patron of the missions.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. Francis Xavier?
December 3.
What is St. Francis Xavier the patron saint of?
Missions and missionaries, together with St. Thérèse of Lisieux. He is also a patron of Asia.
Where is St. Francis Xavier buried?
His body rests in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, India. His right forearm is in the Church of the Gesù in Rome.
Sources
- St. Francis Xavier, Letters (1542–1552)
- Pope Pius XI, decree naming him patron of missions (1927)
- Butler's Lives of the Saints, December 3
