Francis Xavier, SJ (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Latin: Franciscus Xaverius; Basque: Frantzisko Xabierkoa; French: François Xavier; Spanish: Francisco Javier; Portuguese: Francisco Xavier; 7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552), venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was born in [Navarra] Spain Catholic missionary and saint who co-founded the Society of Jesus and, as a representative of the Portuguese Empire, led the first Christian mission to Japan.
Born in the town of
Xavier,
Kingdom of Navarre, he was a companion of
Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven
Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity at
Montmartre, Paris in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly the
Portuguese Empire in the East, and was influential in
evangelization work, most notably in
early modern India. He was extensively involved in the missionary activity in
Portuguese India. In 1546, Francis Xavier proposed the establishment of the
Goan Inquisition in a letter addressed to King
John III of Portugal. While some sources claim that he actually asked for a special minister whose sole office would be to further
Christianity in Goa, others disagree with this assertion. As a representative of the king of Portugal, he was also the first major
Christian missionary to venture into
Borneo, the
Maluku Islands,
Japan, and other areas. In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India. Xavier was about to extend his mission to
Ming China, when he died on
Shangchuan Island. (
Full article...)
Attributes: Crucifix; preacher carrying a flaming heart; bell; globe; vessel; young bearded Jesuit in the company of
Saint Ignatius Loyola; young bearded Jesuit with a torch, flame, cross and lily
Patronage: African missions;
Agartala, India;
Ahmedabad, India;
Alexandria, Louisiana; Apostleship of Prayer; Australia;
Bombay, India;
Bengaluru, India;
Borneo;
Cape Town, South Africa; China; Dinajpur, Bangladesh; East Indies; Fathers of the Precious Blood; foreign missions; Freising, Germany;
Goa, India;
Green Bay, Wisconsin; India; Indianapolis, Indiana; Key West, Florida;
Sophia University,
Tokyo,
Japan;
University of Saint Francis Xavier; Sucre, Bolivia; Joliet, Illinois; Kabankalan, Philippines;
Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines;
Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines;
Alegria, Cebu, Philippines; Macau; Madagascar; diocese of
Malindi, Kenya; missionaries; Missioners of the Precious Blood;
Navarre, Spain; navigators; New Zealand; parish missions; plague epidemics; Propagation of the Faith;
Zagreb, Croatia;
Indonesia;
Malacca;
Malaysia;
Mongolia;
Sri Lanka
Francis Xavier, SJ (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Latin: Franciscus Xaverius; Basque: Frantzisko Xabierkoa; French: François Xavier; Spanish: Francisco Javier; Portuguese: Francisco Xavier; 7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552), venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was born in [Navarra] Spain Catholic missionary and saint who co-founded the Society of Jesus and, as a representative of the Portuguese Empire, led the first Christian mission to Japan.
Born in the town of
Xavier,
Kingdom of Navarre, he was a companion of
Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven
Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity at
Montmartre, Paris in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly the
Portuguese Empire in the East, and was influential in
evangelization work, most notably in
early modern India. He was extensively involved in the missionary activity in
Portuguese India. In 1546, Francis Xavier proposed the establishment of the
Goan Inquisition in a letter addressed to King
John III of Portugal. While some sources claim that he actually asked for a special minister whose sole office would be to further
Christianity in Goa, others disagree with this assertion. As a representative of the king of Portugal, he was also the first major
Christian missionary to venture into
Borneo, the
Maluku Islands,
Japan, and other areas. In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India. Xavier was about to extend his mission to
Ming China, when he died on
Shangchuan Island. (
Full article...)
Attributes: Crucifix; preacher carrying a flaming heart; bell; globe; vessel; young bearded Jesuit in the company of
Saint Ignatius Loyola; young bearded Jesuit with a torch, flame, cross and lily
Patronage: African missions;
Agartala, India;
Ahmedabad, India;
Alexandria, Louisiana; Apostleship of Prayer; Australia;
Bombay, India;
Bengaluru, India;
Borneo;
Cape Town, South Africa; China; Dinajpur, Bangladesh; East Indies; Fathers of the Precious Blood; foreign missions; Freising, Germany;
Goa, India;
Green Bay, Wisconsin; India; Indianapolis, Indiana; Key West, Florida;
Sophia University,
Tokyo,
Japan;
University of Saint Francis Xavier; Sucre, Bolivia; Joliet, Illinois; Kabankalan, Philippines;
Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines;
Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines;
Alegria, Cebu, Philippines; Macau; Madagascar; diocese of
Malindi, Kenya; missionaries; Missioners of the Precious Blood;
Navarre, Spain; navigators; New Zealand; parish missions; plague epidemics; Propagation of the Faith;
Zagreb, Croatia;
Indonesia;
Malacca;
Malaysia;
Mongolia;
Sri Lanka