St. Francis Xavier
1506-1552
📅 Feast Day: Dec 3
📖 Life Timeline
1506
Born in April 7, 1506 AD, Xavier, Navarre, Spain
1506
FRANCIS XAVIER (St) C
1552
FRANCIS XAVIER (St) C
1534
y of Paris when he met St Ignatius Loyola, and in 1534 they took their first religious vows at Montmartre
1540
s set out on his first journey to the far east in 1540, landing at Goa in 1542
1542
ourney to the far east in 1540, landing at Goa in 1542
1552
Died — December 3, 1552 AD, Shangchuan Island, China
1622
Canonized — 1622 by Pope Gregory XV
✝ Biography
FRANCIS XAVIER (St) C. S.J.
R.M. Dec. 3 1506-1552. Born at the family castle of Javier, in Spanish Navarre, Francis in- herited the best characteristics of his race — generosity, love of culture and ad- venture. He was studying with distinc- tion at the university of Paris when he met St Ignatius Loyola, and in 1534 they took their first religious vows at Montmartre. In obedience to St Ignatius’s order, Fran- cis set out on his first journey to the far east in 1540, landing at Goa in 1542. He visited India, Ceylon, Malaya, Japan, and other East Indian islands, dreaming all the time of his longed-for apostolate in China. The difficulties he met with in his missionary labours were well-nigh insur- mountable: they proceeded chiefly from the politically-minded European traders. However, he was favoured with such ex- traordinary graces from heaven, that his mission proved from the start a signal success: it is reckoned that in Japan alone, some forty years afterwards, there were 400,000 Christians. Indeed, Francis Xa- vier is perhaps the greatest individual missionary the Church has produced since St. Paul. Francis died at Sancian, when about to enter China. Canonized in 1602, and proclaimed by Pius X patron of all foreign missions.
Cf. Holw.
FRANCIS GALVEZ (Bl) M. O.F.M.
A.C. Dec. 4 1567-1623.
🛡 Patronage
Patron of: Missionaries, maritime workers, and all foreign missions. Co-founder of the Jesuits.
💬 Words of the Saint
I will cross the ocean for your souls.
📜 Key Facts
Born
April 7, 1506 AD, Xavier, Navarre, Spain
Died
December 3, 1552 AD, Shangchuan Island, China
Feast Day
Dec 3
Canonized
1622 by Pope Gregory XV
🕊 Legacy
Xavier planted Christianity in Asia. His missionary methods — learning local languages, respecting cultures — remain the model for Catholic missions. He is the patron of all foreign missions.
📜 Personal Writings
Read excerpts from the saint's own words — their personal letters, spiritual writings, and teachings.
📖 Letters
On the Mission to the Indies
All things are yours, whether life or death, present or future. They are all given to you by God to be used for His glory. Do not be attached to anything, but be ready to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel. The missionary must be ready to go anywhere, to do anything, to suffer everything for Christ.
— St. Francis Xavier
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