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Who was Francis Xavier?

A Modern View of His Life and Work

by Debra Mooney Ph.D.

St. Francis Xavier, one of St. Ignatius Loyola's closest friends and an original founding companion of the Society of Jesus, is most honored by the Catholic Church, other Christian churches, and the Jesuit order for his missionary accomplishments particularly in India, Southeast Asia and Japan. He was born in 1506 in the family castle in the Basque region of northern Spain, the fifth and youngest child of noble, wealthy, and pious parents.

At the age of nineteen years, and after completing preliminary course of studies, he left home permanently, bound for the University of Paris. By thirty years of age, he had earned a Master of Arts degree in philosophy, taught the subject for four years and then studied theology for two years.

While studying at the University, Ignatius Loyola, who was a fellow student, became an increasingly important influence on Xavier. So much so that, despite early reluctance, Xavier eventually made the Spiritual Exercises under his direction. In August of 1534, he join

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Francis Xavier

Spanish Catholic saint and missionary (1506–1552)

"François Xavier" redirects here. For other uses, see François-Xavier and St. Francis Xavier (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Jasso and the second or maternal family name is Azpilicueta.

Saint


Francis Xavier


SJ

Painting of Saint Francis Xavier, held in the Kobe City Museum, Japan

BornFrancisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta
(1506-04-07)7 April 1506
Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre
Died3 December 1552(1552-12-03) (aged 46)
Shangchuan Island, Chuanshan Archipelago, Xinning, China
Venerated in
Beatified25 October 1619, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Paul V
Canonized12 March 1622, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Gregory XV
Feast3 December
Attributes
Patronage
  • African missions
  • Kottar, India
  • Agartala, India
  • Ahmedabad, India
  • Alexandria, Louisiana
  • Apostleship of Prayer
  • Australia
  • Bengaluru, India
  • Bombay, India
  • Borneo
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • China
  • Dinajpur, Bangladesh
  • Far East
  • Fathers of the Precious Blood
  • foreign
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    St. Francis Xavier

    St. Francis Xavier – His Life

     

    What does it mean to be an apostle? The word comes from a Greek word meaning “to be sent.” Jesus called twelve men to be His apostles and sent them to bring the message of salvation to all. He called Paul of Tarsus to be his apostle to the Gentiles. Later – in the sixteenth century – Jesus called another man, Francis Xavier, to be an apostle to India and Japan.

    Spain was the birth place of Francis Xavier, the youngest son of the chief counselor of the kingdom. The private tutoring he received as a boy highlighted his great intelligence. Eventually he studied at the University of Paris, where he became a teacher of philosophy. He began a career that would bring him prestige and honour, and he accompanied it with an active social life.

    Ignatius Loyola, who was a retired artillery captain, was a student at the same University. Ignatius recognized the many talents that Francis possessed. He saw the fiery ambition that made Francis a great athlete, as well as a good teacher. He saw Francis’ natural ability for leadership

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