Francis Xavier
Navarrese missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus, first Christian missionary to Japan.
Francis Xavier was born in 1506 into a noble family in the Castle of Xavier, located in the Kingdom of Navarre. His father served as a president of the royal council and a finance minister to the Navarrese king, while his mother was the sole heiress to the castle. He grew up speaking both Basque and Romance. When he was nine, his father died, and soon after, the kingdom was invaded by forces from Aragon and Castile. His brothers took part in a failed attempt to expel the invaders, leading to the confiscation of family lands and the partial demolition of the family castle. In 1525, Xavier went to Paris to study at the University of Paris, where he spent eleven years and gained a reputation as an athlete. He initially shared lodgings with Pierre Favre, and later with Ignatius of Loyola, who was much older. Ignatius eventually persuaded Xavier to abandon his worldly ambitions and join his spiritual mission, though Xavier had at first been dismissive of him. In 1530, Xavier earned a Master of Arts degree and began teaching philosophy. On 15 August 1534, he was one of seven students who made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope in a crypt at Montmartre, Paris, also vowing to travel to the Holy Land. He began theological studies that year and was ordained a priest in 1537. In 1540, the Society of Jesus was formally approved by the Pope. That same year, the Portuguese king requested Jesuit missionaries for India. Xavier then led extensive missionary work across Asia, primarily within Portuguese territories. He was the first major Christian missionary to reach Japan, Borneo, and the Maluku Islands, though he struggled with local languages and faced opposition in those regions. In 1546, he wrote to the Portuguese king proposing measures to strengthen Christianity in Goa; some historians interpret this as a request for the Goan Inquisition, while others see it as a call for a special minister for evangelization. He died on Shangchuan Island while attempting to enter Ming China. He was beatified in 1619 and canonized in 1622, later named co-patron of Navarre and, in 1927, co-patron of all foreign missions alongside Thérèse of Lisieux.
- born
- 7 April 1506, Castle of Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre
- died
- 3 December 1552, Shangchuan Island, Ming China
- field
- Cleric, missionary
- nationality
- Navarrese
- known_for
- Co-founder of the Society of Jesus; first Christian missionary to Japan
Lore & Background
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 extensive missionary work across Asia, primarily within the Portuguese Empire in the East, and played a significant role in the evangelization of early modern India, particularly through his activities in Portuguese India. In 1546, Francis Xavier wrote to King John III of Portugal proposing measures to strengthen the Christian faith in Goa. Some historians interpret this letter as a request for the establishment of the Goan Inquisition, while others contend that he instead called for the appointment of a special minister dedicated solely to promoting Christianity in Goa. As a representative of the King of Portugal, he was 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 also extended his mission to Ming China, where he died on Shangchuan Island. He was beatified by Pope Paul V on 25 October 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622. In 1624, he was made co-patron of Navarre. Known as the 'Apostle of the Indies', 'Apostle of the Far East', 'Apostle of China' and 'Apostle of Japan', he is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle. In 1927, Pope Pius XI published the decree Apostolicorum in Missionibus naming Francis Xavier, along with Thérèse of Lisieux, co-patron of all foreign missions. He is now co-patron saint of Navarre, along with Saint Fermin. The 'Day of Navarre' marks the anniversary of Francis Xavier's death, on 3 December.
Reader's Guide
Francis Xavier was born in the town of Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre, on 7 April 1506 into an influential noble family. He was the youngest son of Don Juan de Jasso y Atondo and Doña María de Azpilcueta y Aznárez. He studied in Paris at the Collège Sainte-Barbe, University of Paris, from 1525, and later taught Aristotelian philosophy at the Collège de Beauvais. On 15 August 1534, he and six others made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope at Montmartre, Paris. He was ordained on 24 June 1537. In 1540, King John III of Portugal requested Jesuit missionaries for India; Francis was sent as the first Jesuit missionary to Asia. He left Lisbon on 7 April 1541, arrived in Goa on 6 May 1542, and later missionized in Malacca, the Maluku Islands, Japan, and off-shore China, where he died on Shangchuan Island.
Did You Know?
- Francis Xavier was born in the town of Xavier, Kingdom of Navarre, on 7 April 1506.
- He co-founded the Society of Jesus with Ignatius of Loyola.
- He led the first Christian mission to Japan.
- He died on Shangchuan Island, Ming China, on 3 December 1552.
- He was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Neill, S. (2004). A history of Christianity in India: The beginning to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press." — Francis Xavier "Neill, S. (2004). A history of Christianity in India: The beginning to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press." — Francis Xavier "Neill, S. (2004). A history of Christianity in India: The beginning to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press." — Francis Xavier "Letter dated February 8, 1545, to the Society of Jesus. Quoted from Goel, S. R. (1985). St. Francis Xavier: The man and his mission." — Francis Xavier
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