Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506, in the Castle of Xavier in the Kingdom of Navarre. Raised amid political upheaval and the loss of his family’s fortunes, he went to Paris to study, where his ambitions for success slowly gave way to a deeper call. There he met Ignatius of Loyola and, after much interior struggle, joined him and six companions in making vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in 1534—an act that helped give birth to the Society of Jesus. Ordained a priest in 1537, Francis was unexpectedly chosen to sail as a missionary to the East. He labored tirelessly for the Gospel across Portuguese India, especially in Goa, and then pressed onward to Malacca, the islands of Southeast Asia, and Japan, striving to learn languages and bring Christ to new peoples. Longing to reach China, he died in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, within sight of the mainland. Honored as the “Apostle of the Indies” and co-patron of foreign missions, he is also especially venerated in Navarre. His feast day is December 3.