Francis Xavier

About Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier, one of the greatest Christian missionaries, was a founding member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and apostle to the East Indies and Japan. Born into Basque nobility in Navarre, Francis studied in Paris, where he met Ignatius of Loyola.

Initially resistant to Ignatius's spiritual influence, Francis was eventually won over by Ignatius's persistent question: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" In 1534, Francis joined Ignatius and five others in vowing poverty, chastity, and pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or service to the Pope—the nucleus of the Jesuit order.

When Portugal's king requested missionaries for the East Indies in 1540, Francis volunteered. He sailed to Goa, India, in 1541, beginning eleven years of extraordinary missionary work that would take him to India, the Moluccas, Malaysia, and Japan—baptizing an estimated 30,000 people.

Francis's method combined tireless travel, learning local languages and customs, and adapting Christian teaching to different cultures (though imperfectly by modern standards). In Goa, he rang a bell through streets, gathering children to teach catechism. He ministered to the poor, sick, and marginalized, living simply despite being the Pope's official representative.

In 1549, Francis reached Japan, becoming the first Christian missionary there. He spent two years learning Japanese culture and language, recognizing Japan's sophisticated civilization required a different approach than he used elsewhere. He adopted Japanese dress, studied Buddhism, and engaged in respectful dialogue, making about 2,000 converts.

Francis dreamed of evangelizing China, Christianity's greatest unconverted civilization. In 1552, he attempted to enter China (then closed to foreigners) but fell ill while waiting on Shangchuan Island near Canton. He died on December 3, 1552, at age 46, within sight of China, praying "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."

Francis's letters home inspired generations of missionaries. His body, returned to Goa, was found incorrupt. He was canonized with Ignatius in 1622 and declared patron of missions. His tireless travels and zeal make him a model missionary saint.