The life of St. Francis Xavier

Photos and Images of St. Francis Xavier

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Born in Navarre, Spain, on April 7, 1506, Francis Xavier began his studies at the College of Sainte Barbe in Paris, where he met Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius changed Francis’ goal in life with the question of the Gospel “What profit is it, if you gain the whole world, but lose your soul?”
Together with six friends, Francis professed religious vows at Montmartre, Paris, starting the Jesuit community. Francis was ordained priest in Rome on June 24, 1537.
Ignatius assigned Francis Xavier to work in India, and after his arrival in Goa in May 1542, Francis began to work among the poor of South India, Malacca, and the Moluccas Islands (Indonesia). Just a few years later, Francis arrived in Kagoshima, Japan in 1549. In July 1552, while sailing for China, he arrived at Sancian Island, where he died on Dec. 3rd 1552.
Francis Xavier was proclaimed Saint in 1622, and together with St. Therese of Lisieux, Patron of all Missions by Pope Pius X in 1904.

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