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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Xavier Biography FRANCIS XAVIER, zăv’ĭ-ẽr, Saint (1506–52). A celebrated Jesuit missionary, called, from the scene of his mission labors, "the Apostle of the Indies." He was the youngest son of one of the most distinguished families of Navarre and was born near Pamplona in that kingdom, April 7, 1506. His early education was received at home, and in 1524 he was sent to the College of Saint-Barbe, in Paris, where he pursued studies in philosophy with so much distinction that at the age of 24 he became a lecturer in philosophy in the Collège Beauvais, at that time one of the most important in the university. He attracted the attention of Ignatius Loyola, then an obscure student at the university, but already taken with the prospect of founding the Society of Jesus. Ignatius, on the lookout for suitable associates, became a close friend of Xavier's. The young professor's mind was intent on university distinction; but, realizing the vanity of his ambitions, he became one of the first members of the order that his Spanish compatriot was about to found (1534). He soon went to Rome in the interest of the new society. During Xavier's stay in Rome John III of Portugal, anxious to extend the influence of Christianity to his immense Indian possessions, made a formal demand of the Pope for missionaries and asked especially for members of the new order. Ignatius selected Bobadilla; but illness prevented his setting out, so Xavier was substituted for him, and after a single day for preparation began his journey to Lisbon. At Lisbon, during the preparations for the voyage, he accomplished so much good that the King wanted to retain him at his capital. But Xavier's heart was now bound up in the mission to India, and he sailed from Lisbon, April 7, 1541. He wintered at Mozambique and did not arrive in Goa until May 6, 1542. He found the lives of the European Christians in India so scandalous that it was useless to preach to the natives with such a perverse example under their eyes. Accordingly he first took up the reformation of the foreign townspeople, and succeeded in awakening a spirit of exemplary penance and religious fervor. Then he began his labors among the natives by preaching among the pearl-fishing population of the coast from Comorin to the island of Manar and on the coast of Ceylon. After a little more than a year he returned to Goa, whence, with a fresh staff of assistants, he visited the Kingdom of Travancore. In the space of a single month here he baptized 10,000 natives. Thence he passed to Malacca, where three other Jesuit missionaries, sent by Ignatius in compliance with Xavier's earnest solicitations, joined him. His success among the dwellers on the coast region proved so encouraging that in 1546 he proceeded to the Banda Islands, to Amboyna, and the Moluccas. Having effected an establishment of the gospel in many places, he now retraced his steps and revisited the scenes of his missionary labors. At Malacca he met a Japanese, from whom he obtained information which filled him with desire for work in that country. After this he crossed to the island of Ceylon, where he converted the King of Kandy, with many of his people. In May, 1548, he returned to Goa, to prepare for the conversion of the Japanese Empire. A distinguished Japanese convert became a valuable auxiliary, and by his aid Xavier was enabled to acquire enough of the Japanese language to translate and explain the Apostles' Creed in it. His first success was insignificant, but before long the usual blessing attended his labors. The mission founded by him at Miako continued to flourish for more than 100 years, until the final expulsion of Christianity from the Japanese Empire. After two years and a half in Japan he resolved to organize a mission to China. At Malacca he tried to arrange with the Governor that an embassy should be sent in the name of the King of Portugal to China, by the help of which he hoped to gain an entrance for his mission. He was not able to effect this, however. Accordingly he took passage in a merchant ship to the island of Sancian, near Macao, which was at that time the trading port of the Chinese with merchants from Portugal. Here, having obtained a Chinese interpreter, he hoped to induce some native merchant to land him secretly on the coast. His plan was baffled by the fears of the Portuguese, who dreaded that the Chinese authorities would punish this infraction of the law. Xavier's disappointment was keen. For years his heroic zeal had tempted him to labors beyond his strength, and his sublime charity had exposed him to privations which had undermined his constitution. He fell ill of fever, for which his attendants could find no means of relief. On the very threshold of what he looked forward to as the greatest opportunity of his missionary life, the saint passed away, on the island of Sancian, according to late biographers, Nov. 27, 1552, though the date December 2 has always been given hitherto. Many miracles were ascribed to him. He was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. His feast day was fixed upon December 3. His only literary remains are a catechism, some short ascetic treatises, and a collection of letters. Of the letters there are translations in most of the modern languages. The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. IX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 169-170. |