Marking the Feast of St. Francis Xavier

Saturday, December 3, marks the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

Born into a Basque noble family in 1506, he was one of the first companions of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus. He was ordained in 1537 and became the Society’s first foreign missionary.  Francis Xavier’s travels took him onward to Japan; he died in 1552 within reach of China. He is remembered for his tireless efforts to proclaim the Gospel.

To learn more about Francis Xavier, we suggest the following resources:

Saint Francis Xavier: A Digital Pilgrimage
Jesuits on…Francis Xavier
Saint Francis Xavier, 1506-1552