St Francis Xavier

By sebdalton
  • Apr 7, 1506

    Birth

    Born as Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta (Francis Xavier) at the Sanguesa, Navarre (Spain). His childhood was very privledged, born into a wealthy catholic family.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1525 to Dec 31, 1530

    The University of Paris

    In 1525, Francis began his studies at the University of Paris. He spent his early days as a star athlete whilst studying philosophy. 1529 when he met his new roommates Ignatius Loyola and Pierre Fabre (Peter Faber). Ignatius was a devout Christian and preached his beliefs that his roommates should become priests. Pierre was converted by Ignatius but Francis was too stubborn and self obsessed. However he was eventually persuaded and Francis agreed.
  • Aug 15, 1534

    The Beginnings

    In 1534, seven men met in a crypt below the Church of Saint Denis. They were, Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola, Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Lainez, Nicolas Bobadilla, Peter Fabre and Simao Rodrigues. Together they made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and to preach the word of God and convert people to Christianity.
  • Jun 24, 1537

    Becoming a Priest

    In 1534 Francis began studying theology and he was later ordained as a priest on the 24th of June 1537.
  • Jan 1, 1539

    The Society of Jesus

    After long discussions the plans that the seven men had made in 1534 had become a reality and Ignatius of Loyola created the plans for a monastic order called the Society of Jesus, which was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.
  • Period: May 6, 1542 to Dec 31, 1545

    Missionary Work in India/Goa

    In 1541, Francis departed Lisbon and began the 13 month voyage to Goa, India. Francis' duty in Goa was to restore Christianity to the Portuguese settlers. He spent his first five months by preaching to the children and ministering and preaching to the sick and in hospitals. Xavier then walked through the streets ringing a bell to summon people to mass. Xavier then set sail along the Pearl Fishery Coast to preach to the natives and locals, he was so devoted that he even learnt the local language.
  • Period: Apr 1, 1545 to Apr 14, 1549

    Missionary Work in Malacca/Malaku Islands

    Francis spent months on end doing hard labour and preaching the gospel to the Portuguese settlements spread among Malacca and the Malaku Islands. It was in Malaku that Francis met a Japanese man of the name of Anijiro. Anijiro fled Japan as a murderer and asked Francis and God for forgiveness. Anijiro and Francis then collaborated and began their journey to Japan in an attempt to convert the Japanese to Christianity.
  • Period: Jul 27, 1549 to Apr 6, 1552

    Missionary Work in Japan

    After arriving in Japan, Francis was the first ever Jesuit Missionary to voyaged to Japan and he struggled with the language differences, but this did not deter him. Neither did the fact that the emperor forbid the preaching of Christianity to his subjects. It was hard work, but Xavier never gave up and continued preaching.
  • Dec 3, 1552

    Death

    Just 14 kilometers away from mainland China, Xavier became extremely ill and passed away on the island of Shangchuan, Taishan.