St. Francis Xavier, SJ (1506-1552) Patron Saint of the School

The great missionary St. Francis Xavier was from a Basque noble family in Spain, like his beloved mentor St. Ignatius Loyola. When Francis met Ignatius in Paris he was a proud, autocratic, ambitious man wanting to accomplish great deeds in the world. For three years Ignatius patiently encouraged Francis to look at his life differently. “What profits a man,” Ignatius asked Francis, “if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”

Francis joined Ignatius as his companion and was ordained a priest in 1537. In 1541 King John of Portugal asked Ignatius for priests to send to the missions in India. Despite knowing he would never see his beloved companion again, Ignatius chose Francis Xavier for the mission. Francis left for India, arriving at the city of Goa in 1542.

For the next ten years the missionary Francis Xavier travelled from Goa to Cape Comorin in south India, then to the East Indies, Malacca, and the Moluccas, and onward to Japan. It was Francis Xavier’s great ambition to get Permission to enter China as a missionary. He died on 03 December, 1552, on a small island off the coast of China with a single companion at his side.

St. Francis Xavier’s great ambition was to bring the word to Jesus Christ. Armed only with his prayer book and a book of meditations, Francis Preached the Gospel to the poor and sick, spending most of his time Ministering to their needs. His heart was aflame with a burning zeal to do Greater things for God. May our Patron Saint inspire and bless us to strive for Excellence in life!