Our Patron Saint
Saint Francis Xavier
Saint Francis Xavier was born April 7, 1506 in Xavier, Spain to a noble family. In 1525, he went to study in Paris, and received a Master of Arts degree in 1530 and taught Aristotelian philosophy at the University of Paris. In 1534, Francis started to study theology and went with six other students to a crypt under the Church of Saint Denis (now Saint Pierre de Montmartre) and made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope, and to go to the Holy Land to convert infidels. Francis was ordained on June 24, 1537.
Francis was asked by Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, to be a missionary and share the faith with the people of the East Indies. Francis Xavier devoted his life to various missions in Asia. He died December 3, 1552 in China, where he was beginning his evangelization journey there.
Pope Gregory XV canonized Francis Xavier on March 12, 1622 at the same time as Ignatius Lyola. Pope Piux XI proclaimed him the "Patron of Catholic Missions." Saint Xavier's feast day is December 3.
Francis was asked by Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, to be a missionary and share the faith with the people of the East Indies. Francis Xavier devoted his life to various missions in Asia. He died December 3, 1552 in China, where he was beginning his evangelization journey there.
Pope Gregory XV canonized Francis Xavier on March 12, 1622 at the same time as Ignatius Lyola. Pope Piux XI proclaimed him the "Patron of Catholic Missions." Saint Xavier's feast day is December 3.
