St. Francis Xavier Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506 in the erstwhile kingdom of Navarre, now in Spain. He was born in an aristocratic family to father Juan de Jaso, Privy Consellor to the King John-III of Navarre. His mother was Doria Maria de Azpilcueta Aznarez. His birth name was Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta. Francis Xavier met Ignatius of Loyola, when he went to study in Paris. Francis Xavier together with Ignatius Loyola and five others founded the Society of Jesus on August 15, 1534 in a small chapel in Montmartre. They took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Francis Xavier was ordained a priest on June 24, 1537 in Venice. He went to various countries for missionary work and converted large number of people to Christianity. He died of a fever on December 3, 1552 at Shangchuan Island in China and his body was buried there first. His incorrupt body was taken from there and again buried in St. Paul's church in Malacco on March 22, 1553. On December 11, 1553, his body was shipped to Goa, India and is now in the Basilica of Bonn Jesus. His body was cased in a silver casket on December 2, 1637. Francis Xavier was beatified by pope Paul-V on October 25, 1619. He was canonized by pope Gregory-XV on March 12, 1622 along with Ignatius of Loyola. Francis Xavier is the patron of Roman Catholic Missionaries in foreign countries. #Patron #PatronSaint #Saint #Xavier #Missionary #Visionary #Faith #Goa #Body