Francis Xavier was born on 7 April 1506 of a noble family in the family castle of Xavier, near Pamplona, in the north of Spain. His father, Dr Juan de Jassu, was the president of the royal council of Navarre province and its finance minister and his mother was Maria de Azpilcueta.
His first teacher was his mother. He joined the University of Paris in 1525 for his higher studies and obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy in 1530. In Paris he met Ignatius of Loyola who influenced him to understand the emptiness of worldly honour, degrees, position and possessions and drew him to serve God. He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1537 along with Ignatius. As he was studying for priesthood, he had heard of the Pearl Fishery Coast of India.
DA MIHI ANIMAS; CEIERA TOLLE GIVE ME SOULS; THE OTHERS TAKE AWAY, Saint Francis Xavier      |    1542 Sep To Pearl Fishery Coast Arrival at Manapad      |    WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND SUFFER THE LOSS OF HIS SOUL. MT 16:26
DA MIHI ANIMAS; CEIERA TOLLE

GIVE ME SOULS; THE OTHERS TAKE AWAY

Saint Francis Xavier
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WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE

WORLD AND SUFFER THE LOSS OF HIS SOUL. MT 16:26
1506 April  07
Birth

1525 Oct 01
Paris University

1530 March 15
Graduation in philosophy
Meet St. Ignatius of Loyola

1534  Aug 15
Vows in Montmartre in Paris

1534 Sep
One month retreat

1536 Nov 15
To Venice from Paris

1537 Jan 08
At Venice

1537 June 24
Priestly Ordination

1540 Mar 15
Travel to Lisbon

1541 April 07
Travel to India

1542 May 06
At Goa

1542 Sep
To Pearl Fishery Coast Arrival
at Manapad

1543 Dec
Return to Goa

1544 Feb
In Pearl Fishery Coast
With Mansilas

1544 Nov
Among Mukkuva

1544 Dec 20
Return to Goa

1545 May-Aug
At Mylapore

1545 Sep
At Malacca

1546 Feb 14
At Amboina

1546 June
TERNATE, MORO ISLANDS

1547 April
Back to India

1548 Jan 13
At Cochin

1548 Feb
At Pearl Fishery Coast

1548 Apr 02
Return to Goa

1549 Apr 15
Travel to Japan

1549 Aug 15
At Kagoshima

1550 Oct
To Miyako

1551 Mar
At Yamaguchi

1551 Nov 16
Travel to India

1552 Feb 15
At Goa

1552 Apr 17
Travel Towards China

1552 Aug
At  Sancian

1552 Nov 21
Sick

1552 Dec 03
Death

1553 Feb
Incorrupt Body Reaches Malacca

1554 Mar 16
Incorrupt Body Reaches Goa

1619 Oct 25
Beatifications

1622 Mar 12
Canonization

Life Events
When Ignatius had just formed his religious order, the Society of Jesus, with just 9 men, the call came from Pope Paul III, as requested by the King of Portugal, that Xavier must go to India to work as a missionary. Accordingly Xavier left for India in the ship named 'Santiago' and reached Goa in 1542 after nearly a year. Initially he worked in the Holy Spirit hospital and taught catechism.
He travelled towards Pearl Fishery Coast and reached Manapad in September 1542. This town of Manapad became the centre of his missionary activities. He worked tirelessly preaching, catechizing and organizing social activities accompanied by miracles. From here he wrote a number of letters, as many as 12 in the year 1544. As a man of great apostolic zeal he travelled much yet visited Manapad a number of times and appointed catechists to carry out his work in his absence.
He went to Colombo, Malacca, Amboina and Ternate (in Indonesia) and Japan. He made an attempt to enter China - his last ambition. Unfortunately he fell ill while waiting for permission to enter China and died on 2 Dec 1552. His incorrupt body was brought to Goa where it is kept for public veneration. His missionary thirst is crystallised in his words: Da mihi animas; cetera tolle.
S. Cruz Fernando
Manapad, India
Saint Francis Xavier
Give me souls, the rest you may take away.