St Francis Xavier.
1506-1552 ~ Francis was born in Pamplona, Spain in the castle owned by his parents. He studied and graduated in Theology at university, but decided to join the newly formed Society of Jesuits, set up by St Ignatius Loyola. He was ordained three years later. Ignatius wanted Francis to be a teacher, but decided to send him to India to replace a brother who became ill. On his journey, he made numerous friends and converted many people. He arrived in Goa and using it as his headquarters, set to work with his missionary projects into Southern India. The plan was quite simple; he would visit a village, talk to them and explain Christ to them. He would sing songs to the children and baptise them. Francis travelled thousand of miles, converting thousands of people along the way. Apart from St Paul, Francis was the greatest of all missionaries. He worked in very difficult climatic conditions and under great hardships, travelling to almost inaccessible places. He was known to perform miracles over the years. Some of his conversions were extremely hard and seemed impossible as he did not speak their languages and had to use interrupters. Francis visited Japan in 1549 and after learning basic Japanese words, he ventured to Kyoto with three Japanese Christians to help him. After two years, he left a Portuguese priest in charge and returned to India. It was arranged for him to go to China, a place he had always dreamed of converting, but the Chinese authorities would not let foreigners into the country it was planned that he would be smuggled in on a Chinese junk. Unfortunately, he was taken ill on the way and died in a small hut with a young Chinese boy called Anthony. Francis was only forty-six years old when he died and his body was taken back to Goa, where a shrine was built for him. He became known as “The Apostle of the Indies” and “The Apostle of Japan” He was canonised in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. He is patron saint of all foreign missions.