Page 11 - Calendar and Prospects

THE PATRON OF THE SCHOOL

The patron of the school is St. Francis Xavier (07.04.1506 – 03.12.1552). Born
of a noble Spanish family, Francis became a follower of St. Ignatius of Loyola
during his studies at the University of Paris and was one of his first
companions. Jesus asked, “What profit would there be for one to gain the
whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26). The words were reiterated
to Francis Xavier who was a young teacher of philosophy and had a highly
promising career in academics, with success and a life of prestige and honour
before him. Francis Xavier, 24 at the time of living and teaching in Paris, did
not heed these words at once. They came from a good friend, Ignatius of
Loyola, whose tireless persuasion finally won the young man of Christ. Francis
then did the spiritual exercises under the direction of St. Ignatius, and in 1534
joined his little community (the infant Society of Jesus). Together at
Montmartre they vowed poverty, chastity and obedience to the apostolic
service according to the directions of the pope. From Venice, where he was
ordained as a priest in 1537, Francis Xavier went on to Lisbon and from there
sailed to the East Indies, landing to Goa, on the west coast of India. For the
next 10 years, he laboured to bring the faith to such widely scattered peoples
as the Hindus, the Malayans and the Japanese. He spent much of that time in
India, and served as provincial of the newly established Jesuit province of
India. Where ever he went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their
food and rough accommodations. He spent countless hours ministering to the
sick and the poor, particularly to lepers. Very often he had no time to sleep or
even to say his breviary but, as we know from his letters, he was filled always
with joy. Francis went through the islands of Malaysia, then up to Japan, he
learned enough Japanese to preach to simple folk, to instruct and to baptize,
and to establish missions for those who were to follow him. From Japan he had
dreams of going to China, but this plan was never realized. Before reaching the
mainland he died. His remains are enshrined in the Church of Good Jesus in
Goa.

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