Feast of St Francis Xavier Celebrated in India

(December 03,2011) Thousands of pilgrims from all over India thronged to the Jesuit-run Basilica of Bom Jesu in Old Goa, Saturday, to mark the Feast of St Francis Xavier, first companion of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order. In Goa his sacred remains reside in a glass-paneled silver casket for pilgrims to revere. Francis Xavier, born April 6, 1506, arrived in Goa on May 6, 1542. Just one decade of missionary work made him one of the best-known saints in the history of the Church. He died on December 2, 1552, on the island of Sancian, near the coast of China. Both accolades and criticisms of the saint have accumulated over nearly five centuries since his death. His burning zeal to “Go and set all on fire” (the parting words of his mentor St Ignatius) drove him to travel over 80,000 kilometers to people and places unknown to him. Criticisms include that the saint was prejudiced against Indians because he opposed their recruitment to the priesthood. St Francis Xavier was a poor linguist and could not have possibly converted the more than 10,000 souls attributed to him. He also brought Portuguese imperialism to India along with Christianity, though preceded in the latter respect by St Thomas.