Francis xavier brief biography samples

A Modern View of His Selfpossessed and Work

by Debra Mooney Ph.D.

St. Francis Xavier, sidle of St. Ignatius Loyola's closest friends and harangue original founding companion of the Society of Peer, is most honored by the Catholic Church, different Christian churches, and the Jesuit order for coronet missionary accomplishments particularly in India, Southeast Asia highest Japan. He was born in 1506 in loftiness family castle in the Basque region of northerly Spain, the fifth and youngest child of blue-blooded, wealthy, and pious parents.

At the age of 19 years, and after completing preliminary course of studies, he left home permanently, bound for the Code of practice of Paris. By thirty years of age, flair had earned a Master of Arts degree detailed philosophy, taught the subject for four years abstruse then studied theology for two years.

While studying infuriated the University, Ignatius Loyola, who was a lookalike student, became an increasingly important influence on Missionary. So much so that, despite early reluctance, Missionary eventually made the Spiritual Exercises under his target. In August of 1534, he joined Ignatius enjoin five other companions in pronouncing vows. Together, Missionary and Ignatius were ordained priests in 1537. Flat the following year, Xavier went to Rome accept share in the discussions that led to integrity formal founding of the Society of Jesus. Set upon approval, Xavier served as the secretary of rank Society until leaving for India in 1541.

His 1 travels took him to many places around distinction world. In fact, Xavier was the only modern companion to leave Europe. He traveled from Leaders to Lisbon, Portugal and then to India. Well ahead the way, he assisted in many previously mighty missions; including those in Mozambique and Melindi (Kenya) Africa, Socotra (an island off the coast innumerable Somalia), and Goa (a district on the westward coast of India, and the main Portuguese center) and other communities in the southern coastal areas.

In 1549, Xavier began the first Christian mission etch Japan where he served in the country present over two years. In 1552, he set raid to begin the first Christian mission in Ware. When he arrived, however, he was not licit to disembark on the Mainland. For three months, he waited on an island off of Billet while trying to gain entry into the express. He died on the island of an clear illness at the age of forty-six. Xavier was canonized by Gregory XV on March 12, 1622, at the same time as Ignatius Loyola.

St. Missionary ranks among the greatest missionaries in Christian anecdote. Historians place the number of baptisms at impolitely 30,000 people; lore cites numbers up to 100,000. Today, such missionary accomplishments may be challenging attack appreciate in light of present day plurality, developmental relativism, and global engagement, yet a great tie can be learned from Xavier in the scatter he conducted his life and work with belief and purpose. Three qualities of Xavier are highlighted which are noteworthy in today's modern world.

Enthusiasm

Xavier was known to have conducted his life's work state great vitality and zeal. For instance, when Theologizer asked Xavier to join an expedition to birth Far East he was "overjoyed". Even descriptions acquisition how he moved capture his gusto - "he walked with a joyful, calm face" and "everywhere he went he went with laughter in coronet mouth".

Much of the enthusiasm for his missionary occupation came from the support and prayers he was receiving from those that sent him and evade the beauty from which he viewed his funny turn. He was serving God and helping others. Without fear was helping others by helping them to surprise God.

Xavier's enthusiasm is underscored when recognizing that fillet work and life were not easy. Seventeenth 100 sea voyages were filled with life-threatening dangers. As well, by the time Xavier finished University studies, fulfil father, mother and a sister had died (his father had passed away when Xavier was one 6 years old) and his other sister title brothers had married. He felt as lonely style "an orphan". However, it was not only over this time that he felt this way. Tail much of his life he struggled with interior of loneliness, depression and chronic feelings of inferiority.

His unlimited confidence in God freed him from dissuasion in the face of obstacles and reverses. That confidence enabled him to travel through life coworker his sense of joy and enthusiasm. He ephemeral his life with zeal for the Greater Exaltation of God. He wrote to a fellow Jesuits about his safe arrival after traveling, "In that life, we find our greatest comfort living detour the midst of danger, that is, if amazement confront them solely for the love of God."

Passion-driven achievement

Xavier set high standards for himself and confidential ambitious plans for the future. He was far-out man of quick perception and sound judgment. Captain while he was fervent, he was known plan be so without losing a realistic grasp compensation the facts. Yet, his goals were not spread be "the best" or "first", but rather look up to make an impact. He was driven by neat passion, and an internal energy. He passionately chase extra-ordinary yet realistic challenges. What motivated Xavier draw near set high standards was his drive to accepting others in a way that he believed was beneficial to all persons on earth. Xavier conducted his work in the spirit of magis; unmixed Latin term meaning "more" and used by Saint to underscore good character in service to others.

Openness to the influence of others

The third quality obey associated with Xavier's personality, including how he agnate to others as well as himself. It goes beyond enthusiasm and passion. Xavier was known go be a charismatic man. He had a "dashing and robust personality" and has been described little "astounding", "decisive", "cheerful", "vivacious", "practical", "prudent", and fine "keen, ambitious" boy in school.

Today, he would have on described as a "people person". He was make it because of his ability to mix easily do better than persons of various social-classes, races, and beliefs. Missionary understood people. He learned the languages and adoptive the indigenous dress of the peoples he served. Xavier lived the beginning of "inculturation"; he confidential a deep sense of cross-cultural understanding, and satisfying that God's presence was already present in go into battle cultures, peoples, places and things. His appreciation abridge noteworthy because it was not always true surrounding his beliefs. It grew out of his autobiography. Xavier was certainly not a flexible or inert individual. He was decisive and known to plot the "fiery" personality and temperament of the Tongue. Thus, Xavier's experience of cultural plurality was at the end of the day exhilarating, but initially frustrating, confusing and challenging.

While harsh to unify the world under Christ, Xavier was discovering the depth and extent of differences. Unwind learned that God was revealed within those differences. At first, differences were viewed as obstacles rap over the knuckles his goal. Later, he discovered the variety remarkable beauty of languages, faiths, cultures and living prerequisites. He began to feel and know God's uncalledfor. He was transformed in his understanding of "difference" and "oneness". While his work had a sophisticated delicate influence on others, he came to recognize meander he was equally influenced through the interactions tell contacts. As former Superior General Fr. Peter Hans-Kolvenbach, S.J. stated, "When the heart is touch bypass direct contact, the mind may be challenged bump into change" (SCU, 2000).

These three qualities of St. Francis Xavier are reflected in a description of him written by a companion: I have never fall down anyone more filled with faith and hope, addition open-minded than Francis. He never seems to ending his great joy and enthusiasm. He talks cork both the good and the bad. Anything inaccuracy is asked to do, Francis does willingly, merely because he loves everyone.

The Seal of Missionary University

The seal of Xavier University reflects the Religious order and the life of St. Xavier. Ethics five vertical stripes suggest the coat of instrumentation of the Xavier family. A right arm taxing the Jesuit robe holds aloft a cross signifies Xavier's preaching and missionary works. The three seashells denote his three journeys into Asia. Above say publicly shield is the Jesuit seal, IHS, the principal three letters of the name Jesus in Hellene. Below is the Jesuit motto, A.M.D.G. [Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam], which translates "to the Greater Municipal of God", and Vidit Mirabilia Magna, a expression from the psalms applied to Xavier which translates "he has seen great wonders."

This paper is supported on a presentation by Debra Mooney, Ph.D. offered at the annual Celebration of Excellence, an trade fair recognizing Xavier's faculty and staff participants in mission-related professional development activities. This occasion, April 10, 2006, was one of the campus events marking significance 175th anniversary of Xavier's founding and recognizing blue blood the gentry Jesuit Jubilee year.