The Church calls Saint Francis Xavier “the Apostle to the Indies” and “the Apostle of Japan.” The word apostle means “one who is sent.” Jesus sent his twelve apostles out to announce the coming of God’s kingdom. Hundreds of years later, the Church sent Francis Xavier out to the Indies to preach the same good news.

Francis was born in Spain in 1506. He joined the Jesuit Order in 1534. Then, in 1541, he sailed to Goa, India. There, he preached about Jesus—the poor carpenter of Nazareth.

Francis knew that actions speak louder than words. So he not only told the poor people of India the message of the Gospels. He acted out this message by living, sleeping, eating, playing, and working among the poor. Did they live in rickety huts? So did he! Did they eat only rice? So did he! Did they work long hours in the hot sun? So did he! Because of his words and actions, many thousands came to believe in the Christian God of mercy and love and tenderness.

In 1547, Francis sailed to Japan. In the two years he was there, he baptized thousands of people. But Francis had a dream. He wanted to take the good news to China. So, in 1552 he set sail again. But on board ship, he got sick. Fearful, the sailors left him on a deserted island with only one friend. There, at the age of forty-six, he died, far from home, but not far from God.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
Junior High, Liturgy and Morality, chapter 23