Holy Javier!

The name Javier, in Spanish is Xavier in Basque.

It is the name of a town in Spain.

Thus, Francis Xavier means Francis from the town of Xavier in the Navarre area of Spain.

Just to make things more complicated... Navarre is an autonomous region of Spain, independent from the Basque Country, another autonomous region of Spain!

In Navarre, people consider themselves identified with the culture from either Navarre or the neighboring Basque Country.

We visited the town of Xavier where St. Francis was born into a wealthy family in his parents' home which is castle.

Three things I loved about Xavier:

(1) GEOGRAPHY: The drive from San Sebastian to Xavier during daybreak was spectacular. I wish I had a video camera to capture the changing colors of the fields, watching the fog wrestle with the sun, rolling hills, pastures, wildflowers as we drove through Navarre.

(2) MIRACLE: Xavier's mother knew her son had died when she witnessed the Christ statue in their home cry. Many pilgrims thought this statue had a smile on his face. What do you think?

(3) DESTINY: The simplicity of it all and to imagine someone from the 16th century going from this town in the middle of nowhere Spain to Lisbon, Paris, Rome, Goa, Kyoto, Sri Lanka and Sancian


Some important dates about his life:

1506: Born in Xavier, Navarre

1525: Moved to Paris where he lived for 11 years

1528: Ignatius arrives to Paris. They become roommates

1529: His mother dies

1530: Receives his higher degree

1537: Gets permission from Pope to do missionary work in Asia

1541: Arrives in Goa, India (a colony of Portugal)

1552: Javier dies in China

1556: Ignatius dies in Rome