Book Description

Title:

The Life of St. Francis Xavier, of the Society of Jesus, Apostle of the India

Author:

William C. Irvine [1871-1946]

Publication Year:

1841

Location:

London

Publisher:

Eugene Cummiskey

Pages:

464

Subjects:

Christian Mission, India, Japan

Copyright Holder:

Public domain

Contents

• Translator's Preface
• Life of St. Francis Xavier

1. Birth of Xavier—Natural dispositions—He is sent to the University of Paris—Is made Lecturer of Philosophy—Becomes acquainted with Ignatius of Loyola—Escapes the snares laid for his faith
2. Change of life in Xavier—He consecrates himself to God by vow—Goes to Venice—Painful mortification—He visits Rome—Is ordained a priest—Prepares to celebrate his first mass
3. Xavier falls sick—Has a vision of St, Jerome—He labours at Bologna—Continued indisposition—He is recalled to Rome—Is appointed for the mission of India—Mysterious manifestations of God's will—Xavier's interviews with Paul III
4. Xavier leaves Rome—Letter to Ignatius—Remarkable incidents of the journey—He passes by the castle of Xavier, without visiting it—Arrives at Lisbon—Appears at Court—Apostolic labours—The doctor of Navarre
5. Effects produced by Xavier and Rodriguez at Court—The King wishes to retain them in Portugal—Intervention of Ignatius—Xavier's parting interview with the King—Extraordinary disinterestedness and magnanimity—He sails for India
6. Passage to India—Xavier's occupation during the voyage—Sickness on board—Xavier's zeal in attending the sick—Arrives at Mozambique—Six months spent on the island—Xavier falls sick—Leaves Mozambique—First prediction—Arrives at Melinda—State of Mahommedanism there—Passes thence to Socotora—His regret at leaving this island—Arrival at Goa—Interview with the bishop
7. State of religion in India on Xavier's arrival—Corruption of the Portuguese population—Idolatrous abominations—Zeal of Xavie—Catechetical instructions—Extraordinary fruits of his public preaching—Reformation of morals in Goa
8. Xavier goes to plant the faith on the Fishery—coast-Miracle at Cape Comorin—Labours among the Saracens—He establishes catechists-Fruits of his labours—He employs children in the miraculous cure of sick persons, and in the delivery of a demoniac—Remarkable punishment of a pagan
9. Indian mythology—Celestial descent of the brahmins—Xavier holds a conference with them—Interview with a famous brahmin—Various miracles—Exposes the brahmins—His austere life and continual labours—Spiritual consolations
10. Xavier returns 1o·Goa—Seminary of the "Holy Faith"—Its foundation, and subsequent transfer to the Society—Xavier returns to the Fishery coast—Visits the kingdom of Travancor—Gift of tongues—Persecution by the brahmins—Miraculous dispersion of an invadmg army—Two dead men restored to life—Conversion of the entire kingdom of Travancor
11. Xavier seeks to obtain a fresh supply of missionaries—Writes to Rome, and to Paris—Sends a missionary to Manar—Constancy of the christians of that island—Their martyrdom—Conversion of the king of Jafanatapan's son—His martyrdom—Miraculous cross—Conversion and flight of two princes—Xavier sets out for Cambaya—Sends Michael Vaz to Portugal--Letter to the king—Its consequences
12. Extraordinary effort of Xavier's zeal—Remarkable conversion—Project of war against the King of Jafanatapan—Remarkable predictions—Xavier raises a dead child to life—Visits the island of Manar, which he delivers from the pestilence—Enterprise agains the King of Jafanatapan defeated—First converts of Macassar—Antonio Galvan—The soldier-missioner—The conversion of the king of Supa and Sion—Xavier sets out for Meliapore—Miraculous foreknowledge
13. Xavier arrives at Meliapore-Monuments of St. Thomas—Remarkable conversions—Wonderful events—A rich merchant aspires to evangelical perfection—Temporary weakness of this mao—Xavier's charity in favour of a distracted gamester
14. Xavier arrives at Malacca-State of that city—Efforts of Xavier's zeal for its reformatinn—He learns the Malaya tongue—Miraculous recovery of Antonio Fernandez—Raises a dead woman to life—Arrival of new missioners from Portugal—Inconstancy of the people of Malacca—Xavier sails for Amboyna—Extraordinary gift of speech—Great zeal—Pestilence en board the Spanish fleet—Charity of Xavier towards the sick—John d'Araus—Remarkable prediction
15. Xavier preaches the gospel in several islands—Miraculous restoration of his crucifix in Baranura—Solitary conversion at Rosalao—Remarkable prediction—Xavier obtains rain from God for the people of Ulate—Their conversion-Sails for the Moluccas—Preaches at Ternate—Deaths of Juan Galvan, and Juan d'Araus—Great success at Ternate—Conversion of a distinguished lady
16. Xavier proposes to visit the isle del Moro—Martyrdom of Simon Vaz, a former missioner there—The people of Ternate oppose the intended voyage—Decree of the governor—Apostolic remonstrance of Francis—Letter to Rome—Manifestation of supernatural knowledge—Eight Portuguese murdered—Arrival at the isle del Moro—Wonderful success—Conversion of all the inhabitants of Tolo and l\Iomoya—Miraculous escape—Spiritual consolations
17. Xavier returns to Ternate—Remains there during Lent—Endeavours to convert the king of that island—Conversion of the king's brother—Departs from Ternate—Arrives at Amboyna—Exercises his zeal among the soldiers—Remarkable prediction—Miraculous cross—Constancy of the christians of Amboyna—Xavier leaves that island—Probable time of his visit to Macassar
18. Mansilla dismissed from the Society—New missionaries—John Deyro again relapses—Remarkable vision and precliction—Incessant occupations of Xavier—Hostilities against Malacca—Expedition of Achen—Suilden, and destructive attack on the city—Bombastic defiance—Counsel of Xavier—He overcomes great difficulties in its execution—Vow of the soldiers—Loss of a vessel—Tumult among the people—Prophecy of Xavier—Its accomplishment—Departure of the fleet—False rumour—Consternation in Malacca—Insidious attempt of the King of Bintan—Engagement of the two fleets—Dreaclful slaughter of the enemy—Miraculous manifestations of the victory- Triumphant return of the fleet
19. Arrival of a Japanese-Causes of his visit-Providential interposition-Xavier sends him to Goa—Sails himself for Cochin—Strait of Ceylon—Dreadful storm—Miraculous preservation—Xavier writes to the King of Portugal—His letter—Writes also to Father Simon Rodriguez—Spiritual delights during the storm
20. Xavier visits the Fishery-coast—Is consoled by the faith and piety of its inhabitants—Encourages and instructs his fellow missioners—Passes over to Ceylon—Attempts the conversion of the king of Jafanatapan
21. Xavier reproves a young nobleman—Cosmo de Torrez joins the Society—Baptism of Anger and his two attendants—Their great piety—Xavier determines to go to Japan
22. Expedition to Aden—Extraordinary zeal—Xavier converts a licentious soldier—Returns to Goa—Sickness and death of Don John de Castro—Interior delights—Arrival of five missioners from Europe—Many apply to be received into the Society—Xavier consoles Father Henriquez—Returns to Cochin—Thence to Bazain
23. His friends oppose Xavier's voyage to Japan—He rebukes them for their pusillanimity—He writes to Ignatius—He constitutes Father Paul Camerino, superior in his absence—Instructions for his conduct in that office—He sends Father Gaspar Darzaeus to Ormuz—Gives him written directions for his guidance
24. Xavier sets out for Japan—Stops at Cochin—Extraordinary conversion—Arrives at Malacca—Deplorable state of the Grand vicar—Xavier prepares him for death—He is consoled by the edifying lives of Francis Perez and Roch Oliviera—Juan Bravo joins the Society—Xavier abridges his noviceship, and gives him special instructions—Extraordinary circumstance in Japan-Xavier departs from Malacca—He is afflicted at the idolatry of the crew-Melancholy occurrence—He arrives in Japan.
25. Sketch of Japan, its government and religion—Paul de Sainte' Foi at the court of Saxuma—Xavier commences the study of the Japanese language—ls presented at court—Begins to preach—Visits the bonzas—They oppose him—Austere life of Xavier
26. Miraculous draught of fishes—Cure of a leper—A young woman restored to life—Exemplary chastisements—Deputation of the bonzas to the king—Edict against the christians—Xavier proposes to leave his infant flock—Sets out from Gangoxima—Visits the fortress of Elkandono—Makes many converts there—Piety, zeal, and lively faith of these new christians
27. Xavier arrives at Firando—Great success of his preaching—Sets out for Meaco—Stops at Amanguch—Journey thence to Meaco—Zeal of Xavier—He is miraculously preserved from being stoned to death—Leaves Meaco and returns to Amanguchi—Trait of disinterestedness—The king protects the missioners—Importunities of the Japanese—Letters to Ignatius—Miraculous multiplication of Xavier's words—Wonderful success of his ministry—Interior delights—Admirable patience of Fernanuez—The bonzas lose credit with the people—They inspire the king with distrust of Xavier—Xavier uetcrmines on returning to India
28. Xavier leaves Amanguchi—Is honourably received by the Portuguese at Fichen—Invitation from the King of Bungo—Grand procession—Extraordinary child—Xavier is graciously received by the King—Insolence of a bonza—Xavier receives extraordinary honours
29. Xavier labours wilh great fruit at Fucheo—Converts a famous bonza—Favourable change in the morals of the court—Labours and sufferings of Xavier's companions at Amanguchi—Revolution in that kingdom—New king—Parting address of Xavier to the King of Bungo
30. Conspiracy of the bonzas against the king of Bungo—Calumnies against Xavier—Conference with a celebratecl bonza—Excitement of the people against the Portuguese—Xavier refuses to depart with his companions—Heroic conduct of Edward de Gama—New conference with Fucarandono—Xavier leaves Japan
31. Prediction of Xavier—Terrific tempest—Prophecy—Miraculous multiplication of Xavier's presence—Arrives at Sancian, and sails thence for Malacca—Francis D' Aghiar—Fulfilment of Xavier's assurance to him—Xavier confers with Pereyra on the embassy to China—Generous offer of the merchant—Arrival at Malacca—History of the "Santa Cruz"
32. Conversion of the king of the Maldive islands—Xavier writes to Europe—Arrives in Goa-Flourishing state of the missions—The kings of Tanor and Trichenamalo embrace the faith—Letter of the bishop of Goa to Ignatius—The king of Portugal continues to favour the missions of the Society—Father Antonio Gomez; his extravagancies and punishment
33. Embassy to China—Zeal for the missions—Xavier is made Provincial of the Society in India—He makes Father Gaspar Barzaeus, Rector of the College at Goa, and Vice Provincial—Contest of humility—Instructions to Barzaeus—Xavier sends Andrew Fernandez to Europe—Letters to the King—Parting admonition to the Fathers of Goa
34. Xavier departs from Goa—Violent tempest—Xavier announces the pestilence which raged at Malacca—Attends the sick—Restores a dead man to life—Unexpected opposition from the governor—His tyrannical conduct—Xavier threatens him with excommunication—Excommunicates him—Affliction of Xavier—Letter to Pereyra—Xavier perseveres in his resolution to go to China—Predicts the punishment of the goyernor—Leaves Malacca.
35. Miraculous supply of water—Some Arabs converted—Extraordinary restoration of a child—Conversion of many at Cincheo—The ship arrives at Sancian—Anecdote of Peter Veglio—Francis foretells his death—Accomplishment of that and other predictions
36. The Portuguese of Sancian oppose Xavier's design—He is encouraged by some Chinese merchants—The Portuguese prevail on him to defer it—Letters to Pereyra, and to Father Barzaeus—Abrupt departure, and melancholy fate, of a merchant—Xavier suffers great distress—He is disappointed by the Chinese interpreter and captain-Falls sick—Foreknowledge of his appreaching death—Unskilful treatment—Heartless desertion—His last moments
37. Xavier's burial—Shameful neglect—Cross of Navarre—Preservation of Xavier's body—It is brought to Malacca—Miraculous events accompanying its arrival there—Neglect of the people of that city—Re-examination of the body—It is sent to Goa-Preservation from shipwreck—Solemn reception of the body at Goa-Great devotion of the people
38. Process of the life and miracles of Xavier—His memory is reverenced by Mahometans and Christians—The King of Portugal petitions for his canonization—Virtues of Xavier—His spirit of recollection and prayer—His zeal for the Divine honour—His charity for his neighbour—Instance of heroic virtue
39. Xavier's labour; for the conversion of souls-Extent and dangers of his travels—Prayer of Xavier-Diversified character of his zeal—Heroic intrepidity—Confidence in God—Wonderful humility—Relation of Ordognez Cavnlio—Various extracts from the letters of Xavier—His perfect obedience—Letter o( Ignatius—Love of the Society—Poverty of Xavier—His spirit of mortification—His devotion to the Blessed Virgin
40. Conversion of the king of Bungo—He solicits—the canonization of Xavier from the Holy See—The Portuguese ships salute Sancian—Pilgrimage of an Indian convert to Navarre—Various miraculous cures through the intercession of Xavier—Cross of Corate—Miraculous medal—Continued preservation of Xavier's body—He is beatified, and shortly afterwards canonized—Bull of his canonization—Testimonies of Protestant writers

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