Hi Vivek, I am afraid you got a few dates slightly wrong. Also, beware that many of the authorities on which the biographies of Xavier have been based are untrustworthy so, please allow me a few corrections to your text: Francisco de Xavier was born in the Basque Region. He was born in 1506 in the kingdom of Navarre, on the northern border of Aragon. He was the youngest of six children. His father, Don Juan de Jassu (Definitely not Dr. Joao de Xavier - which is completely wrong!!!!), was a grave and learned man, a Doctor of Laws of Bologna. He was also chancellor of Navarre, and married to Dona Maria de Azpilcueta y Xavier, a wealthy lady, sole heiress of two very proud and noble Basque and Navarrese families. Francisco de Xavier was born at his mother's castle of Xavier, at the foot of the Pyrenees and close to the little town of Sanguesa on the 7th April 1506. Following a Spanish custom, Francisco adopted the surname of his extremely wealthy mother and not of his father and therefore he was named Francisco de Xavier (not Francisco Xavier).
So, the father of S. Francisco de Xavier was Dom Juan de Jassu and did not have the surname of Xavier. Our saint got his surname from his mother, following a very old Spanish custom where the surname of the child can come either from the father or from the mother or from both. His mother's surname (maiden surname) was indeed Xavier and she was the sole heiress of two noble and very wealthy Basque families. Francisco de Xavier was born at her mother's Castle of Xavier. Best regards, Paulo Colaco Dias. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of vivek araujo Sent: 02 October 2003 18:38 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Goanet]Goan Association of New York ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
