St Francisco Xavier's body was hardly a gift from Cosimo. The silver casket that contains the body was, I believe. The sarcophagus is also fine florentine work, Tuscan artisans having been brought over for the purpose.
Had the Medici had any say in the matter the relics might have lain in their chapel, under the altar Michaelangelo designed for Il Magnifico.
Dates are also wrong. His body was translated to Goa, having earlier been translated from his original grave on Sangchwan to Malacca, all within under two decades. The process for canonization, which involved lengthy medical examinations as well as transfer of an arm and various other body-parts to Lisbon and Rome was accomplished much under 150 years.
SFX died, accompanied by a Goan-mestizo ("half-caste", in most records), at the age of 46, December 3, 1552, and canonized 1622.
May he bless us all! Alfred de Tavares Stockholm, 2004-01-23
From: "Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet]Excerpt from the Daily Telegraph. Re. SFX. (Goan Voice latest)
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 18:17:31 -0000
17 Jan. The Daily Telegraph. (London). Perhaps the finest example of baroque
architecture in India is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, in Goa. The church is
the resting place for the remains of the 16th-century saint, Francis Xavier,
who was credited with sundry miracles including raising the dead. His body
was brought to Goa almost 150 [sic] years after his death, a gift from
Cosimo III de' Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
The feast of St Francis Xavier, celebrated on December 3, attracts thousands
of pilgrims. However, many hold that the saint initiated the 16th-century
inquisitions, resulting in the destruction of Hindu temples and "infidels"
being burned alive.
Cheers, Gabe Menezes.
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