########################################################################## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
St. Francisco Xavier - his life and times (Part 3) By Dr. Jose Colaco In 1529, he gained the degree of licentiate and the following year, the Masters' degree. It was at Sta. Barbara that Francisco and his room-mate Pierre Favre met Inigo ( Ignacio ) de Loyola, a freshman at the college. At the outset, Francisco did not take too kindly to Ignacio, his new, fellow- Basque but older room-mate. But Pierre was impressed by Ignacio�s good and spiritual way of life. And Ignacio often came to the financial assistance of Francisco, who, as a student, lived much beyond his means. Francisco heard a constant refrain from Ignacio � What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but lose his own soul �. With the benefit of time and experience, Francisco saw-through the apparently friendly ways of his devious companions. He subsequently moved away from any conversations or friendship with them. The three room-mates at Sta. Barbara College in Paris provided the Catholic Church with a Counter to the Reformation that was sweeping through Europe - the eventual formation of the Society of Jesus. This group of three were soon to be joined by four others - Simon Azavedo, Jaime Laynez, Alphonso Salmeron and Nicolas Bobadilla. They decided that they would go to the Holy Land and devote their lives to the service of God. They took their vows in a chapel at Montmartre on August 15, 1534. After the process of spiritual and corporal exercises, they proceeded to Rome to obtain the blessings of Pope Paul III for their trip to Jerusalem. Three years later in 1537, Francisco received the priesthood along with Inigo. At about this time, King Joao III of Portugal made a request to the Pope for priests to pastor to the needs of the growing number of subjects in the Portuguese overseas colonies. The King, of course, had heard about Ignacio, Francisco and Favre. The Pope, cognisant of the treacherous nature of the sea- routes to the Portuguese colonies in the East, was hesitant to mandate any priest to proceed on this mission. Fr. Ignacio de Loyola ( Inigo ), finally but with some reluctance, called upon Fr. Francisco to go to India. >From Rome, Fr. Francisco travelled in 1540 to Lisbon in order to catch the boat to India. There, he had an audience with King Joao III. The king was deeply touched by the spirit, humility and genuineness of Fr. Francisco, who spent a year in Lisbon caring for the sick at the 'Todos os Santos' hospice, visiting the poor at home, the incarcerated in prison and learning Portuguese. The King would later write to the Pope to expedite the recognition of the Society of Jesus. On April 7, 1541, Fr. Francisco and his missionary group set sail from Lisbon in the company of the fleet of five ships. Even though he was reserved choice cabin accomodation on the flagship, Francisco opted to travel on the deck in the company of the sailors and soldiers. The seas were rough and the conditions difficult. After stopovers in Mocambique and Malindi in Kenya, the entourage completed its scheduled six month journey in thirteen perilous months, finally reaching Goa on May 5, 1542. The entry into Goa, via the River Mandovi, was a magnificent one. So impressed was Fr. Francisco by this island of beautiful churches, monastaries, buildings and 'so many Christians' that he described it as a COISA PARA VER ( a thing to be seen ). He also noted how well Christianity was flourishing among so many non-believers. November 23, 1996 comments to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Click here for more information on Dr Jose Colaco Photos By William Rodrigues during The Feast Of St. Francis Xavier 4th Dec, 2000 CREDITS Article By Dr Jose Colaco Photos By William Rodrigues Input & Services By Cecil Pinto Presented by Goa-World Team www.goa-world.com (C) Copyrights Reserved
