SAINTS - X

St. Francis Xavier - Feast: December 3rd (Obligatory Memorial)
Born: 1506 -- Died: 1552 -- Canonized: 1622
Roman Calendar: Yes (1663) -- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. Francis was born in Navarre, Spain in 1506 A.D. He became a follower of St. Ignatius Loyola. When St. Francis heard the following words from St. Ignatius he renounced his wordly goods. "What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his soul." St. Francis was ordained in 1537 in Rome. In 1541 he went for 10 years to the Orient and India preaching the Gospel. St. Francis died in 1552 near the China coast. He is the Patron Saint of Missions.