- 21 November, 2024
St. Francis Xavier, the co-founder of the Jesuit order and one of the greatest Catholic missionaries of all time, is celebrated not only for his tireless dedication to spreading Christianity but also for the numerous miracles and mysteries surrounding his life and legacy. From his remarkable travels across Asia to the seemingly supernatural events that followed him, St. Francis Xavier’s life remains a source of awe and inspiration for millions. In the run-up to the 18th Exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, let us delve into some of the most fascinating miracles and mysteries attributed to this remarkable saint.
One of the greatest mysteries surrounding St. Francis Xavier is his body, which has still not decomposed nearly 600 years after his demise. After his death on December 3, 1552, St. Francis Xavier’s body was temporarily buried on the island of Shangchuan in China. After his burial, his body was exhumed on at least two occasions. Each time, it was found to be remarkably preserved from decomposition, although it was buried with limestone, which breaks down the flesh.
This state of a human body not getting decomposed even after death is referred to in the Catholic Church as an "incorruptible state". St. Francis Xavier’s body remains partially intact till today and is displayed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, India, drawing pilgrims from around the world.
One of the strangest and most widely discussed mysteries surrounding St. Francis Xavier involves the phenomenon of bilocation, or the ability to appear in multiple places simultaneously. Several people claimed to have seen him in different locations far apart from one another at the same time, preaching or helping the sick. While no scientific evidence exists to support bilocation, similar accounts have been recorded about other saints, adding a layer of mystery to this saint’s life.
Saint Francis Xavier has been credited with several miracles where he resurrected people from the dead. One such miracle took place during the time when he was on a mission in South India. He was about to begin Mass in a small church on the Pearl Fishery Coast at Coimbatore when a crowd entered with the corpse of a boy who had drowned in a well. The mother of the boy threw herself at the feet of St. Francis, who was also the one who had baptized this child. Francis said a short prayer, took the dead child by the hand and bade him arise. The child rose and immediately ran to his mother.
One of the most astonishing elements of St. Francis Xavier’s missionary work is the claim that he was able to communicate fluently with people of many different languages, even though he had no formal training in them. His journey took him through various cultures across India, Japan, and the Malay Archipelago, where he preached Christianity to people who spoke languages vastly different from his native Basque or Portuguese. It is said that through divine intervention, he was able to spread the Gospel in languages he hadn’t studied, a phenomenon some call the “gift of tongues.”
St. Francis Xavier performed a lot of miracles while doing missionary work in Kottar and surrounding areas in Travancore (modern-day Tamil Nadu). In 1544, Travancore was ruled by Unni Kerala Varma. During that time, an army of badagas (tax collectors) under the leadership of Captain Vittal Rao of Vijayanagar marched to capture Travancore. As the army of badagas reached Kottar, the people panicked and fled from there. The invading badagas wanted to attack Unni Kerala Varma, the Maharajah of Travancore, and his people. After Unni Kerala Varma’s efforts to avert the attack failed, he sought the help of the Portuguese through the influence of Francis Xavier, who was his good friend. St. Xavier stepped on the battlefield and appeared before the advancing army with the crucifix in his hand. For reasons known only to the almighty, the attackers on seeing the crucifix retreated. However, they set fire to St. Francis Xavier's humble dwelling near the church.
Despite the leaping flames, intense heat, and fire, the saint fell on his knees and prayed to the holy ghost. That the priest did not get hurt or burnt in the hot flame was a riddle and the onlookers literally stood there dumbfounded. Thus St. Xavier saved the frightened people of Travancore from impending plunder, threats, and consequent violence and death. The local ruler, very much impressed by St. Francis Xavier's mystical power and devotion to God granted him land as a token of his gratitude and goodwill so that he could build a church for the Christians living there. To mark the place, a Cross was put up, to which miraculous powers were attributed.
In the year 1546, while travelling to Malacca by sea, the ship in which St. Francis Xavier was sailing in was struck by a fierce storm. With much faith, St. Francis Xavier threw his cross into the sea, asking God to make it an instrument to pacify the turbulent sea. God indeed came to his aid. The storm halted and the sea calmed down. But he lost his cross. Legend has it that upon reaching the shores of Malacca, Francis Xavier found a crab crawling towards him holding the missing cross in one of its claws. This story was so important that it was depicted on the altar at the canonization ceremony of St. Francis Xavier. It was one of four miracles represented on the banner that decorated St. Peter’s Basilica on that occasion.
The life of St. Francis Xavier is one marked by extraordinary miracles and intriguing mysteries. Whether one views these accounts with faith, skepticism, or fascination, the impact of his legacy remains undeniable, captivating the hearts and minds of millions.
By Steve Antao
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