
The story of St. Francis Xavier in comics “Your friend and brother in Christ Francisco”
In preparation for the liturgical feast of St. Francis Xavier on December 3, the day of his birth in heaven, the story of his life in comics is now available. The story, illustrations, text and captions are full of details and narrate the life of the Patron of Catholic Missions as Pius IX proclaimed him in 1927.
On April 7, 1506, St. Francis Xavier was born in the Spanish castle of Javier, in Navarre. After studying literature, with great passion, he moved to the College of St. Barbara in Paris, where he began to teach philosophy. There he met two great souls, destined to be his companions in faith: Pietro Fabro and Ignatius of Loyola, with the latter in particular he had a special bond. Seeing the way in which the Spanish religious lived, already an authentic witness of Christ, his heart was touched by the words that Ignatius himself said to Francis, intent on building a good career, and often echoed in him: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mk 8:36).
Thanks to these words that the Lord kept whispering in Francis' heart, the young man decided to give his whole life to Christ and, following Ignatius footsteps, he became a priest. After his ordination, he was sent first to Goa, India and later to Malacca and the surrounding territories.
Wherever he went, souls were touched by his passionate love for God and felt questioned by his life. He was also a missionary in Japan. Sick and worn out by the years of mission, he passed away, looking at China from afar. He would have deeply desired to announce the Gospel in that land too, but Heaven's plans were different: he died on December 3, 1552 and was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.