Anything Under the Sun
The "Whirlwind Missionary"
Within a short span of ten years (1524-1552), St. Francis Xavier spread Christianity in the Far East - a feat still unprecedented today.
To think that in those times, the means of transportation was still quite primitive. Only sailboats in the sea, only animals on the land and nothing on the air, Xavier's feat was really amazing.
For these, Xavier was called "Apostle of the Far East". He first arrived in the region in India where he reportedly baptized 10,000 in just two years. Then he went to Malacca (now Malaysia and Singapore) and Indonesia.
Then he went to Japan arriving in Kagosima on August 15, 1549 which the Japanese Christians celebrate as the beginning of Christianity in Japan.
This coming year (2006), the world will celebrate the fifth centenary (500th year anniversary) of St. Francis Xavier's evangelization of the Far East.
To reward him of his deeds, God made his unembalmed body incorrupt up to the present. Be it remembered that in 1948, an intact hand of this saint made a travel in the Philippines which included Iloilo City and Bacolod City.
So, let us give honor to this saint this year, 2006.