Memorial stamp for H.Franciscus-Xaverius. No.324

St.Franciscus Xaverius

Born in Pampeluna in 1506 and died on the Chinese island of Sancian (Shangchuan Dao) on December 3, 1552. He was known as “The Apostle of the East”, one of the first followers of Saint Ignatius who was the founder of the Order of the Jesuits. Franciscus had his apostolate in Indonesia where he worked a considerable number of miracles. After an active life of christianizing in India, the Malay archipelago and Japan, he had developed the strategy that the conversion of Japan was to be achieved through China, as it had always been to the Chinese that the Japanese had looked for wisdom. However, he died of fever before he could enter mainland of China. 

His Holiness Pope Pius X proclaimed him as Patron of the Missionaries.

Philatelic material.

Maximum card: Cancellation Leopoldville 19-2-53 (1953)