St. Francis Xavier

A young Basque nobleman studying philosophy at the University of Paris, Francis met Ignatius of Loyola, who patiently won him over with a single question repeated through the years: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Francis became one of the first seven Jesuits.

Sent east at the request of the king of Portugal, he sailed for over a decade through India, the Spice Islands, and Japan — preaching, baptizing, learning languages on the road. He covered vast distances, often barefoot, and is said to have baptized tens of thousands. His letters home pleaded with European universities to send missionaries instead of seeking academic prestige.

He died alone on the island of Shangchuan, off the coast of China, waiting for a boat that never came. His incorrupt right arm — which had baptized so many — is venerated today in the Gesù in Rome.