Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier. He was born in 1506 in Xavier Castle, Spain. He studied in Paris, where he met Saint Ignatius of Loyola, forming with him the first group of the Society of Jesus. At 35 he was sent as a missionary to the Portuguese colonies in the East Indies, with Goa as the center of his activities. From there he went to Japan, where he established the first nucleus of Christians. He died on his way to China, on the island of Shangchuan, at 46. Along with Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, he is patron of the missions.