Relic of Saint Francis Xavier 

Bound into a ribbon of gold thread, contained within a cut glass flask with a gilded metal cap.

max dim:3.25 inches

Saint Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta in the Kingdom of Navarre in 1506; He died on Shangchuan Island, China, 3rd December, 1552. Between these two dates lies the story.

Taking his vows of poverty and chastity at Montmartre in 1534 he went on to lead missionary work across Asia and was instrumental in evangelizing modern India;strengthening the Christian faith in Goa. He was the one of the first major Christian missionaries in Borneo, the Maluku Islands, Japan and others, finally reaching Ming dynasty China where he died on Shangchuan Island.

He was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 and made co-patron of Navarre in 1624. Known as the “Apostle of the Indies”, “Apostle of the Far East”, Apostle of China” and Apostle of Japan.
He is considered amongst the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle.