Advert Description
Are you interested in this item? This item is up for auction at Catawiki. Please click on "respond to advert" (orange button) to get redirected to the Catawiki website. Catawiki’s goal is to make special objects universally available. Our weekly auctions feature thousands of unusual, rare, and exceptional objects you won’t find in just any store. Mid 18th century
School of Goa - Indo-Portuguese
Beautiful recumbent figure of Saint Francis Xavier Apostle of India and Japan (1506-1552)
Representation of the dead saint lying with his hand on his heart, at his side a bible, a rosary and shells
History of the Saint:
François Xavier was born in Navarre. After brilliant studies at the College Sainte-Barbe, in Paris, he taught philosophy with a success which, by attracting applause to him, developed pride in his heart. Ignatius of Loyola, a convert, had come to Paris to perfect his studies, and seeking to recruit elite companions to lay the foundations of the Society of Jesus, fell in love and admiration for this young man, in which he had no difficulty in recognizing a soul capable of great things: What is the use of man gaining the universe if he loses his soul? he often said to Xavier, after gaining his trust. This language at first did not touch the heart of the ambitious young man; but one day, at last, grace finished its work, and Xavier was struck down like Ignatius. On August 15, 1534, seven young people, among whom were Ignatius and Xavier, pronounced their vows in an underground chapel of the church of Montmartre. The Society of Jesus was founded.
A few years later, Xavier, having become a priest, sanctified by fasting and prayer, was ready for his providential mission. He had often been warned by mysterious dreams that he was to be an apostle to innumerable idolaters. What was his joy when Ignatius designated him for the mission in India! Arriving in Goa, capital of the Indies, he greeted with tears of joy this promised land after which he had sighed for so long. Xavier began with the conversion of Goa, where the Portuguese had dishonored Christianity with every vice. One mission finished, another called him; the ambition for the salvation of souls was insatiable in his heart.
He encountered incredible difficulties, ignorance of languages, the absence of books in native languages, persecutions, mistrust and rivalry from pagan ministers. Xavier, by his energy and the help of God, triumphed over everything; God gave him the gift of tongues, the power to work countless miracles, including many resurrections from the dead. He evangelized, in eleven years, fifty-two kingdoms and baptized an incalculable multitude of infidels. His finest and most difficult triumph was the conquest of Japan. He aspired to convert China, to return to Europe by the countries of the North, when God called to rest this incomparable conqueror of souls, who has justly been nicknamed the apostle of India and Japan.
A note: I think the hand on the heart was holding a Crucifix
Dimensions:
Length: 22cm 67577075
