Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements :
St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. St. Francis Xavier was one of the early companions of Ignatius of Loyola and belonged to the founding group of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). The official Society of Jesus sources also identify him as one of Ignatius's “first companions”.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Francis Xavier did not die in Goa. He died on 3 December 1552 on Shangchuan (Sancian) Island, off the coast of China. His body was later brought to Goa, where his remains are preserved in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Therefore, since the claim that he “died in Goa” is false, the statement as a whole is incorrect.
Statement 3 is correct. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated every year on 3 December in Goa. The official Government of Goa holiday list also records 3 December as the “Feast of St Francis Xavier”.