(Jesuit Missions, Asia, Far East, Japan, China) Saint Franci...

Hammer

£85

(Jesuit Missions, Asia, Far East, Japan, China) Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552); Orazio Torsellino (ed.): 'Sancti Francisci Xaverii epistolarum libri quatuor. Nova quarumdam accessione opus omnibus operariis evangelicis perutile. Ab Horatio Tursellino, e Societate Jesu in Latinum conversi ex Hispano.', Lugduni, Apud Franciscum la Botiere, [1650], [26],335pp, 12mo, contemporary calf top board (lacks backstrip and lower board). Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was a Spanish Catholic missionary and saint who co-founded the Society of Jesus and, as a representative of the Portuguese Empire, led the first Christian mission to Japan. He worked mainly in the Portuguese Empire, most notably in Goa and Japan, and also in Borneo and the Maluku Islands. He was known variously as "Apostle of the Far East", "Apostle of China" and "Apostle of Japan", he is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle. He was extensively involved in the missionary activity in Portuguese India. As a representative of the king of Portugal, he was also the first major Christian missionary to venture into Borneo, the Maluku Islands, Japan, and other areas. In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India. Xavier was about to extend his mission to Ming China, when he died on Shangchuan Island.