On 15 Aug. 1549 he reached Japan. He re ained there only two years and four months, it succeeded in penetrating almost all the little ingdoms into which the country was then di ded; breaking down the opposition of the onzes who were the chief enemies of the Gos el, winning vast numbers to the faith, and establishing his followers in the favor of both rulers and people. The sway which he exerted over the Japanese mind may be inferred from the reverence with which he is still regarded there. The thoroughness with which he and his successors taught Christianity is evidenced by the fact that 25,000 Catholics were found in Japan after three centuries of persecution. They had handed down the faith from father to son without any ecclesiastical ministrations.
To obtain laborers for this new field he re turned to Goa in 1551. We then find him ven turing on a new project, attempting to win China to Christianity. Its conversion he thought essential for the maintenance of the faith both of India and Japan; for the corrupt ing influences in both those places he consid ered to be largely due to their relationship with China. He never reached that country but died on the Island of Sancian, about six leagues from Canton, being only 46 years of age. This
last fatal voyage had lasted nine months.
His entire apostolate in the East extended only 10 years, but he is said to have planted the faith in 52 kingdoms, preached the Gospel through 9,000 miles of territory and baptized more than 1,000,000 persons. Fifty years after his death Pope Paul V by a bull, dated 25 Oct. 1605, declared him blessed, and, 16 years subse quently, Gregory XV canonized him, but on account of the pontiff's death, which occurred just at that time, the bull of canonization was issued by Urban VIII on 6 Aug. 1623. He is honored in the Church on 3 December and is usually styled "the Apostle of the Indies)) The devotion to him is universal and countless churches are erected under his invocation. His relics are still preserved in Goa, and in 1859 the body was found to be incorrupt.
Bibliography.— Bartoli, 'Life of Saint Francis Bouhours, 'Life of Saint Francis Xavier' ; Coleridge, 'Life and Letters' ; B. N., 'History of the Society of Cretineau-Joly, 'History of the Society of Jesus.'