Francis Borgia
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| Francis Borgia | |
|---|---|
 Saint Francis Borgia served as the third Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He is depicted performing an exorcism in this painting by Francisco Goya. |
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| Born | October 28, 1510, Valencia, Spain |
| Died | September 30, 1572 (aged 61), Rome, Italy |
| Canonized | 1671 by Clement X |
| Major shrine | relics translated to the Jesuit church in Madrid, Spain in 1901 |
| Feast | October 10 |
| Attributes | skull crowned with an emperor's diadem |
| Patronage | against earthquakes; Portugal; Rota, Marianas[1] |
 Saints Portal |
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St. Francis Borgia (Spanish: San Francisco de Borja, October 28, 1510, Gandia (Spain) - September 30, 1572, Rome) was a Spanish Jesuit and third Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Canonised in 1671.
[edit] Biography
He was born near Gandía, Valencia on October 28, 1510. He was the son of Juan de Borgia, the 3rd Duke of Gandía and Joana of Aragon, daughter of Afonso de Aragon, Archbishop of Zaragoza, who, in turn, was the illegitimate son of Ferdinand the Catholic (Ferdinand II of Aragon) and his mistress Aldonza Ruiz de Iborra y Alemany. Francis was also the paternal great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI.
Although as a child he was very pious and wished to become a monk, his family sent him instead to the court of the Emperor Charles V. He distinguished himself there, accompanying the Emperor on several campaigns and marrying a Portuguese noblewoman, Eleanor de Castro Melo e Menezes, in Madrid in September 1526 and by whom he had eight children: Carlos in 1530, Isabel in 1532, Juan in 1533, Álvaro circa 1535, Juana also circa 1535, Fernando in 1537, Dorotea in 1538, and Alfonso in 1539. In 1539, he convoyed the corpse of Empress Isabella of Portugal to her burial-place in Granada. It is said that, when he saw the effect of death on the beautiful empress, he decided to "never again serve a mortal master." However, while still a young man, he was made viceroy of Catalonia, and administered the province with great efficiency.
His true interests, however, lay elsewhere. When his father died, the new Duke of Gandía retired to his native place and led, with his wife and family, a life devoted entirely to religion.
In 1546 his wife Eleanor died and Francis was determined to enter the newly formed Society of Jesus. He put his affairs in order, renounced his titles in favour of his eldest son, Carlos, and became a Jesuit priest. Because of his high birth, great abilities and Europe-wide fame, he was immediately offered a cardinal's hat. This, however, he refused, preferring the life of an itinerant preacher. In time, however, his friends persuaded him to accept the leadership role that nature and circumstances had destined him for: in 1554, he became the Jesuits' commissary-general in Spain; and, in 1565, Father General of the entire order.
His successes have caused historians to describe Francis as the greatest General after Ignatius. He founded the Collegium Romanum, which was to become the Gregorian University, dispatched missionaries to distant corners of the globe, advised kings and popes, and closely supervised all the affairs of the rapidly expanding order. Yet, despite the great power of his office, Francis led a humble life, and was widely regarded in his own lifetime as a saint.
Francis Borgia died in September 30, 1572 in Rome and was canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X. His feast day is October 10.
[edit] References
- DALMASES, Candido de, El Padre Francisco de Borja, Madrid, 1983.
- YEO, Margaret, The greatest of the Borgias, New-York, 1936.
[edit] External links
- Saint Francis Borgia at Patron Saint Index
| Preceded by James Lainez |
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1565–1572 |
Succeeded by Everard Mercurian |
