New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-20
FRANCIS XAVIER,
THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIES
prs powerful article The origin and histocy Of the
Jesuts in the last Edinburgh Review

[Concluded
Power and courtly influence form an intoxicating
,iraught even when raised to the lips of ascetic
and saint. Holy as he was, the Great Father of
the Rajah of Travancore seems not entirely to
have escaped this feverish thirst. Don Alphonso
de Souza, weak though amiable man, was al
that time the Viceroy of Portuguese India, and
Xavier (such was now his authority despatched
messenger to Lisbon 10 demand, rather than TO
advise his recall. Within the limits of his nigh
commission, (and what subject is wholly foreign 10
j, the ambassador of the King of Kings may owe
respect. but hardly Difference, to any mere earthly
monarch. So argued Francis, so judged King
John. and so fell Alphonso de Souza, as many a
greater statesman has fallen and may yet fall, I'M
de, the weight OF sacerdotal displeasure. This
weakness. however, was not his only recorded
fault Towards the northern extremity of Ceyon
lies the Island Of Manar, dependency, in 1a-
vier's dsv. of the adjacent kingdom of .Jaffna,
where then regned sort OF Oriental Philip IL.
The islanders had become converts to the Chris
tan faith, and expiated their apostacy by their
lives. Six hundred men, woman and children fell
in one royal massacre; and the tragedy was closed
by the murder OF the eldest son Of the King of Jana,
by his fathers orders Deposition in case OF MIS-
government, and the transfer TO the deposing Power
of the dominions Of the offender, was no Invention
OF Hastings or of Give. Its one of the most an
cient constitutional nlaxims OF the European dynas-
ties in India 1t may even beast the venerable suit
frage of ST. Francis Xavier. At his instance, De
Souza equipped an armament to hurl the guilty
Of Jaffna from his throne and to subugate his ter
ritorics to the most faithful King. In the invading
fleet the indignant saint led the way, with promises
of triumphs, both temporal and eternal. But the
expedition failed. Cewardicc treachery defeated
the design De Souza paid the usual penalties OF III
success Xavier sailed away to discover other heds
OF spiritual warfare.
On the Malabar coast, near the city Of MeliaPor,
yoiphr be seen in those times the oratory and the
tomb of ST. Thomas the first teacher OF Christianity
IN India. 1t was in cool and sequestered grotto
that the apostle had been wont to pray; and there
vet appeared on the living rock in bold relief, the
cross at which he knelt, with crystal fountain of
medicinal waters gushing from the base of it. On
the neighborng hight, church with marble
altar, stained, after the lapse of fifteen centuries
with the blood of the martyr, ascertaned the sa
cred spot at which his bones had been committed
10 the dust. TO this venerable shrine Xavier re-
tired to learn the will of Heaven concerning him.
If we may believe the oath of one OF his fellow
pilgrims he maintained on this occasion, for seven
successive days, an unbroken fast and silence-no
unfit preparation for his approaching conflicts
Even round the tomb of the apostle malignant de-
mons prowl by night; and, though strong in the
guidance of the Virgin Xavier not only found HIM
self in their obscene grasp, but received hom them
blows, such as no weapons in human hands could
have inflicted, and which had nearly brought to
close his abors and his life. Baftied by superior
power, the fends opposed a still more subtle hin
dtance to his designs against their kingdom. In
the garb and in the outward semblance OF a band
of chorsters, they disturbed his devotions by such
h., hor ,,f
Heaven might seem to have been awakened to d.
vert the Christian warrior from his heavenward
path All in vain their fury and their guile He
found the direction he implored, and the first bark
which sailed from the Coromandei shore to the
city of Malacca, bore the obedient Missionary TO
that great emporium Of Eastern Commerce.
Thirty wears before the arrival of Xavier, Malacca
had been conquered by Alphenso Albuquerque. 1t
was place abandoned to every form of sensual and
enervating indulgence Through her crowded streets
strange and solemn visiter passed along, pealins
his faithful bell and earnestly mpering the prayers
the faithful. for that guilty people Curiosity and
alarm soon gave way ITO Iidcule; but Aaviers piano.
ply was complete. The messenger of divine wrath
Judged this an unfit occasion for counting aversion
or contempt. He became the gayest OF the gay,and,
in address least thevery model of an accomplished
cavalier. Fooled at their own weapons,hs dissoutc
countrymcn acknowledged the irresistible authority
of selfdevoton so awfu, relieved and embellished
as it was by every social grace. Thus the work OF
reformation prospered, or seemed to prosper. AL
tars rose in the open streets, the confessional
thronged by penitcnts uanslations of devout books
were multiplied; and the saint foremost in every
toll applied himself with all the activity of his
spirit to study the structure and the graceful pro-
nunciatieg of the Malabar tongue. But the plague
was not thus to be stayed. relapse into ali their
former habits filled up the measure Of their crimes
With prophetic voice Xavier announced the impend
ing Establishments Of Heaven; and shaking off from
his feet the dust of the obdurate city, pursued his in
defatigable way to Amboyna.
That island, then part of the vast dominons
of Portugal in the East, had scarcely witnessed the
commencement of Xavier's exertions, when feet
of Spanish vessels appeared in hostile array on
the shores. They were invaders and even corsairs
for their expedition had been disavowed by Charles
V. Pestilence, however, was raging among them;
and Xavier was equally ready to hazard his life in
the cause of Portugal, or in the service of her If
Hicted enemies. Day and light he lived In the In
fected ships soothing every spiritual distress, and
exer,ng all the magical influence of his name TO
procure Tor the sick whatever might contribute to
their recovery or soothe their pains The Goals o.
fire. thus heaped on the heads of the pirates, melt
ed hearts otherwise steeled to pity; and Xavier
belonged the rare, perhaps the unrivaled, glory of
repelling an invasion By no weapons but those OF
self-denia and love.
But glory, the praise of men or their gratitude,
what were these to him9 As the Spaniards re-
tired peacefully from Amboyna, he, too, Quilted
the haf.adoring multitude whom he had rescued
from the horrors of pirates war, and, spurning
all the timid counsel which would have stayed his
course, proceeded, as the herald of good tidings,
81. ,tf n1s Of ,ho
Archipelago fthose lands, such was his indig-
nant exclamation, had scented woods and mines
Of gold, Christians wauldfiad courage TO so there
,,...,lI ,,arl, of The world ,,rs,,cn. tho,,,