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Vision Books for Young Readers
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas
This story from the popular Vision Books series of saints lives for youth 9 - 15 years old is about the inspiring life of the great missionary to the Far East, St. Francis Xavier. After his war torn boyhood in Navarre, Francis Xavier went to the University of Paris, determined to have a good time. He was interested in sports and became broad jumping champion of his college, and did not pay much attention to his studies. At first he scoffed at this fellow student, Ignatius Loyola, a former soldier who wanted to win the world for God. But Ignatius showed him that true champions are a far more heroic breed - those who risk their all to win the world for God. Francis joined Ignatius' followers, and became one of the first members of the Society of Jesus. Francis Xavier was selected by Ignatius to do missionary work in India. To all sixteenth-century travelers, a voyage from Portugal to India meant months of deadly peril from storms, pirates, and diseases. But to Father Francis Xavier, it also meant a chance to win the Orient for Jesus Christ. This great saint's eagerness to spread the Word of God involved him with the pearl divers of the Indian coast, the natives of Malaya and the Spice Islands, the cannibals of Morotni and the hostile feudal lords of ancient Japan. This book captures the true spirit of a daring man who braved the many dangers of India and Japan in amazing adventures of courage and faith.
168 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 2, 2026
Saint Francis Xavier is my oldest son's Confirmation saint - I bought this for him back when he was confirmed and just now pulled it off his shelf to read because the Saint Name Generator gave me St. Francis Xavier this year. I was most interested in the connections he had to St. Ignatius Loyola. This was a good children's book / introduction to this great saint and I'll be reading more from an old "From The Housetops" magazine featuring him, and hope to obtain a copy of "Set All Afire" by Louis deWohl to read before the year is over.
"I believe that troubles are a rest for those who delight in the Cross of Christ, and fleeing from troubles is death. What death is so terrible as leaving Christ after having known him? But what a rest it is to seek not what we want but what Christ wants."
"I believe that troubles are a rest for those who delight in the Cross of Christ, and fleeing from troubles is death. What death is so terrible as leaving Christ after having known him? But what a rest it is to seek not what we want but what Christ wants."
January 28, 2023
St Francis faced a lot of danger revealed in this book that we can barely comprehend. Nevin describes his voyages and travels in Japan, and I cant’t imagine suffering any of it!! The fruits of his work continue today. Good introduction for a person of any age to the life of St Francis Xavier!
January 28, 2021
Good for a kids' book.
February 27, 2021
Wonderful story of Saint Francis Xavier’s life. It detailed his travels along with his successes and failures. Truly a saintly man whose story is an inspiration even today.
March 9, 2022
Review coming soon!
March 29, 2015
As a young homeschooling Catholic family, we read quite a few saint biographies. This one, however, really is at the top of the pile. This story is exciting and told so well. We are looking forward to reading more of the biographies in the Ignatius press Vision Books series, but we will always love this one as being a favorite.
January 9, 2015
One of the better of the Vision saint biographies. My children LOVED listening to the many adventures of St Francis Xavier.
January 4, 2019
It could be a little more informational.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews