Francis Borgia

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.
Born	October 28, 1510 Valencia, Spain
Died	September 30, 1572 Rome, Italy
Canonized	1671
Feast	October 10

St. Francis Borgia (Spanish: San Francisco de Borja, October 28 1510 – September 30 1572) was a Spanish saint.

Biography

He was born near Valencia. He was the son of Juan 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 Iborre 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 July 1529 and by whom he had eight children: Carlos, Isabel, João, Alvaro, Fernando, Afonso, Joana, and Doroteia. 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 1572 in Rome and was canonized in 1671. His feast day is October 10.

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