The Great Dreamer: The Life and Mission of St. Francis Xavier

‘a fascinating historical account of the astonishing life of the man known as the Apostle of the East… insightful, perceptive, and thoroughly readable.’  Intercom

‘a short, readable ac­count [where] we meet a turbulent and relentless priest… one of the most effec­tive missionaries of all time, bringing thousands to faith’  Methodist Recorder

‘this accessible and entertaining biography captures the tempestuous times and paints a lively picture of life as a missionary in the sixteenth century.’
Independent Catholic News

‘a kindly and admiring appraisal of a remarkable man’  The Irish Catholic

The Great Dreamer: The Life and Mission of St. Francis Xavier is a short but fascinating biography of this most courageous and adventurous of saints. One of Ignatius of Loyola’s original companions, St Francis was central to the formation of the Society of Jesus. Quoting extensively from his letters, the author describes many stories and anecdotes which bring Xavier to life.  We begin to feel we know him well as we learn about his personality, his interactions with the poor and with priests, bishops and kings.

On April 7th, 1541, Xavier’s thirty-fifth birthday, he set sail for India, arriving in Goa just over a year later. He spent about 8 years in both India and Indonesia, baptising thousands and working to set up churches and communities. In 1549 he arrived in Japan where he spent a couple of years, before travelling to China where he died in 1552 just six miles from the Chinese coast. This well-researched account is very accessible and paints a vivid picture of life as a missionary in the sixteenth century.

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