Question 38 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Current Affairs

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 3 only

Strategy: Verify each statement against known facts. Confirm St. Francis Xavier as a Jesuit co-founder (Statement 1 is correct). Identify his place of death as Shangchuan Island, not Goa (Statement 2 is incorrect). Acknowledge the annual feast in Goa (Statement 3 is correct). Select the option with Statements 1 and 3.

Key Info: **St. Francis Xavier: Missionary and Co-founder of the Jesuits**

- St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552) was a Spanish Catholic missionary and a co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) in 1540, alongside Ignatius of Loyola and Peter Faber.
- His missionary work, beginning with his arrival in Goa in 1542, was pivotal in establishing Jesuit missions across India, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
- He died of fever on 3 December 1552 on Shangchuan Island, off the coast of China, not in Goa.
- His body was transported to Goa in 1553 and enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a major pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated annually in Goa on December 3rd, commemorating his death.
- While his tomb is in Goa and a site of veneration, it is not the location of his death.

Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3

Consider the following statements: St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements:

St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.

St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.

The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?