The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
Among the laterite ruins and grand churches of Old Goa stands the Basilica of Bom Jesus — "Good Jesus," or "the Infant Jesus." Its weathered baroque facade has watched over the plains of Goa for more than four centuries, and it holds one of the great treasures of the Catholic world.
The missionary of the East
Inside rests the body of St. Francis Xavier, one of the first companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola and among the greatest missionaries the Church has ever known. In just ten years he carried the Gospel across India, the islands of the East, and Japan, baptising countless people and travelling distances that seem almost impossible for his age.
He died in 1552 on an island off the coast of China, within sight of the mainland he longed to reach. His body was later brought to Goa, where it has remained ever since — and where, remarkably, it was found to be incorrupt.
A World Heritage treasure
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is part of the Churches and Convents of Goa, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its bare stone front, elaborate gilded altar, and the ornate tomb of St. Francis Xavier — a gift crafted with great artistry — draw pilgrims and travellers from around the globe.
Every so often, the saint's relics are brought down for public veneration in a great event called the Exposition, and enormous crowds come from across India and beyond to pray before him.
A quiet challenge
St. Francis Xavier is a patron of missions, and his life asks a gentle question of all of us: how far are we willing to go for love of Christ and of souls?
Most of us are not called to sail to distant islands. But we are all called to carry the faith somewhere — into a home, a workplace, a friendship. The saint of Goa reminds us that a single life, wholly given, can reach the ends of the earth.
A handmade rosary is a fitting companion for anyone walking the missionary road of prayer.
✣ Browse our handmade rosaries. Each one is knotted and blessed by hand, then shipped with care across India and around the world. See the collection →