The Missionary Life and Labours of Francis Xavier Taken from His Own
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Cambridge Library Co LL e C t i o n Books of enduring scholarly value Religion For centuries, scripture and theology were the focus of prodigious amounts of scholarship and publishing, dominated in the English-speaking world by the work of Protestant Christians. Enlightenment philosophy and science, anthropology, ethnology and the colonial experience all brought new perspectives, lively debates and heated controversies to the study of religion and its role in the world, many of which continue to this day. This series explores the editing and interpretation of religious texts, the history of religious ideas and institutions, and not least the encounter between religion and science. The Missionary Life and Labours of Francis Xavier Taken from his own Correspondence A founding member of the Jesuit order, Francis Xavier (1506–1552) travelled as a missionary to India, Japan and China in the mid-sixteenth century. He is traditionally associated with legends of miraculous works and the conversion of tens of thousands of people. This controversial 1862 biography by the Anglican missionary clergyman Henry Venn (1796-1873) uses Xavier’s own words to examine the future saint’s character and private thoughts. Xavier’s correspondence reveals a sensitive, energetic and occasionally vengeful man who was not averse to employing aggressive means. Containing numerous letters printed in full, Venn’s chronicle provides an analysis of Xavier’s mission, methods and achievements from a non-Catholic perspective. Venn also explores Xavier’s close friendship with the Jesuits’ founder Ignatius Loyola, and probes the facts behind previous biographers’ tales of miracles. The book ends with detailed and challenging appraisal of the overall success of the worldwide Roman Catholic mission since the sixteenth century. 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The Missionary Life and Labours of Francis Xavier Taken from his own Correspondence With a Sketch of the General Results of Roman Catholic Missions among the Heathen Henry Venn CAMbRIDgE UnIVERsIT y PREss Cambridge, new york, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, singapore, são Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo Published in the United states of America by Cambridge University Press, new york www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108011822 © in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009 This edition first published 1862 This digitally printed version 2009 Isbn 978-1-108-01182-2 Paperback This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated. Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title. —---£---*hri I, t isstmrarj 3Rfe and Jabtirs FRANCIS XAVIER TAKEN FROM HIS OWN CORRESPONDENCE: WITH A SKETCH Of (general B ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS AMONG THE HEATHEN. BY HENRY VENN, B.D., PREBENDARY OF ST. PAUL'S, HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. LONDON: LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, ROBERTS, & GREEN. 1862. P KEF ACE. THE history of modern Roman Catholic Missions to heat en countries forms an important subject of in- quiry with all who take an interest in the progress of Christianity. One of the most remarkable periods in this history is that which extends from the middle of the sixteenth to the middle of the seventeenth centuries. It was then that Jesuit Missionaries and some of the ablest men appeared in the field. The great influence and wealth of Portugal were at that time exerted to give effect to the work of evangelizing India, Japan, China, and America. It is difficult to calculate the number of Missionaries which the Church of Rome maintained during that period in all parts of the known world. Long after the work had declined, by the expulsion of the Portuguese from their Eastern supremacy, Niecamp, who wrote a History of the Danish Mission in South India, states, that when the first two Protestant Mis- sionaries were sent out (in 1706), the number of Ro- mish Missionaries then in the East was estimated at two thousand. Yet our information of Roman Catholic Missions is very meagre and unsatisfactory. The sources of in- formation are either various collections of letters of a 3 ii PREFACE. Missionaries, or dry compilations from those letters. But these sources of information cannot satisfy any one who desires a clear knowledge of this subject. He will seek for histories of Missions written from the field of labour by the labourers themselves, or by those who have witnessed the work abroad: or the Journals and collected letters of individual Missionaries. Since Mis- sions were taken up in earnest by the Protestant Church, at the close of the eighteenth century, the press, in England and America, has teemed with such Missionary histories and biographies. Numerous volumes have been written by Missionaries themselves, or by their relatives and others. In such books we see the living man and his real work. As soon, therefore, as my attention was turned to the subject of Romish Missions, I sought out for some such authentic biographies, memoirs, or histories of Romish Missionaries. Wherever I inquired, the Life of Xavier was presented to me, and no second work of that class could be named. I searched public libraries and booksellers' shops without success. I made inquiries personally at the head-quarters of Romish Mis- sionaries in France, namely, the Institute of the Faith at Lyons, but was assured that the Life of Xavier was the only biography of any authority: the same answer was returned to a friend who made the inquiry at the Col- lege of the " Propaganda " at Rome; and my friend was further informed that it was contrary to the principles of the Romish Church to permit the unauthorized publi- cation of the personal history of its Missionaries. PREFACE. ili I was hence led to study the life of Xavier as the only authentic source from which an internal view of the life and labours of a Romish Missionary can be obtained. The life of Xavier has another title to consideration. Many prevailing sentiments of the present day, even in Protestant countries, respecting Missions, find their counterpart in some of the most striking features in the history of Francis Xavier, such as a craving for the romance of Missions; the notion that an autocratic power is wanted in a Mission, such as a Missionary Bishop might exercise; a demand for a degree of self-denial in a Missionary bordering upon asceticism. These, and many such sentiments, are often illustrated by a reference to the life and success of Xavier. The delusive character of such sentiments cannot fail to appear on a careful study of the truth of Xavier's history. Independently of the general interest of the subject, the history of Francis Xavier may claim special atten- tion at this time, in connection with Japan, now brought, after a lapse of more than two centuries, into intercourse with Europe; for his name will ever be associated with the first attempt to evangelize that country. These considerations have induced me to bestow upon Xavier's letters, and upon various contempo- raneus documents, a careful investigation, the result of which is presented to the public in the following pages. The work has been undertaken under a deep sense of the dignity of the Missionary subject; and of the sacred obligation of exercising the candour enjoined by the IV PREFACE. Lord of Missions, in his rebuke of some of his own Apostles, who would have repudiated the acts of all "who followed not with them." Yet there are more solemn interests than those of Christian candour at stake in the consideration of Xavier's history, which will develop themselves in the progress of this undertaking, and will, it is hoped, justify the amount of time and thought which the investigation has occupied. The work is commended to the divine blessing in the humble prayer that it may conduce to the advancement of the truth of the Gospel, and to the Mission of that truth throughout the whole world. CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. XAVIER'S LIFE BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR INDIA. SECT. 1. Introduction ...... 1 SECT. 2. Xavier's early history before his designa- tion to India ..... 6 SECT. 3. Xavier's preparation for his departure to India .