St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)
October 3
The oldest son of the third duke of Gandía, Francis Borgia
was born in the family castle in Valencia. Like other young nobles he too was
trained for life at court. In 1529 he married Eleanor de Castro, who bore him eight
children during the next ten years. They lived in
great familiarity with Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabella until the Empress
unexpectedly died May 1, 1539.
Her death led directly to Borgia's conversion when he
accompanied the funeral cortege to the burial place in the royal chapel in
Granada. When the coffin was opened, he saw not the beautiful face of the
36-year-old queen but a face beyond recognition. Not wanting to serve another
master who would die, he began to devote himself to prayer and penance.
Francis became the fourth duke of Gandía
after his father died in December 1542. He
returned to the family palace to manage his estates, but when his wife Leonor
died March 27, 1546, he resolved to dedicate the rest of his life to God's
service. He was familiar with the Jesuits, having founded a Jesuit college in
Gandía and being a personal friend of Father Peter Favre whom he asked to
inform Ignatius of his decision. Ignatius welcomed him into the Society but
recommended that he tell no one until he settled his children and finished
studying theology. Meanwhile, Ignatius encouraged Borgia to continue living as
a nobleman. Borgia pronounced his vows as a Jesuit on 1st February
1548.
After living as a Jesuit from the end of October until early February
1551, he returned to Spain where he resigned his title in favour of his eldest son,
Carlos. As soon as he received the Emperor's letter accepting his resignation,
Francis donned the Jesuit cassock. For a
few years Borgia worked as an ordinary parish priest. In 1554 he was named
Commissary General in Spain, with power over provincials in Spain and Portugal.
He founded Spain's first novitiate, at Simancas, and set up over 20
schools.
Borgia served as
the third superior general of the Jesuits for seven years and devoted himself
to revising the Society's rules, expanding its missions in India and the
Americas, and shepherding the growth of the young Society.
His final project was a mission to Spain accompanying
Cardinal Michele Bonelli in an effort to secure Spain's help against the
Turks. Later, Borgia left Spain for France
to continue the diplomatic mission, but he fell ill from fever and pleurisy
because of the unusual cold. His final illness lasted three days before
the 62 years old general died during the night of September 30, 1572.
On his feast day we pray that St.
Francis Borgia may inspire us to realise the value of heavenly treasures more
than earthly ones. St. Francis Borgia, Pray for us!
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