APRIL 7

On this date in 1506, Francisco de Jasso y Aspilicueta was born.  He later took the name of Francis Xavier; a missionary priest who was sainted by the Catholic Church.  He co-founded the Society of Jesus; better known as the Jesuits.  He took his name from his place of birth.  He was born in Xavier, Navarre (now a part of Spain).  His missionary work took him to Asia (including India, Japan and China).

St. Francis Xavier is the namesake of our outstanding local university.  Xavier University was founded in 1831 in downtown Cincinnati.  It was originally called the The Athenaeum and was dedicated to Francis Xavier at its founding by Archbishop Edward Fenwick.  In 1840, Archbishop John Baptist Purcell directed  the Jesuits to take control of the school and changed the name to St. Xavier College.  In 1930, the university adopted its current name.

o.o