Was a student of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Co-founder of the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as the Jesuit order
Missionary for the spreading of Catholicism in India, Boreo, Moluccas and Japan
A.K.A. the "Apostle to the Far East"
He arrived in Kagoshima, Japan in 1549 and established the first Christian community
He was only in Japan from 1549-1551
Within 40 years of his arrival, over 200,000 people converted to Christianity
Thousands of Japanese Christians were also martyred for their faith shortly thereafter
The first to die for the Christian faith were the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan
Patron saint of Japan
Feast Day: December 3