Consider the following statements:
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Saint Francis Xavier, along with Saint Ignatius of Loyola and five other companions, co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) in Paris in 1534, which received papal approbation in 1540.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Francis Xavier did not die in Goa. He passed away in December 1552 on the offshore island of Shangchuan (Sancian) off the southern coast of mainland China while awaiting passage to begin missionary work there. His mortal remains were subsequently brought to Goa and enshrined at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
Statement 3 is correct: The solemn Feast of Saint Francis Xavier (locally revered as Goinche Saib) is observed annually on 3rd December in Goa, drawing thousands of pilgrims from across the globe.
Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct — Option C.