Basilica de Bom Jesus

The Church of Bom Jesus was built by the Jesuits and completed in 1585, though parts were destroyed by a fire in 1663 and eventually rebuilt in 1783. There is an adjoining Professed House built in 1589 which was used as priests quarters until the fire. The Church was granted the status of Minor Basilica in 1946, a position which gives the Church a higher level of standing and certain privileges to its clergy. It was the first Church in South Asia to become a Basilica. Such status tend to be awarded to Churches that are distinguished by their antiquity or their roles as international centres of worship.

For this Basilica it is probably due to the fact that it houses the mortal remains and tomb of St Francis Xavier the patron saint of Goa. Francisco de Xavier y Jassu was born in Castle Xavier in Spain in 1506. He joined the priesthood in 1530, as a young man he met Inigo de Loyola who later founded the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. In 1541 Francis embarked from Lisbon on a Papal mission, requested by the King of Portugal, to spread Christianity among the people in their new territories in the East Indies.

Frances travelled around Africa, stopping in Mozambique, Kenya and Socotra before landing in Goa in 1542. Over the next ten years he was to travel up and down the West coast of South India and take some longer trips to China and Japan, but Goa remained his base. He died during a mission to China in 1552 and was initially buried in Sancian. Later his remains were moved to Malacca, before finally being returned to Goa in 1554. He was moved to the Professed House of Bom Jesus in 1613, it was said that his body was still fresh and in pristine condition and declared a miracle. His Canonization took place in 1622 and a rich silver coffin was provided. His body was exposed on many occasions to the public and this still takes place about every 10 years. However over the centuries he has suffered many mutilations with parts of his body taken as relics. It is recorded that in 1554, a Portuguese lady bit off one of his toes, part of one arm was sent to a church in Rome and his right hand to the Jesuit province of Japan and part of his intestines have been distributed around the world.

The Basilica de Bom Jesus

Part of the front facade of the Basilica.

The tomb and silver casket of St Francis Xavier

The Basilica's Altar, with a statue of St Ignatius of Loyola. Made by local craftsmen, the cherubs have a rather Hindu look to them.

Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament

An interesting door fitment in the Basilica including the Jesuit motto, IHS, Iaeus Hominum Salvator. ('Jesus the Saviour' in Greek)

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