THE CRAB, THE CROSS, AND SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER A famous story about Saint Francis Xavier recounts how he miraculously recovered a cross lost at sea. In 1546, during a fierce storm on his way to Malacca, he threw his cross into the waves, praying that God would calm the waters. The sea grew quiet, but the cross disappeared. Later, upon reaching the shores of Malacca, a crab reportedly crawled out of the water holding the cross in its claw and returned it to him. The tale became so cherished that i

Praising ‘the greatest missionary of modern times,’ St. Francis Xavier, as embodying apostolic zeal at his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis said the love of Christ drove him to the farthest parts of the world to spread the Gospel. | Vatican News