Francis of Borgia

Francis of Borgia a Jesuit and saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was a Spanish nobleman, born in Valencia in 1510. After a careful education he became a courtier of the reign of Charles V, but was turned to a religious life, bla thee solemn circumstances attending the funeral of the empress Isabella, after which be became a disciple of Ignatius Loyola, and was appointed by his to preach the Gospel in Spain and Portugal. On the death of Lainez in 1565, he was elected general of the order of Jesuits. He is the author of many ascetic writings, and contributed much to the perfection of the organization of the Jesuits. He would have been made pope on the dsath of Pius V, had not the state of hie health prevented it. Francis of Borgia died at Rome in 1572, and was canonized by Clement IX in 1671. See Vie de S. Francois de Borgia, by Verjus, after Ribadaneira (1672, 4to); Creatineau-Joly, Histoire de la Comp. de Jesus (volumes 1,2). The writings of Francis were translated into Latin by the Jesuit Deza (Brux. 1675, fol.). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gen. 18:487.