The relics of Saint Francis of Borja return to Gandía (Spain), their city of origin, for the second time in more than 4 and a half centuries and will remain in the Archdiocese of Valencia until next November 4.
The silver ark in which the remains of the IV Duke of Gandía and third General of the Company of Jesus, founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, are preserved, arrived this Friday, September 6, at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. .
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After the celebration of a Mass, the relics have been deposited in the Virgin’s dressing room and there they will remain exposed for public veneration until Saturday at noon.
On this Saturday afternoon, the relics, from the parish of San Francisco de Borja in Madrid, will be taken to the homonymous temple in the Valencian capital, where the Family Mass will be celebrated.
For the Valencian parish priest, Father Pedro Miret, it is a “historic event” since for the second time in 452 years the remains of the Jesuit saint are received, shortly after having lived a Jubilee Year on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of his death. and the 350th of his canonization.
In addition to Valencia, the relics will be taken to the Saint’s hometown, Gandía, from September 13 to October 1, coinciding with the celebration of the novena and the feast of the Holy Duke, as he is known in the region, which will be celebrated on Monday, September 30.
Although the day on which San Francisco de Borja is celebrated is October 3, it will be on the 6th when the Archbishop of Valencia, Mons. Enrique Benavent, will preside over the celebration of the Mass of the liturgical festival in the Valencian parish.
The relics will also be taken to the town of Turís between October 18 and 20.
The last time the saint’s relics were taken to his homeland happened in 1973.
Who was Saint Francis of Borja
Francisco de Borja y Aragón was born in Gandía in 1510. Coming from a noble family related to Pope Alexander VI, he held the noble titles of IV Duke of Gandía, I Marquis of Lombay, Grandee of Spain and Viceroy of Catalonia.
Despite his natural pious inclination since childhood, his parents sent him to serve at the court of Emperor Charles I of Spain where he met Isabel of Portugal. The death of the empress impacted him in such a way that the saint considered the date of May 1, 1539 as the date of his conversion. Popular tradition attributes to the saint a solemn promise made in those hours: “I will never again serve a lord who might die.”
When his wife, Leonor de Castro, died in 1546, after having come into contact years ago with some of the first Jesuits such as Pedro Fabro and attending some spiritual exercises, he decided to join the Company after abdicating his noble titles.
In 1565 he succeeded Father Diego Laínez as General of the Company of Jesus, a service he carried out until his death on September 30, 1572.
Nicholas de Cardenas
Born in 1980, I am a Spanish husband and father and journalist with more than 20 years of experience in print and digital media, specializing in sociopolitical and religious information. I have worked for more than 10 years in defense of human rights and have accreditations in Journalism and Comprehensive Communication. Since July 2022, I have been a correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in Spain, covering international events of the Catholic Church.