The story behind the Professed House: The Jesuits who possessed a piece of land on the property, wanted to construct a church. However, they had to face strong opposition from Portuguese administration and couldn’t go on with their plan. Despite this, they were not ready to give up that dream. On the eve of their eviction, they made a makeshift church, inscribed the word Jesus on the doors and finally hung a chime. The next morning the people in the neighbourhood woke up to that ringing bell, and all gathered for the mass. Despite its humble beginnings, it became one of the most popular churches in Goa.

Story of St. Francis Xavier: To weave the history of Basilica of Bom Jesus, we have to start with St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary from Spain who holds a pivotal position in the establishment of Christianity in India. Being a disciple of Ignatius of Loyola, he landed in Goa (a major center of Portuguese activity during that period) for the assigned missionary work ... More

The story behind the Professed House: The Jesuits who possessed a piece of land on the property, wanted to construct a church. However, they had to face strong opposition from Portuguese administration and couldn’t go on with their plan. Despite this, they were not ready to give up that dream. On the eve of their eviction, they made a makeshift church, inscribed the word Jesus on the doors and finally hung a chime. The next morning the people in the neighbourhood woke up to that ringing bell, and all gathered for the mass. Despite its humble beginnings, it became one of the most popular churches in Goa.

Story of St. Francis Xavier: To weave the history of Basilica of Bom Jesus, we have to start with St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary from Spain who holds a pivotal position in the establishment of Christianity in India. Being a disciple of Ignatius of Loyola, he landed in Goa (a major center of Portuguese activity during that period) for the assigned missionary work on 6 May 1542. An active member of the Society of Jesus, led by Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis Xavier was wholeheartedly welcomed and admired in Goa for his selfless service among the poor. He later extended his work outside the boundaries of Goa and traveled to Ceylon, Molucca Islands, Banda Islands, Malai Peninsula and finally to China. He reached Sancian near Canton but as a foreigner, he was denied access to the mainland. Before completing his mission there, illness debilitated him and died on the same island on 3 December 1553. His body was later taken to Goa. After the canonization in 1662, the body was shifted to Basilica of Bom Jesus from its initial resting place at St. Paul’s church in Goa.

Miracle Stories: A bunch of stories revolves around the relics of St Xavier. Many people believe that the body of St Xavier shrinks every year and the world ceases to exist the moment the body becomes nothing. Another story is that a woman bit off his big toe when she stooped to kiss his feet. The corpse never stopped bleeding and finally, the toe was returned to the relics.