Francis Borgia ( ca-valencia, Francesc de Borja; es, Francisco de Borja; 28 October 1510 – 30 September 1572) was a Spanish
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
priest. The great-grandson of
Pope Alexander VI, he was
Duke of Gandía
Duke of Gandía ( ca-valencia, Ducat de Gandia, ) is a title of Spanish nobility that was first created in 1399 by Martin of Aragon and granted to Alfonso of Aragon and Foix. It has its origin in the Manorialism, lordship of Gandía created in 13 ...
and a
grandee of Spain
Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ha ...
. After the death of his wife, Borgia renounced his titles and became a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
in the Society of Jesus, later serving as its third
superior general
A superior general or general superior is the leader or head of a religious institute in the Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations. The superior general usually holds supreme executive authority in the religious community, while t ...
. He was
canonized
Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, specifically, the official act of a Christian communion declaring a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon catalogue of s ...
on 20 June 1670 by
Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X ( la, Clemens X; it, Clemente X; 13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 April 1670 to his death in July 1676. Elected pope at ag ...
.
Early life
He was born in the Duchy of Gandía in
the Kingdom of Valencia (part of
Aragon
Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...
), on 28 October 1510. His father was Juan Borgia, 3rd
Duke of Gandía
Duke of Gandía ( ca-valencia, Ducat de Gandia, ) is a title of Spanish nobility that was first created in 1399 by Martin of Aragon and granted to Alfonso of Aragon and Foix. It has its origin in the Manorialism, lordship of Gandía created in 13 ...
, the son of
Giovanni Borgia, the son of
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Churc ...
(Rodrigo Borgia). His mother was Juana, daughter of
Alonso de Aragón
Alonso de Aragón or Alfonso de Aragón (1468 – 24 February 1520) was Archbishop of Zaragoza, Archbishop of Valencia and Lieutenant General of Aragon. Born in Cervera, he was an illegitimate son of Ferdinand II of Aragon by a Catalan ...
,
Archbishop of Zaragoza
The Archdiocese of Saragossa ( la, Archidioecesis Caesaraugustana) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory located in north-eastern Spain, in the Provinces of Spain, province of Zaragoza (province), Zaragoza (Saragossa in English), part of t ...
, who, in turn, was the illegitimate son of King
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and Sardinia from ...
.
His brother,
Tomás de Borja y Castro
Tomás de Borja y Castro ( – September 13, 1610]) was a Spanish noble from the House of Borgia, House of Borja who became Bishop of Málaga and Archbishop of Zaragoza.
Biography
Tomás studied in the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso at ...
, also entered the Church, becoming
Roman Catholic Diocese of Málaga, Bishop of Málaga, and later Archbishop of Zaragoza.
As a child he was very pious and wished to become a monk, but his family sent him instead to serve in the court of
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Crown of Castile, Castil ...
(who was also
King Charles I of Spain
Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) ...
), where he was welcomed as a kinsman.
[ He excelled there, accompanying the Emperor on several campaigns.
]
Adult life and career
In Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
in the month of September 1529, he married a Portuguese noblewoman, Leonor de Castro Mello y Meneses. They had eight children: Carlos in 1530, Isabel in 1532, Juan in 1533, Álvaro circa 1535, Juana also circa 1535, Fernando in 1537, Dorotea in 1538, and Alfonso in 1539. Charles V appointed him Marquess of Lombay, master of the hounds, and equerry to the empress.[
In 1539, he convoyed the corpse of ]Isabella of Portugal
Isabella of Portugal (24 October 1503 – 1 May 1539) was the empress consort and queen consort of her cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, and Duke of Burgundy. She was Queen of Spain and Germany, and La ...
, Philip II of Spain
Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...
's mother, to her burial place in Granada
Granada (,, DIN 31635, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the fo ...
. In that same year (1539), he became Viceroy of Catalonia
This is a list of Spanish viceroys (also called lieutenants) of the Principality of Catalonia from 1479 to 1713.
*1479–1493: Enrique de Aragón
*1493–1495: Juan de Lanuza y Garabito
*1495–1496: Juan Fernández de Heredia
*149 ...
, replacing Fadrique de Portugal y Noroña
Fadrique de Portugal (c. 1465 – 15 January 1539) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese politician and cleric.
Biography
Born around 1465 in Vila Viçosa, Fadrique de Portugal was a son of Afonso, 1st Count of Faro, Afonso, Count of Faro, 1s ...
, though he was only 29.
In these earlier years of his life he enjoyed composing musical ecclesiastical pieces. In these pieces he displayed a remarkable contrapuntal style, justifying the assertion that, "In the sixteenth century and prior to Palestrina, Borgia was one of the chief restorers of sacred music."[
In 1543 upon the death of his father, the 3rd Duke, Francis became the 4th ]Duke of Gandía
Duke of Gandía ( ca-valencia, Ducat de Gandia, ) is a title of Spanish nobility that was first created in 1399 by Martin of Aragon and granted to Alfonso of Aragon and Foix. It has its origin in the Manorialism, lordship of Gandía created in 13 ...
. His diplomatic abilities came into question after his failed attempt at arranging a marriage between Prince Philip of Spain and the Princess of Portugal, thus ending a hope of bringing these two countries together, and resulting in his retirement as duke, handing his title to his son, Carlos. By then 33 years old, he had retired to his native place and devoted himself to religious activities.
Jesuit priest
In 1546 his wife Eleanor died, and Francis then decided to enter the newly formed Society of Jesus
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
, after making adequate provisions for his children. He put his affairs in order circa 1551, renounced his titles in favour of his eldest son Carlos de Borja-Aragon y de Castro-Melo, and became a Jesuit priest. He helped in the establishment of what is now the Gregorian University in Rome.[Foley O.F.M., Leonard. ''Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast'', (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.) Franciscan Media]
Upon Francis’ return from a journey to Peru, Pope Julius III made known his intention to make him a cardinal.[ To prevent this, Borgia decided, in agreement with St. ]Ignatius Ignatius is a male given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
Religious
* Ignatius of Antioch (35–108), saint and martyr, Apostolic Father, early Christian bishop
* Ignatius of Constantinople (797–877), Cath ...
, to leave the city secretly and go to the Basque Country, where it was thought he would be safe from the papal desires. He felt incompletion to spend time in seclusion and prayer, but his administrative talents also made him a natural for other tasks. In time his friends persuaded him to accept the leadership role that nature and circumstances had destined him for: in 1554, he became the Jesuit commissary-general in Spain,["Our Parish Patron Saint - St. Francis Borgia", St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois]
where he founded a dozen colleges.[ After only two years, St. Francis was crowned for missions in the East and West Indies.][ In 1565, he was elected the third "Father General" or Superior General of the Society of Jesus, after the death in January 1565 of ]Diego Laynez
''Several spellings of his names (James, Jacob; Laines, Laynez, Lainez) are in use and some of them can be found in other Wikipedia articles''
Diego Laynez, S.J. (sometimes spelled Laínez) (Spanish: ''Diego Laynez''), born in 1512 (Almazán, Sp ...
, (Almazán
Almazán () is a municipality located in the province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain. As of 2013, the municipality has a population of 5,843 inhabitants. It is also the seat of the judicial district of Almazán, and ecclesiastically it belongs ...
, Spain, 1512 – January 1565).
His successes during the period 1565–1572 made historians to describe Francis as the greatest General after Saint Ignatius. He founded the ''Collegium Romanum'', which was to become the Gregorian University, advised kings and popes, and closely supervised all the affairs of the mushrooming order. Yet, despite being the supreme, Francis led a humble life and was acclaimed in his own lifetime as a saint.
Francis Borgia died in 1572.[
]
Death and legacy
Francis Borgia died on 30 September 1572, in Rome. His mortal remains were repatriated to Spain in 1617 and kept from 1627 at the Jesuit professed house in Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
that was newly built for that purpose north of Plaza Mayor on a donation from Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma. On 30 July 1901, the silver urn contained the relics was transferred to the church of the Sacred Church and San Francis Borgia on calle de la Flor Baja, part of a new Jesuit residence (later professed house from 1911) established thanks to a donation from . After that church was destroyed by arson in 1931, some of his ashes were recovered and eventually reinterred in the new Jesuit complex on calle de Serrano
The calle de Serrano, or simply Serrano, is a street in Madrid, Spain. It is noted as location for luxury flagship stores.
The urbanisation took off in 1863, with the construction of the first housing in the street. Initially known as Bulevar Nar ...
.
Francis Borgia was beatified
Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their nam ...
in Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
on 23 November 1624, by Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...
. He was canonized
Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, specifically, the official act of a Christian communion declaring a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon catalogue of s ...
nearly 35 years later on 20 June 1670,[ by ]Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X ( la, Clemens X; it, Clemente X; 13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 April 1670 to his death in July 1676. Elected pope at ag ...
. His liturgical feast was inserted into the General Roman Calendar
The General Roman Calendar is the liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgical rite is in use. These celebra ...
in 1688 for celebration on 10 October, the date then free from other celebrations that was closest to that of his death.
Parishes are dedicated to St. Francis Borgia in Chicago, Illinois, Sturgis, Kentucky
Sturgis is a home rule-class city in Union County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2010 census. Located in northwest Kentucky, the city was founded in 1890 and named for Samuel Sturgis, who owned the land now occupied by ...
, Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the south banks of the Missouri River, 50 miles west of St. Louis, Missouri, and the largest in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in July 2021 was 14,916, an increase of 7% since the 2010 ...
, Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2010 census.
History
Blair was platted in 1869 when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. It was n ...
, and Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Located about north of Milwaukee and in close proximity to Interstate 43, it is a suburban community in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The city incorporated in 1885, and a ...
. Also in the village of Isio in the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental
Cauayan, officially the Municipality of Cauayan ( hil, Banwa sang Cauayan; tl, Bayan ng Cauayan), is a 1st class municipality and the most populous municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it ...
, Philippines. The Jesuit-founded city of São Borja
São Borja is a city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. São Borja is the oldest municipality in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and was founded in 1682 by the Jesuits as the first of the Seven Points of the Missions, and name ...
, in southern Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, is named after him.
St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
St. Francis Borgia Regional High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school in Washington, Franklin County, Missouri, established in 1901. As of 2021, its enrollment is 430 students.
History
St. Francis Borgia High School dates back to 1901 ...
is located in Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the south banks of the Missouri River, 50 miles west of St. Louis, Missouri, and the largest in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in July 2021 was 14,916, an increase of 7% since the 2010 ...
.
Descendants
* Carlos, 5th Duke de Gandía
** Francisco Tomas, 6th Duke de Gandía
*** Íñigo de Borja
Don Íñigo de Borja y Velasco (1575–1622) was a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served as governor of Antwerp Citadel.
Family
Don Íñigo was born at Gandía in 1575 to the prominent Spanish noble house of Borja, the son of Franci ...
*** Gaspar de Borja y Velasco
Gaspar de Borja y Velasco (26 June 1580 – 28 December 1645) was a Spanish cardinal, ecclesiastic and politician. He belonged to the house of Borgia (though he always used the Spanish spelling of ''Borja'') and served as Primate of Spain, Archb ...
*** Baltasar de Borja y Velasco
Balthazar, or variant spellings, may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Balthazar'' (novel), by Lawrence Durrell, 1958
* ''Balthasar'', an 1889 book by Anatole France
* ''Professor Balthazar'', a Croatian animated TV series, 1967-1978
...
* Juan de Borja y Castro
* Fernando de Borja y Castro
** Juan Buenaventura de Borja y Armendia
Juan Buenaventura de Borja y Armendia (b. 1564*, Gandía, Valencia d. 1628, Santafé de Bogotá) was a Spanish noble of the House of Borja who served in multiple positions of power throughout the New Kingdom of Granada. He is perhaps best known ...
* Isabel
** Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma
Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, 5th Marquess of Denia, 1st Count of Ampudia (1552/1553 – 17 May 1625), was a favourite of Philip III of Spain, the first of the ''validos'' ('most worthy') through whom the later H ...
*** Juana Gómez de Sandoval
**** Luisa de Guzmán
Luisa María Francisca de Guzmán y Sandoval ( pt, Luísa Maria Francisca de Gusmão;. 13 October 1613 – 27 February 1666) was a queen consort of Portugal. She was the spouse of King John IV, the first Braganza ruler, as well as the mother o ...
Ancestry
Music
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...
, ''Motet pour St François de Borgia'', H.354, for 1 voice, 2 treble instruments, and continuo (? late 1680s)
See also
* House of Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
* Route of the Borgias
The Route of the Borgias is a cultural route, that includes sites associated with the Borja or ''Borgia'', located in their native Valencian Community, Spain. The marketing of the route was inaugurated in 2007.Source: ABCPaseo por la his ...
* Statue of Francis Borgia, Charles Bridge
References
Bibliography
*Candido de Dalmases, ''Francis Borgia. Grandee of Spain, Jesuit, Saint'', Saint-Louis, 1991
*Candido de Dalmases, ''El Padre Francisco de Borja'', Madrid, 1983.24 pages. Madrid: Editorial Católica, (1983). ISBN, 8422011166,
*Margaret Yeo, ''The greatest of the Borgias'', New York, 1936, 374 pages
*Enrique García Hernán, ''Sanctus Franciscus Borgia: Quartus Gandiae Dux et Societatis Iesu Praepositus Generalis Tertius, 1510-1572 '', Volumen 156, Monumenta Borgia Series Volumes 156–157, Monumenta Historica Societatis Iesu The Monumenta Historica Societatis Iesu (MHSI) is a collection of scholarly volumes (157 to this day) on critically edited documents on the origin and early years of the Society of Jesus, including the life and writings of St Ignatius of Loyola.
O ...
(1903) (new edition by Edit. Generalitat Valeciana, 2003)
*Enrique García Hernán, ''Francisco de Borja, Grande de España'', 1999 reprint by Institució Alfons el Magnànim, (Diputació de Valência), of the 1903 edition, 292 pages,
* ''Francisco de Borja, Santo y Duque de Gandia (1510-2010)'' by several authors in several subjects, Bromera edit., 2010,
* Angel Santos Hernandez, ''Jesuitas y Obispados: la Compañia de Jesús y las dignidades eclesiasticas'',(1999), 539 pages,in Spanish, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas edit. , https://books.google.com/books?id=QRzrJ9EPmaIC. a Google book to be found under:
* María Rosa Urraca Pastor, ''San Francisco de Borja'', Barcelona 1943
External links
Tradition in Action - Saint of the Day: ''St. Francis Borgia''
*
Diario Borja - Borgia
* Borja - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
* Borgia - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
*
Borja o Borgia
*
Francisco Fernández de Bethencourt - Historia Genealógica y Heráldica Española, Casa Real y Grandes de España, tomo cuarto
*
Una rama subsistente del linaje Borja en América española, por Jaime de Salazar y Acha, Académico de Número de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía
*
Boletín de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgia, Francis
Jesuit saints
1510 births
1572 deaths
Roman Catholic saints from the Valencian Community
Superiors General of the Society of Jesus
Spanish Roman Catholic saints
Counter-Reformation
Francis
Francis may refer to:
People
*Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
*Francis (surname)
Places
* Rural M ...
Francis
Francis may refer to:
People
*Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
*Francis (surname)
Places
* Rural M ...
16th-century Spanish Jesuits
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Viceroys of Catalonia
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204
Grandees of Spain
Spanish exorcists
Beatifications by Pope Urban VIII
Canonizations by Pope Clement X