St. Francis Xavier became the first Jesuit missionary to arrive in India in 1542. He was followed by Robert de Nobili in 1605. Both these missionaries played a significant role in spreading Christianity in India.St. Francis Xavier was bom on April 7, 1506 in the castle of Xavier in Spain. St. Xavier displayed zeal and charity in attending to the sick in hospitals. In 153 7, he received the Holy orders. In 1541, he started his missionary journey towards India and landed at Goa in 1542. He spent the first five months in preaching and attending to the sick in hospitals. He would go through the streets ringing a little bell and inviting the children to hear the word of God. When he had gathered a large number of people, he would take them Christianity to them. Robert de Nobili was bom at Tuscany in September 1577. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1597 and sailed for India in October 16.04. He arrived at Goa in 1605. After a short stay Cochin, he took residence in Madurai in November 1606. He learnt Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu and studied Indian philosophy and religious literature. He separated himself from his fellow missionaries and adopted the dress, diet and manner of the life of an ascetic. These methods won him a number of followers from the upper castes. His way of life aroused the opposition of his fellow missionaries. He was accused of watering down Christianity and had to defend himself before the Archbishop of Goa. He did this so ably that he received the permission from the Pope to continue his way of life.
