On March 16, 1554, the mortal remains of Francis were transported to the Church of S. Paulo, accompanied by the ringing of bells from nearly 40 churches throughout Old Goa. The throng of people was so immense that even the Vice-Roy was unable to catch a glimpse of the body.
Prior to the public display of the body, Vice-Roy D. Afonso de Noronha requested an examination by his physician, Dr Cosme de Saraiva, along with Dr Ambrosio Ribeiro, the Vicar General and Administrator of the Bishopric of Goa, to confirm its incorruption. Dr Saraiva provided a certificate stating that he had personally examined and touched all parts of Padre Mestre Francisco Xavier’s body, particularly the abdomen, where he could discern the presence of intestines. He noted that the body had not been embalmed or artificially preserved. He further asserted that the thighs and other areas remained fleshy, indicating that neither natural decay nor medical intervention could account for its condition, given that he had passed away a year and a half prior and had been buried for nearly a year, a fact he attested to under oath. A small hole was observed on the left side of the abdomen, from which watery blood was reported to have emerged. Vicar General Ambrosio noted that upon inserting his fingers into the hole, he could feel what appeared to be intestines.
The skin of the body began to dry, causing concern among the Jesuits that it might eventually disintegrate like all mortal remains. In 1681, Provincial Fr Fernão de Queiros communicated with the Superior General, urging him to issue directives to prevent the opening of the coffin, a sentiment echoed by the archbishop. When the coffin was opened in 1686 to transfer the body to a new casket, Provincial Gaspar Afonso submitted a report to the Superior General, requesting that he impose excommunication to prohibit the opening of the coffin, as the body was becoming desiccated. He warned that exposing the body under such conditions would diminish the people’s devotion.
Despite the Provincial’s decree, which included the penalty of excommunication for opening the coffin, the Vicar General of the Society, Domingos de Marinis, affirmed this decision and assured that it would receive final confirmation from the Superior General. Nevertheless, the coffin was opened on several occasions, including in 1692, for the benefit of Apostolic Vicar Spinola and French Jesuit Missionary João Bayard. Ultimately, in 1707, Superior General Miguel Angelo Tamburini issued stringent orders to encase the body in a lead box to prevent any future openings.
Upon receipt of the orders in Goa, Provincial Manuel de Saraiva executed them around 1708. However, Fr Francisco Rodrigues noted that the execution was carried out with excessive rigor. It is important to clarify that the body was enclosed in a glass case rather than a lead one.
Notably, during this event, numerous relics of the Saint were distributed among the devotees. It is likely that there were many individuals attempting to persuade the Jesuits to open the coffin. Fr Francisco de Sousa, the author of Oriente Conquistado and prepositor of Casa Professa, requested Superior General Tamburini to command that the keys to the silver casket be thrown into the ocean. What could have prompted such a request?
At no point is there any evidence indicating that a foul odor was emanating from the body. It is possible that there was a sense of guilt regarding the distribution of relics from the body on multiple occasions, leading to concerns about a potential royal inquiry. The condition of the body was not the genuine reason for the request, as both private and public expositions were conducted later, with reports indicating that ‘the condition of the body was good’.
When the coffin was opened in 1744, no medical examination was performed. However, Provincial Andre Pereira reported to Fr Carbone that they were reassured by the good condition of the body. He noted that they personally verified the continuation of this miracle by examining the head, face, chest, and legs, which were still covered with hair. He also mentioned that the body was missing the right arm and that there was no unpleasant odor present.
In 1751, the coffin was opened for the benefit of the Vice-Roy, his wife, and the archbishop. During this occasion, D. Luiz Caetano de Almeida, the former Governor of Goa (from June 14, 1742, to September 24, 1744), was also permitted to kiss the body. He subsequently authored a report titled “Noticias de Corpo do glorioso Sam Francisco Xavier”, in which he detailed his observations for the benefit of his wife and children. He noted that the right arm had been sent to Rome, leaving only the left arm visible, which held a gold staff. Although the sacred hand appeared somewhat desiccated, he could distinctly see the fingers and nails.
The sacred feet were similarly desiccated, with the right foot missing the fifth toe, and they were bound with a red ribbon. The other toes, along with their nails, were visible. The sacred face seemed fresh yet had a whitish hue. He struggled to discern the facial features; the head and forehead were notably large, and the eyes appeared closed. The eyebrows and beard were indistinguishable, blending in with the color of the face. The cheekbone appeared fleshy, while the nose was prominent and tilted to the right, with the face inclined towards the chest.
On April 2, 1755, King D. José I of Portugal, having learned that the frequent openings were causing damage to the body, decreed that the coffin should remain closed without his explicit permission, regardless of the circumstances or the status of any individual requesting access.
On April 15, 1765, the king directed the archbishop to ensure that the coffin was secured with three keys and specified the individuals who would hold these keys.
In 1782, a public exhibition was organized to dispel the rumor that the body of the Saint had been replaced by that of the deceased Goan Canon Antonio Gomes. However, this assertion was proven incorrect by subsequent medical examinations. During this event, the coffin was opened in the presence of several distinguished individuals, although no medical professionals were present.
Minutes were recorded (Auto da abertura, do tumulo de S. Francisco Xavier que teve logar em 1 de Janeiro de 1782) by Dr Feliciano Ramos, the Secretary of State. The document notes that hair was present on the head; the face retained its features but was largely eaten up and covered with skin, except for a small bruise on the right side; both ears and all visible teeth were intact except for one; the left arm was present, with the hand covered in hair; the right arm was absent.
Upon the Governor’s examination of the body beneath the garments, it was observed that the intestines were missing. The skin on the thighs was desiccated, while the feet were covered with skin through which veins were visible; the toes had nails, with the exception of the last toe on the right foot, which was absent.
In 1859, physicians conducted an examination of the body. They observed that the skull was covered with skin and hair, (which was an unusual finding) on the right side. The face exhibited signs of desiccation and had a dark appearance, with an opening on the right side that was previously identified as a bruise. Among the visible teeth, only one was missing, and both ears were intact.
The right arm was absent, while the fingers of the left hand retained their nails. The abdominal walls showed signs of desiccation and were slightly darkened, with no intestines present. The feet were also desiccated, and the fourth and fifth toes of the right foot were missing.
Felipe Nery Xavier, who was present during this examination, noted that the body appeared shorter than that of an average man, a perception attributed to disarticulations and desiccation. Although the head seemed to be detached from the trunk, further investigation confirmed that there was no actual separation. In 1878, Public Health Officers were present during the opening of the coffin and reported that the body was in good condition.
No medical examinations were conducted in 1890 or 1900; however, it was noted in 1900 that the venerable body of the Saint had not undergone any significant changes since its last closure in 1891. In 1910, physicians examined the body again and concluded that it was in a condition suitable for public veneration.
On August 12, 1923, Dr Francisco Antonio Wolfango da Silva, the Director of Health Services, conducted an examination of the body. He focused solely on the exposed areas. His assessment revealed that the body was desiccated, with visible bones in certain regions. The facial features, ear shape, and closed eyelids appeared to be remarkably preserved. There were remnants of hair on the head and a sparse beard on the left side of the face.
The ears were well-formed but appeared calcified. Three teeth were observable. The left thumb retained a nail, while the third and fourth fingers showed traces of nails. Although the thighs could not be thoroughly examined, they appeared desiccated yet retained some degree of softness.
On January 9, 1932, a group of physicians examined the body again. The facial structure remained discernible, and some skull bones were visible. The ears, particularly the right one, were notably well-preserved. The dorsal aspect of the left-hand revealed tendons and veins. The right foot was missing four toes, while the left foot had all its toes, although the second toe lacked a nail. All examined areas appeared desiccated, with no signs of decomposition. On June 23, 1951, Dr Antonio Luis de Souza Sobrinho, the Director of Health Services, along with Dr João Manuel Pacheco de Figueiredo, the Director of the Medical School, conducted a further examination of the body. They assessed both the covered and uncovered regions. Some areas of the skull were still covered with skin and hair. The right eyelid was visible, and the nostrils were also discernible.
The facial characteristics were well-preserved. Sparse beard hair was observed at the skin’s surface. The right ear remained intact, while the left ear flap was absent. The tendons and veins of the left hand were visible, with only the thumb exhibiting a nail. The tendons of the left foot were discernible, although the skin appeared desiccated. The first and fifth toes had nails, while the middle three were reduced to fragments. The sole of the left foot was notably well-preserved.
The right foot was missing the last four toes, with some tendons and veins visible. The big toe was prominent but lacked a nail, and a significant portion of the sole was also well-preserved.
On February 13, 1955, the body relics were placed in a crystal glass urn manufactured by Casa Brandizzi in Rome, which was then housed in a silver casket. Upon the removal of the vestments, it was discovered that the head had been severed from the trunk, a consequence of the inhumane burial in Malacca. The skin on the arm was gradually deteriorating.
Numerous bones were found in the central section of the coffin, suggesting that it may have fallen at some point. The abdominal skin was absent. When the bones were arranged, the measurement from the big toe to the head was 170 centimeters, while the distance from the heel to the head was 162 centimeters. Medical professionals noted that the parts that remained incorrupt were precisely those that were not covered, albeit showing signs of gradual decay, specifically the face, hand, and feet.