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Title: A Life of Abandon and Colonial Conscience in His Own Words
Review: Xavier legacy is nuanced and conflicted as the quintessential western colonial Christian. However, his life of abandon in the service of God and his willingness to take on colonial powers demands respect despite his association with the colonial program. Far too little literature on him remains in print and this is, by far, the best volume available. After a brief but effective biography (and a very helpful map tracking the journeys) the bulk of the text consists of Xavier's letters back to Ignatius and the Society of Jesus chronicling his 10 years in Portugal, India, Indonesia, Japan and China. While often culturally distant (and potentially objectionable given justifiable modern perception of colonialism) the passion and abandon of his accounts, rebukes and pleas are deeply moving and a challenge to the modern church.
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