St. Francis Xavier, December 3
A nobleman from Navarre, Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was one of the first companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He preached in India, the Moluccas and Japan, and died on an island off the coast of China. He is the patron of missions with St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 3 is a memorial: Saint Francis Xavier, priest.
Name days on December 3
In countries that keep name days, December 3 is the day for people named Xavier and Javier. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Xavier | December 3 |
| Javier | December 3 |
December 3 on the calendar
December 3 is the 337th day of the year (the 338th in a leap year), with 28 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday |
| 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | Sunday |
| 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | Tuesday |
Keeping December 3
December 3 falls during Advent. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Xavier and Javier, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around December 3
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| November 30 | St. Andrew |
| December 1 | St. Charles de Foucauld |
| December 2 | St. Bibiana |
| December 4 | St. John Damascene |
| December 5 | St. Sabbas |
| December 6 | St. Nicholas |
The day before, December 2, is the day of St. Bibiana. The day after, December 4, belongs to St. John Damascene. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.