Francis Xavier
“All the heathen are filled with admiration at the holiness of the law of God, and express the greatest shame at having lived so long in ignorance of the true God.”
“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians.”
“After all had been baptised, I order that the temples of the false Gods be pulled down and idols broken.”
“The most perverse people in the world... they never tell the truth, but think of nothing but how to tell subtle lies and to deceive the simple and ignorant people.”
“We have today removed more than five hundred [idols] with the help of the [people] and our own axes.”
“If it were not for the Brahmins, we should have all the heathens embracing our faith.”
“According to my experience the only effective way to spread religion in India is for the King to proclaim by means of an edict to all his officials in India that he shall put trust only in those who will exert themselves to extend the reign of religion by every means in their power.”
“On this point, I have written to the Viceroy, entreating him to institute the Holy Inquisition, a measure which is sorely needed in India.”
“I know not how to describe in words the joy I feel in seeing this done, witnessing the destruction of the idols by the very people who but lately adored them.”
“When all are baptized I order the temples of their false gods to be destroyed and all the idols to be broken in pieces.”