Not long after the Father was returned to Goa, the governor Don John de Castro returned also; but very ill of a hectic fever, which had been consuming him for some months before.  Finding himself in a daily decay of health and strength, and doubting not the end of his life was near approaching, he quite laid aside all business, and substituted others to supply his place; after which his thoughts were wholly employed on death, and the great concernments of eternity.  He had many long conversations with Father Xavier on that subject, and refused to see any one but him.  During these transactions, a ship which came from Lisbon brought letters to the viceroy from the king of Portugal, who gave great praises to his management, and continued him for three years longer in the government of the Indies.  As Don John was much beloved, so on this occasion public rejoicings were made over all the town.  But the sick viceroy, hearing the discharge of the artillery, and seeing almost from his bed the bonfires that were made, could not forbear laughing at it, though he was almost in the agonies of death.  “How deceitful and ridiculous is this world,” said he, “to present us with honours of three years continuance, when we have but a moment more to live!” The Father assisted him, even to the last drawing of his breath; and had the consolation to behold a great man of this world, expiring with the thoughts of a saint in holy orders.

Xavier being master of himself, in some manner, after the disease of Don John de Castro, who had desired him not to stir from Goa, during the winter, had thoughts of visiting once more the coast of Fishery before his voyage to Japan; his resolutions of which, he had not hitherto declared.  But the incommodities of the season hindered him; for at one certain time the sands so choke up the channels of the isle, that no ship can either go out of the port, or enter into it.

In waiting until the navigation became free, the saint applied himself particularly to the exercises of a spiritual Life, as it were to recover new strength after his past labours, according to the custom of apostolical men, who, in the communications which they have with God, refresh themselves after the pains which they have taken with their neighbour.

Then it was, that, in the garden of Saint Paul’s college, sometimes in walking, at other times in retiring into a little hermitage, which was there set up, he cried out, “It is enough, O my Lord, it is enough!” and that he opened his cassock before his breast, to give a little air to those flames which burnt within him, by which he declared, that he was not able to support the abundance of heavenly consolations; and at the same time gave us to understand, that he would have rather chosen to suffer any torments for the service of God, than to have enjoyed all those spiritual delights; so that his true meaning, was a prayer to God, that he would please to reserve for him those pleasures in another life, and in the mean time, would not spare, to inflict on him any pains or sufferings in this present world.