Examination of the body of St. Francis Xavier

 

The Silver Casket was opened on November 10, at 3.00 p.m. surrounded by secrecy, and the coffin was taken to the sacristy by the canons. However, the coffin was opened on November 12 and the body was also examined by Drs Miguel Caetano Dias and Jose Augusto Monteiro de Sousa Machado in the presence of Archbishop Patriarch Dom Matheus d' Oliveira Xavier, Governor General of Estado da India Portuguesa Dr. Francisco Manuel Conceiro da Costa, the Cathedral Chapter and other invitees.