Father Fernandez was sent by St. Francis Xavier to preach in one of the great cities of India. Many people flocked to hear him because he was eloquent. But in the beginning, very few of them became converts, and the good priest had to endure many insults and suffer much ill-treatment at their hands.

One day he was preaching as usual in one of the public squares of the city. A great crowd was listening to him. Suddenly a man went up as if he wanted to speak to him. This man walked right up to him, and spat in his face.

This affront was met with laughter by the people watching; not only approving but adding to the ridicule. The holy priest, however, without saying a word or showing the least anger took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. Then, to the surprise and silent admiration of the crowd, Fr. Fernandez simply continued his sermon just as if nothing had happened.

Amongst those present was a learned doctor, who saw all that had happened. Moved by the meekness and patience shown in spite of the insult, he said to himself: “The doctrine which this stranger teaches must certainly come from Heaven. For a law that teaches its followers such great virtue, and gives them the courage to practice it, must come from God.”

So when the sermon was ended, the doctor went to the saintly preacher, and asked to become a member of the Catholic Religion.

Fr. Fernandez gladly granted his request, and he was baptized with great solemnity. This good doctor’s example was followed by many others, and Father Fernandez had the consolation of seeing a fervent Catholic congregation develop in a very short time in that city.