FRANCIS of JESUS, surnamed Indignus. – Born Francesco Ruiz-Mexía, in Los Hinojosos (Cuenca, Spain) on 4 Oct. 1529, died there on 10 June 1601. He entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites at Baccai in 1522 as a lay brother. Sent in 1533 with other brethren to the Congo, he reached the port of Loanda on 14 Sept. 1584, where his preaching converted thousands of unbelievers. In the same year he was ordained priest. Recalled to his homeland after a few years, he died there. The process for his beatification has been introduced.
Bibl.: Autobiography: Lo que dijo de si el Fr. Francisco de Jesus. Indigno (ms., Bibl. nac., Madrid); Florencio del Niño Jesus, Fr. Francisco el Indigno, Apostol del Congo. Madrid 1934; Silvestro di S. Teresa, Hist. del Carm. Desc. en España..., VIII, Burgos 1937-38, pp. 341-65; Joaquim de S. Fam., Posiciones y artículos para el proceso informativo..., Toledo 1932; Ambrosius a S. Teresa, Nomenclator Miss. C. D., Roma 1934, p. 149. Ambrogio di Santa Teresa