St Francis Xavier and the Crabs
St. Francis Xavier visited Malacca four times in the 16th. Century.
On one of his visits, the story goes he lost his crucifix at sea
when he calmed the water during a heavy storm.
Fr. Francis Xavier was travelling from one island to the next in
the natives boats and on that particular day there was a big storm
and his boat nearly capsized. He held the crucifix in his hand and
said a prayer, and then he dipped the crufix in the rough sea which
immediately calmed down and the storm went away. But,
unfortunately, his crucifix fell to the bottom of the sea. The next
day while praying for its return he was surprised to see a crab
crawling up the beach to him holding his crucifix in its claws.
With great joy he picked up the crucifx and blessed the crab, and
the crab disappeared towards the the calm sea. On the shell of this
species of crab, there is a distinct sign of the cross. Until today
they are still found in the Straits of Malacca, but the Portuguese
fisherman believe they are holy and won't eat them.
