Crossing the Moluccas Sea, Saint Francis Xavier dipped his crucifix in it, to calm a storm.

However, the sea water broke the cord and the crucifix was lost to the ocean.

Saint Francis was struck with sadness, as it was his favorite crucifix, the one that accompanied him in his many voyages, given by Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

They arrived at the island, and while the crew helped him gather his baggage, a big crab crawled out of the water with the crucifix in its claws, deposited in the sand near Saint Francis and then went back to the sea.

The whole crew saw that, and a sailor named Fausto Rodrigues would always remark how eternally grateful he was to God for letting him experience such miracle first-hand. Saint Francis then forbade everyone to talk about what happened as to not harm the true purpose of his catechetical mission in the Moluccas.