Career
After sailing for Japan out to find and possibly reconvert the notorious apostate Christavao Ferreira, who went to Japan and renounced his faith there, he was arrested as soon as he got off his ship. After three days of torture in the pit of Nagasaki, he was beheaded. A painting of his death, Martyrdom of Saint Marcello Mastrilli (1664), was made by Antonio Maria Vassallo.
Saint Frances Xavier is credited with twice miraculously restoring Mastrilli"s health (even if only to incite him to do missionary work in Japan), and since the account reportedly spread quickly through Italy, the "novena of grace," in honor of Saint Francis Xavier, was established.
Mastrilli"s initiative is supposedly to thank for the presence of a silver casket in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, which houses relics of the body of Saint Francis Xavier.