Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Goa (Fides Service) - Every day more than 10,000 pilgrims, far more than expected, flock to venerate the relics of Saint Francis Xavier on show at the Bom Jesus Basilica in God. The exposition of the relics of this great missionary started on Sunday 21 November and will end on 2 January. “The number is bound to increase”, Father Rector Xavier Barreto, said, adding that forecasts speak of 3 million visitors.
Many have come from all over India and even abroad to take part in the novena of prayer which will have its climax on the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier 3 December.
Besides Christians, members of other religions, Hindus in particular, make the pilgrimage to venerate the Catholic Saint. A number of families from Gujarat state, India, say they came to thank God for protection during an earthquake in 2001, obtained through the intercession of St Francis.
The local community has taken extra security measures to avoid disorder. Pilgrims are asked to come with a letter from their local parish priest and identity papers
The Basilica has been equipped with a closed circuit television and the church compound will be guarded by police. Visitors will pass through metal detectors. Voluntary guards will be on duty inside and outside the church to make sure the flow of pilgrims is orderly and to avoid overcrowding.
It was in the western coastal town of Goa that Francis (1506-1552) landed in 1542 to begin his mission in the Far East. The relics of the Saint were exposed for the first time in 1782 and then every year on his feast day December 3 until 1864 when it was decided to limit the exposition to once every ten years. The event has become a major celebration for the local Church awaited anxiously by Catholics near and far. The relics were last exposed for veneration, the 15th time in the ten yearly series, from 21 November 1994 to 7 January 1995. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2004 righe 27 parole 289)
