ASIA/INDIA - Christmas of prayer and devotion in Goa, where crowds of pilgrims continue to flock to venerate the relics of St Francis Xavier

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Goa ( Fides Service) - “Christmas 2004 in Goa will be one of devotion and prayer. Celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation, thousands of pilgrims will demonstrate the place of honour which St Francis Xavier has in the hearts of Indians. He was the saint he brought the Message of Jesus Christ to India”: this was how Father Babu Joseph, spokesman of the Indian Bishops Conference told Fides about the atmosphere of prayer at Goa Shrine where the relics of St Francis Xavier are exposed for veneration until 2 January.
Father Babu went on pilgrimage to Goa where there is an endless flow of visitors with special security measures guarantee a trouble free event and there is no tension. Vistors also non Christians to the Bom Jesus Basilica where the relics are exposed are expected to be even more numerous over the Christmas season.
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.
At present more than 10,000 people visit the Basilica every day from all over India and from abroad. “- This event is most important for us - the Catholic Archbishop of Goa, Archbishop Felipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao do Rosario Ferrao, told Fides - because St Francis Xavier was one of the greatest missionaries to Asia and the exposition of his relics offers a great opportunity to renew and intensify our missionary vocation and efforts”. The Archbishop said that the presence of so many pilgrims, including non Christians, shows that St Francis Xavier is a universal figure.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/12/2004 Righe: 32 Parole: 321)


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