03 Dec 2022 | 04:37am IST
Saint Francis Xavier – A Philatelic Tribute
The patron saint of Goa, St Francis Xavier, has influenced every aspect of Goan life. On the feast of GÕycho Saib, here is a look at the tribute paid to the saint through the world of philately
Dr M R Ramesh Kumar
St Francis Xavier was born
in Navarre in Spain in the castle of Xavier on April 7, 1506. After elementary
education in Spain, he joined the College of St Barbara in Paris and took MA
Degree in 1530. He was appointed teacher in the same college to teach
Aristotolian philosophy. He left the chair of Lecturer in Paris University and
followed St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. He came
over to India in May 1542 at the instance of the King of Portugal and preached
the Gospel of Christ for ten years. His fields of work were Goa, the Coromandel
Coast and the west coast up to Cape Comorin. Living a life of strict austerity,
he set about serving the poor. He prayed much and set the example of Christ
before all.
St
Francis is acclaimed the second Apostle of India as he followed the footsteps
of St Thomas. St Francis Xavier through his strenuous efforts revived the
Gospel message. He spent himself to share his faith and conviction with the
people of India, who from time immemorial, had been manifesting a deep
appreciation for spiritual values. In 1545, he sailed to Malacca and therefrom
to Japan in 1549. From Japan, he went to China in 1552 and it was during this
journey that he breathed his last in early December 1552. His body was buried
in an island near the coast of China and later on removed to Malacca and
finally in 1554 to Goa where it was interred in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Even though the
Portuguese India stamps got printed from the period, 1871, the stamps of Saint
Francis Xavier were first printed in 1931. A set of six stamps were printed,
which included Cassock, Saint Francis Xavier’s arrival in Goa, Bom Jesus
Basilica and the Tomb. The second time, the SFX stamp was printed was on 1946
as a part of the tribute to the ‘Historical Men of India’ and later in 1948 as
a part of ‘Great Men in India’.
On October 25, 1952, to
commemorate the 4th Death Centenary, only three stamps were issued – that of
the Statue, the Miraculous Arm and the Tomb. A set of three post cards were
issued on Saint Francis Xavier with the above mentioned stamps are shown. Also,
several types of Air Mails were also printed. Another cover dates back to
December 4, 1952 when the first philatelic exhibition, ‘Exposiciao Filatelica –
Goa 1952’ was held in Goa.
A special cancellation
on Saint Francis Xavier exposition was made by our GPNS member, S N Prabhu for
the 1984 SFX Exposition held at Old Goa. This has both Devnagiri and English
script for the Cancellation and ‘Give the World Jesus’ in Konkani, Devnagiri
and English and a Cachet of Saint Francis Xavier on the cover. A First Day
Cover (FDC) on the Saint Francis Xavier was issued by the Department of Posts
on December 24, 1974. A Special Cover on Saint Francis Xavier was released on
December 21, 2014 during the GOAPEX 2014 held at ESG, Panjim.
A stamp on Bom Jesus
Basilica as part of a set of five commemorative postage stamps and a miniature
sheet on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India was released on August 15, 2020
on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. The cover has the Bom Jesus Basilica
stamp and also the recently released Permanent Pictorial cancellation of the
Bom Jesus Basilica, which was done on October 9, 2020 by the Department of
Posts, Goa Postal Division, Goa on World Post Day.
The most recent postally
used speed post cover with the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of the Bom
Jesus Basilica of Old Goa on December 3, Saint Francis Feast Day of 2020 with
the theme of this year.
(Dr
M R Ramesh Kumar is a former president of Goa Philately and Numismatics
Society.)
