MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Eusebio Gomes
As the Coronavirus is at its peak and has created panic in everybody’s heart, it is high time that we Goans place our trust in our Goycho Saib (St Francis Xavier), who is a powerful intercessor in heaven. It is on records that all three communities in Goa - Hindus, Muslims and Christians, appealed to Goycho Saib whenever the natural calamities and plagues adversely hit Goa. In 1918 the Spanish flu infected about 500 million people all over the world. Goa too was affected by this pandemic. The Goans for whom our beloved Goycho Saib is a protector pleaded with him with tears in their eyes to intercede to God during those painful days of the flu. People believe that Goa is prevented every time the disasters, calamities, epidemics and plagues devastate us through the powerful intercession of Goycho Saib.
While there are numerous deaths in USA, UK, Italy, Spain and other parts of India, Goa has no COVID-19 deaths except some active cases. Thanks to the intercession of Goycho Saib.
Goycho Saib landed in Goa on 6 May 1542 after 13 months of perilous passage by a ship which left Lisbon on 7 April 1541. As soon as Xavier landed in Goa, he pitched his tent in the Royal Hospital so as to be of assistance to the sick and the dying although he was an Apostolic Nuncio sent by Pope and an Ambassador to the East representing King of Portugal. He could have claimed VIP privileges, but true to his vow of poverty and the spirit of the Society of Jesus to which he belonged, he preferred an ordinary dwelling in a hospital. He spent much of his time visiting the Royal Hospital and St. Lazarus Hospital for lepers. In August 1545 Xavier sailed for Malacca, a Malaysian city and as soon as he reached there he began nursing the sick in the hospitals. Xavier reached Malacca for the last time after a perilous crossing towards end of May 1552 and he devoted his time to the people of the place who had been infected with a contagious disease. He worked with the most deprived among the population: prisoners, lepers, slaves and sick people. He healed both souls and bodies. Thus after his death his own body brought from Sancian Island would drive away the plague from Malacca, reports Fr. Xavier Leon-Dufour S.J. in his book: ‘St. Francis Xavier.’ If Goycho Saib was alive today he would have pitched his tent in a hospital attending the victims of COVID-19.
The casket containing the Sacred Relics of Goycho Saib is placed atop a magnificent Florentine marble mausoleum in the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa. This Basilica is a religious monument of our faith, devotion and sentiments which houses the sacred body of our beloved Goycho Saib. The holy presence of the Sacred Relics of Goycho Saib in the Basilica is a blessing and boon to Goans. We turn to him in the dark night of the soul. At this juncture of spread of Coronavirus which grips us badly we have no other intercessor than our Goycho Saib who has braved storms, typhoons, tropical heat, sea sicknesses, reefs, fires, fear of pirates and plagues. Through his intercession let us arrest COVID-19.
