FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: St Francis Xavier (SFX), whose feast is celebrated on Saturday, through his preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ brought harmony among the people, who were his devout followers, and has kept the State safe.
According to the Rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fr Patricio Fernandes, “St Francis Xavier used to go out with a bell and a cross and took people to the Church. He invited people to listen to his story and he was endeared because of his prayer life. This was his unique way of teachings.”
After coming to Goa, Francis Xavier did something drastic in life. He identified himself with the people and he did this by going and living in Hospice meant for incurable and sick people, taking care of them, said Fr Fernandes.
He also pointed out that “people were happy with Francis Xavier because when they left him they would feel certain lightness, jest for life and able to cope up with life situation”. He would pray for them and brought healings in them and that was his power of presence, Fr Fernandes added.
Francis Xavier did this not only in Goa but in South India like in Tamil Nadu and Tuticorin. He laboured a lot and strengthened their faith, their understanding of love of God brought in Jesus. “That is what makes Francis Xavier very dear because his influence continued even afterwards. When he died there were many miracles which took place because of faith of the people in his prayers and whatever people asked they got it,” said the Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica.
Fr Joseph Cardozo SJ, assistant to the Provincial of the Goa Province of the Society of Jesus, said that Francis Xavier set forth to the Indies to work for a righteous society by denouncing evil, and showed his love to those who were on the periphery of the Goan society. “He began his missionary activities with humility to uphold moral reforms and faith, and in using the psychological insight of a Jesuit and the sympathy of his charity, he responded to uphold harmony and grant justice to the people in Goa,” said Fr Cardozo.
He also stated that Francis Xavier bore witness to Christ by attending to the spiritual needs of the people, showed his concern for the wavered Christians, and brought them back to Christ.
“He upheld social justice and instilled harmony by patiently listening to people’s problems, disputes and administered justice to them. In upholding harmony, Francis Xavier bore witness to God by his works of charity, caring the sick and suffering. He preached Christ by his life to the Goans by respecting the sentiments of non-Christians. He served everyone without any discrimination in a harmonious manner. He rescued Goans who faced hardships and whose things were often stolen by the local ruler’s soldiers,” Fr Cardozo said.
He also said that “in a world of consumerism and individualism, St Francis Xavier urges us to labour for harmony in the society and inspires us to work towards a just and harmonious society by recognizing injustice around us, understand it, and thereby raise our voices against injustice and discrimination”.
