The feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of Goa, and affectionately addressed Goencho Saib will be celebrated on December 4 this year, it being Advent Sunday on December 3. In the Advent season, the catholic community goes into self introspection to spiritually prefer for Christmas. That apart, the feast is an annual religious event with nine days novena services culminating to remember the death of St. Francis Xavier on December 3. It draws large crowds of devotees from all over the world to come to Old Goa to the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church where his sacred relics are kept in a silver casket. People come here in due reverence to pay homage to the saint to seek his favours and repay in return for favours received.
Francis Xavier came from a noble wealthy family from one of the provinces in Spain, Navarra. Obviously, Francis was of worldly interest aiming to become famous and dreaming of a future to remain in popularity with self attached interest to keep him in public view. But for his interaction with Ignatius of Loyola who changed his mind on worldly life of emptiness, Francis made a U turn taking heed of what Ignatius said using the Bible quote: what does it profit a man should he gain the whole world and loose it in eternity. Francis Xavier thought over it very deeply and after realising the vanity of life he was following, he took to a life of simplicity and humility to spread the Good News to whoever followed him.
In good times and bad times Goans have sought his intercession in heaven and miraculously saved Goa from being destroyed. Like during the Opinion Poll, we prayed that our identity be saved and rightly so we won the Opinion Poll. We were caught between two different language dialects at the language agitation. We prayed that our mother tongue be given the rightful place to be the official language. Konkani is our State language today. So also Goans agitated against the Nylon 6,6 a destructive company wanting to find its establishment established here. It had to wind off for good leaving us in peace that we are in today. Obviously, this year too, we are in a very disturbed situation in as much Goa is being destroyed under 'development myth'. But for whose purpose this development is just anybody's guess.
St. Francis Xavier is present in our midst in his spiritual entity. He listens to us when we pray. We are in the season of preparation for the feast of our Patron of Goa. We invoke the intercession and blessings of Goencho Saib to save Goa from being destroyed ruthlessly for vested interest. Pilgrims flock to the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa to attend the services and will do so again on December 4 the feast of St. Francis Xaviera. An unexpected number of devotees and sundry people will turn the area into a sea of humanity. Let our prayers be for Goa to be safe and accessible to everyone as it was in ancestral time and we Goenkars be happy and joyful in our land of ancestors. Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo.