We do well to look up to the saints, our elders in the spiritual life. They are a light for every Christian and every Christian community. They lived the Christian ideal to the hilt, and so they are models for us to imitate. Every saint is a godly person, eminent in piety and virtue. The saints loved God, and on that account, loved their fellow humans and served them. The life of saints acts as a revitalising tonic for our interior life and energises our spiritual selves.
St Alex, only son of Roman noble family, left everything to identify himself with the poorest of the poor. He spent 17 long years at the door of the church in Edessa begging and helping the poor who too begged with him. In total obscurity and dire poverty, St Alex entered eternal abode on a Friday, the 17th of July, in the year 404, under the staircase of his own palatial home in Rome.
The life of St Alex reminds us that the secret of sanctity is contained in the Beatitudes (Mt.5:3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” and the Lord’s description of the Final Judgement (Mt. 25:40) “Whatever you do to the least of these my brethren, you do it unto me”. The life of St Alex is a norm of life for us…we can follow his brightly shining footsteps!
Every Year, the parish of St Alex, Calangute, gathers together to reflect on the life of our patron saint and keeps him as our model to imitate and calls on him to intercede for us. People of all religions come to the Church and offer floral tributes and prayers at the statue of St Alex. Communal harmony and oneness of heart are witnessed during the festivity.
Today we live in a godless and consumeristic society which has given place for hedonistic tendencies. Today, young generation tend to live a life of selfishness and ego-centredness. St Alex is a model to imitate. His life of total obscurity and service to fellow-men reminds us that those who draw near to God do not withdraw from men, but rather become close to them and give witness to the presence of God in one another.
May St Alex intercede for all of us that after our earthly sojourn is over, may we attain heavenly reward. Wishing all a very happy feast.
Fr. Cipriano da Silva
Parish Priest
