MARGAO: Thousands of the Catholic faithful flocked to Navelim for the veneration of the relics of St Anthony of Padua that began at 3 pm at the St Pio Friary in the town on Saturday, with a prayer by Capuchin priests at 2.45 pm. It was followed by the blessing by Fr Waldy Rodrigues following which the Catholic faithful was allowed to venerate the relics.
Fr Alessandro Ratti of OFM Conservatory who is accompanying the relics explained that a part of the incorruptible throat muscle of the saint was enshrined in the copper bust of St Anthony while a piece of the bone was in the smaller silver coloured cross.
“When St Anthony’s tomb was excavated 30 years after his death, his tongue along with the throat muscles that supported the tongue were found to be uncorrupt while the rest of the body had decomposed,” he said.
Thousands of people had gathered near the friary even at 2.30 to pay obeisance to the relics that will be at the Friary till 4.30 pm tomorrow after which they will be taken to Singapore. The administration had made elaborate arrangements to handle the traffic and police personnel were seen posted all around the friary to ensure smooth flow of traffic and people.
While Capuchin brothers and priests venerated the relics first, they were followed by Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro who was accompanied by his wife and both sons, Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias along with his wife, Nuvem MLA Wilfred de Sa alias Babashan and former minister Avertano Furtado who had arrived at the friary at around 2.40 pm.
Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues was given access through the VIP gate to venerate the relic.
A souvenir shop outside the chapel is stocked with various religious items including rosary that are already blessed and touched to the relics and Fr Waldy requested people not to touch those souvenirs to the relics again.
The relics will be open for public veneration after the 6.3 am mass on Sunday and veneration will be stopped at 4.30 pm which will be followed by a mass.
