Wednesday, December 3, 2008

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER

To day is 3rd December and it is the feast day of the Spanish Catholic Saint, St.Francis Xavier. He is the patron saint of Goa. I did not know about this Saint both in Kerala and Chennai. In Chennai St.Thomas is well known. It was only during the time when I worked in Goa, I came to understand the powerful presence of St.Francis Xavier.

I went to Bom Jesus Basilica to pray, probably every second week, when I travelled to Kolhapur via Belgaum. The Church is located in OLD GOA which is about 10 km. from Panjim. His INCORRUPT body is kept in a glass case in a silver casket. Earlier his body was open for public veneration every year. Now it is opened only once in 10 years since it was found that his body was shrinking when it comes into contact with the air.

'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the infant Jesus. This Jesuit church is India’s first Minor Basilica, and is considered as one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India. The mausoleum was designed by the 17th century Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini.
Francis Xavier was born on 7th April,1506 in a wealthy noble family in the Kingdom of Navarre,Spain. He died on the Sancian island while waiting for a ship to take him to Continental China (December 3, 1552).The body of Francis Xavier was first taken to Malacca and two years later shipped back to Goa. It is said that the saint's body was as fresh as the day it was buried.
He was beatified by Paul V on October 25, 1619, and was canonized by Gregory XV on March 12, 1622.

St. Francis Xavier is noteworthy for his missionary work, both as organizer and as pioneer. By his compromises in India with the Christians of St. Thomas, he developed the Jesuit missionary methods that subsequently became a successful blueprint for his order to follow. His efforts left a significant impression upon the missionary history of India. As one of the first Jesuit missionaries to the East Indies, his work is of fundamental significance to Christians in the propagation of Christianity in China and Japan.The Roman Catholic Church considers him to have converted more people to Christianity than anyone since St. Paul.

The remains of the saint attract a huge number of devotees (Christian and non-Christian alike) from all over the world, especially during the public viewing of his body every ten years (last held in 2004). The saint has miraculous powers of healing

My eldest son is named after this Saint. By some miraculous coincidence, today my son,Francis Xavier, is in the Spanish town Madrid.
SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PRAY FOR US,


15 comments:

FCB said...

Hi Joseph,
More interesting information and history. To have converted more people than anyone other than Paul is quite a legacy! He must have been extrodinary and full of God.
The picture of the church is beautiful, wish I could see more of the detail.
God bless,
Fred

Unknown said...

Hi Joseph Chettan, Your blog is superb.I daily read your postings and today i thought of posting a comment. Itz fantastic. I daily view postings at night.Pls keep posting. I also saw your nice comments in other blogs which are very inspiring. Hope U r enjoying yr retired life.Gr8.I have seen all the places in yr photos as I am a native of Cochin. ThanX and Regards, Paul PS.

Femin Susan said...

hey
i have gone to st thomas mount in chenni.It is on top of a hill and there is an airport near by.so you can watch the whole chenni from st thomas mount.very exiting read your postings.
keep posting

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Paul :)

Many thanks for your encouraging comments. I am not able to access your blog to read the posts. Kindly look into it.

Have a wonderful day :)

CIELO said...

Hi Joseph... I've been thinking of you lately and praying for your safety and the safety of those you love.... I would just like to say my prayers and my heart goes out to your country in these times of pain and loss.

Hugs

cielo

Unknown said...

I've also visited Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, isn't it fantastic? What about the cathedral across the square? Not so magestic but also very interesting.
Here we have several religious monuments named Bom Jesus, this is probably the most famous, at Braga, north of Portugal: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/portugal/braga-bom-jesus-do-monte.htm
Hope you enjoy! :-)

ramesh sadasivam said...

Hello sir,

How are you? Couldn't be around for sometime...:(

Its wonderful to hear about St. Francis Xavier. As FCB says, he must have been full of God.

Unknown said...

Hi Joseph Chettan, No postings for the last two days! What happened to You. Are U out of station? I dont have a blog. I will begin one soon & will surely inform U. Thanx and Regards Paul.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Ramesh:)

I'm glad you are finding time to keep in touch with me although you are not posting anything. I was worried about you. I hope you are not sick. Looking forward to your enchanting posts.

Wish you all success and happiness.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Paul :)

I don't write on a daily basis. I give two or three days for my friends to read and reflect on what I have written.

I am thrilled that you are showing keen interest in my posts. I am also eager to read your posts as early as possible.

God bless you and keep you in His care.

Have a wonderful day :)

LJEANH said...

Hi again...Thank you for writing back. Stone Mountain is full of history...I've been to many of the places you mentioned. But, I left my heart in Forks & pray that it is God's will for me to someday live there. The Church in your picture is beautiful. Our parish, Corpus Christi, is a modern building...nothing like the style of yours. Hope you have a Blessed Christmas...be safe! Will add you to prayers. Laura

Femin Susan said...

hey
very beautiful Christmas father.And some times funny too.
Keep posting.......

Mel said...

I was glad to read this post about St. Francis. Thank you for sharing it, Joseph. Your blog has become a Grand Central Station of blogging! I hope you feel very good about that, because you should. God bless you, friend!

In Christ,
Mel

Maria said...

It is very nice what Mel said about your blog and I fully agree to what she said :)

ramesh sadasivam said...

Hello Sir,
I am fine here. I am little engaged with some work. I will definitely start posting soon. But dont know when.

By the way your blog is getting better post after post. Just had a birds eye view. I'll be back later with my thoughts and comments.

Thank you so much for your concern Sir.