ASIA/INDIA - Testimony of faith of young people at the exhibition of the relics of St. Francis Xavier in Goa

Goa (Agenzia Fides) - "The motivation is faith. The faithful come here to pray and touch the remains of Saint Francis Xavier, not out of curiosity or for a tourist visit," said Father Fermino Savio D'Souza, parish priest of the parish of Our Lady of Miracles in Goa, who is particularly involved in youth ministry, to Fides. On November 21, the 18th Exhibition of the Relics of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was inaugurated in the old town of Goa. Such an exhibition takes place every ten years and brings thousands of pilgrims to the city where the remains of the Jesuit missionary are kept. From the historic Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the relic is usually kept in a silver casket, the saint's remains were brought in a reliquary to the Cathedral of Goa, where it will be available for veneration by the faithful until January 5. The feast of St. Francis Xavier on December 3 is one of the central moments of the exhibition: Masses are celebrated in different languages throughout the day and the faithful crowd the church from the early hours of the morning. "There is a deep devotion to the saint," says Fr. D'Souza, "who is considered the protector of our country. The faithful come to the saint to entrust their sufferings, travails and joys to him, they come to ask for his intercession. There is a deep popular piety that is experienced not only during this special period of the exhibition but also in ordinary time. It is the faith of the little ones, the simple ones, that is very precious." "Many pilgrims come from the communities of Goa, but also from other parts of India," the priest reports, "especially from southern areas such as the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where there is a strong Catholic presence." "Goa," he continues, "is also a popular destination for young people: it is a place of parties, music and dance. Because of its countless beaches, it is also popular with European tourists. Tourism has always been the backbone of the local economy: Goa is chosen as a meeting place by young people from all over the world, not just Indians," the priest continues. "So it is exciting and impressive to see how young people are also getting involved in this spiritual time, which is marked by prayer and testimony of faith: young people formed a human chain to protect the transfer of the relics from the basilica to the cathedral. And when you go to church, you see many young people in prayer and reflection. I would say that this is a time of witness and also of evangelization for the Catholic community in India," concludes the parish priest. The saint's relics will be on display in the cathedral for 45 days. On Sunday, January 5, 2025, they will be returned to the basilica in a solemn procession, after which a mass will be held to bid them farewell. The event coincides with the beginning of the Holy Year 2025, which is why the theme chosen for the exhibition is "We are messengers of the Good News" to highlight "the responsibility of every Christian in spreading the message of love, hope and peace in the world." After the death of Saint Francis Xavier on December 3, 1552 on the island of Shangchuan off the Chinese coast, his body was initially buried there in a simple grave. In February 1553, it was exhumed and transferred to Malacca, where it remained for several months in the Church of St. Paul. In December 1553, it was decided to transfer the body to Goa in India, which was then an important center for Jesuit missions. After arriving in Goa in early 1554, the body was kept in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where it remained intact and showed no signs of decomposition even after years. It was then publicly venerated for the first time in Goa from 16 to 18 March 1554. One of the most famous relics, his right arm, with which he baptized many people, is kept separately in the Jesuit church in Rome, the Roman "Chiesa del Gesù". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 2/12/2024)

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