--- Jorge/Livia de Abreu Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It would be good to learn more about "the example of St Francis Xavier who > made the effort to learn Konkani though he was a Spaniard".
Dear Jorge It is good to see you back on the internet. Welcome back! The post below was forwarded on a Goan d-list recently. Since you are a historian and Goan scholar, can you address some of the issues raised. Are they true? I have heard others who are occasionally critical of what SFX wrote about Goans/Indians, especially in his letters. I am not a student of history but have some curiosity now and then. Best regards, George From: "Alvaro Peres da Costa" Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 06:39:09 +0000 I have a profound admiration for Basilio Magno's poetic and musical talent. Where I have a problem with him is in regard to some assumptions in his introductory words below. He refers to Francis Xavier as "the Spanish priest who conquered the souls and hearts of a great part of Goa.....But to us Goans he continues to be Goemcho Pai (Father of Goa)." Well, from my reading of, and interpretation from, reliable publications authored by reputable sources, Francis Xavier's activies in Goa fell far short of endearing him to Goans. His so-called "conquest" of the souls and hearts would be credible had it been devoid of coercion and persecution bred out of zeal of the infamous and vexatious Spanish inquisition. Records talk of this disciple of Ignatius of Loyola as having been deputed to Goa to be the Pope's spy against the Portuguese authorities and clerics who were more humane and reluctant to have any truck with the monstruously criminal Inquisition. Francis Xavier reported directly to the Pope in Rome and the (Portuguese) Heads of the Catholic Church in Goa were often the object of his complaints to the Vatican. (Forcefully-)coverted Goans and their brain-washed descendants might have come to revere Francis Xavier because he brought them "true faith", as they were indoctrinated to think. But there are reported to be enough records to show how little was his activity amongst, and for, the Goans. To continue to talk about Francis Xavier as "Goencho Pai", even in these enlightened times when we know, or ought to know, better, is unlikely to advance our cause from most perspectives. He may be "todde Goekarancho Pai" (i.e. some Goans' Father), but Goa's father he certainly is not. To affirm to the contrary defies reality, for Catholic followers form only a minority of Goa's population. Deduct from that minority those healthy skeptics who will have no bar of the mythologising! To the extent that there are religiously-borne mistrusts currently in Goa, had the excesses perpetrated under the orientation of Spanish (and to some extent, Italian)Jesuit missionaries in Goa not coincided with the period of Portuguese rule, current perceptions, msiconceptions and demonisation of the Portuguese would never have had a place in history. It is true that the Catholic church has apologised for the (mis-)deeds of the Inquisition. But skeptics could be forgiven for thinking that retaining Francis Xavier as a saint is tantamount to condemning Nazism but still upholding Adolf Hitler as a paragon. Alvito Peres da Costa __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
