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St. Francisco Xavier - his life and times (Part 8) By Dr. Jose Colaco The whole of Old Goa was at the quay as the ship was coming in. The coffin was taken from the pier, through the Viceroy's Gate to the church at St. Paul's College in a procession. The Viceroy, other state dignitaries and church officials were present at the church, when the coffin was finally opened. They saw with their own eyes and confirmed what they had heard from Malacca. The feelings and thoughts of those present can only be imagined. Thereafter, the towns-folk were allowed to pay their respects and to experience this miracle. Over the next three days, there followed a seemingly endless procession of people. On the night of the third day, the body was placed in a new coffin and enclosed in a tomb near the alter. Francisco de Xavier was canonized in 1622, along with his mentor Ignacio de Loyola. Today, the unpreserved but as-yet-undisintegrated body of St. Francisco lies in a wooden coffin inside a silver casket in the Basilica de Bom Jesus in Old Goa. It can be seen in the chapel, as one turns right, at the main altar of the basilica. The casket has a glass window through which, the head is clearly seen. There have been numerous expositions and millions of people of all faiths and countries have seen the body. The body has gradually lost some of its moisture and future expositions have been restricted. Many who visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Cathedral across the street are overcome by the deep spirituality of the place. Postscript : Writing this account on the life of St. Francisco de Xavier, has been a truly enlightening experience for me. The sacrifice of one's life for the service of God and fellowmen requires a very special person. Even so, the personal sacrifices and risks that St. Francisco undertook were extraordinary. And yet, he could have had a comfortable life - anywhere in Europe or in Goa, for that matter. After all, he had studied at one of the premier Universities in the world, and he came from a family with means. He must have had several disappointments in the ten years he spent in the East. The task at hand was so immense and there was only one Fr. Francisco. Surely, there were his associates, and some good ones too; but their organizational capabilties were not, perhaps, the same as his. The Portuguese authorities in India, too, could have been more helpful or at least less obstructive. For this tiny Jesuit, the most disappointing aspect of his life, may have been his inabilty to do more in Japan - a country, he had such high hopes for. But that was not to be. It is no secret, that, today, the Indian states of Goa and Kerala are the bastions of Catholicism in India and that St. Francisco Xavier is one of the most venerated Saints. The Parava converts, and the Goan Catholics who migrated to Mangalore at the time of the Inquisition remain steadfast in their faith. His devout, simple and sacrificial life remains a major source of inspiration to so many families in India and, no doubt, all over the world. St. Francisco would have been pleased to visit India now. Catholicism has spread to all the corners of India - a country where, by and large, members of all faiths live at peace with each other and even celebrate each others religious festivals. Even so, the entire Indian subcontinent and the Catholic Church have their own individual challenges to face, as a new millenium commences. They both have to make decisions on important social issues. They also face a formidable cross from within - the rise of fundamentalism among all faiths. The Society of Jesus today is one of the most respected organizations on the subcontinent. It has been responsible for the establishment and running of many of the finest schools and colleges there. True to the spirit of their first Provincial in India, the Jesuits with their excellent organizational capability, quietly and with humility, play a pivotal role in the progress of India's educational system and of India itself. They also have made an indelible mark upon educational systems - all over the world. November 23, 1996 comments to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Click here for more information on Dr Jose Colaco Photos By William Rodrigues during The Feast Of St. Francis Xavier 4th Dec, 2000 CREDITS Article By Dr Jose Colaco Photos By William Rodrigues Input & Services By Cecil Pinto Presented by Goa-World Team www.goa-world.com (C) Copyrights Reserved