The 17th century painting of St Francis Xavier above the southern door of the Chapel and mausoleum of St Francis Xavier in the Bom Jesus Basilica is believed to be an image of the saint depicted by Fr Marcello Mastrilli in a vision.
The Church across the world will celebrate 400 years of the Sainthood of St Francis Xavier -- Goemcho Saib -- on March 12 (1622-2022). Goans consider him the patron of Goa. The Jesuits throughout the world and in Goa have planned several events to celebrate the 4th centenary of the canonisation of ‘Goemcho Saib’ St Francis Xavier and the founder of the Jesuits, St Ignatius of Loyola.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus which enshrines the Relics of St Francis Xavier annually celebrates the Novena of Grace from March 4 to March 12, his sainthood day.
To those who wonder about the two Novenas to St Francis Xavier, here is the answer. St Francis Xavier appeared in a pilgrim’s garb to the dying young Jesuit Marcello Mastrilli. He was supervising the renovation of the Church at the Jesuit College in Naples. This incident happened on December 11, 1633. He was hit by a hammer on the head that slipped thirty cubits high from the workman on the ladder. His condition gradually grew worse.
On January 3, 1634, he was administered the sacrament for the dying. That’s when St Francis Xavier intervened and performed a miracle. St Francis Xavier also revealed to him that he would die a martyr in fulfilment of his wish which he made during the Novena while dying.
To everybody’s surprise at the college, Mastrilli got up and took supper with his companions and was perfectly healthy. That night, he wrote an account of his cure. The fame of Mastrilli’s miraculous cure spread throughout Italy, Europe and to the whole world.
Incidentally, the 17th century painting of St Francis Xavier above the southern door of the Chapel and mausoleum of St Francis Xavier in the Bom Jesus Basilica is said to be the original or a copy of the picture which the Portuguese lay brother Domingos da Cunha painted in Lisbon as Fr Marcello Mastrilli described to him the vision in which St Francis Xavier had cured him miraculously in Naples. It is believed that Mastrilli brought the picture with him to Goa and left it at the shrine of the saint.
The Novena Prayer was very efficacious for two reasons. First, it happens during the time of grace, the Lenten season. Second, because of the powerful intercession of St Francis Xavier.
When the 9-day prayer to St Francis Xavier was made to culminate on March 12, his sainthood day, it was called the Novena of Grace. Marcello kept his promise and in 1636, made a journey to Japan via Goa and died a martyr on October 18, 1637. In Goa, Fr George D’Sa SJ in 1967 gave a boost to this devotion and ever since, it has been gathering momentum.
The Jesuits of Goa and the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman are blessed with the gift of the incorruptible remains of St Francis Xavier. His missionary zeal is dynamic, inspirational, and contagious. He was a pilgrim walking from place to place to spread the Good News. The Novena of Grace will be celebrated throughout the diocese. The diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Jose Vaz on March 6 will also draw inspiration from both saints who walked as pilgrims to proclaim, nurture the love of God and neighbour.
The theme for the liturgical celebration of the Novena of Grace, which commemorate the 400 years of the sainthood is, “To see all things: communion, participation, and mission as St Francis Xavier saw new in Christ.”
The daily liturgical celebration will incorporate elements of Synodality, the life experience of St Francis Xavier and the Jesuit thrust for celebrating the conversion and sainthood of the two saints, and the daily liturgical themes of Lent.
The yearly Solemn Mass (9 am) will be followed by the penitential Way of the Cross to the Rosary Church. After the blessing and Mass, all devotees will partake of the Conji emulating the example of ‘Amcho Goemcho Pai’ who identified with the poor and simple folk. On Sunday (March 13), all parishes in Goa will commemorate the 400 years of the sainthood of St Francis Xavier.
Schedule of Novena of Grace
Konkani Prayer: Ignatian Spiritual Exercises (5 am), Konkani Masses (6, 7, 8 am) followed by Konkani Rosary, Divine Mercy Devotion and the way of the Cross (3 pm), Konkani Mass (4 pm), Prayer in English: The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises (5 pm), Mass in English (6 pm), followed by Rosary in English.
The Novena of Grace does not culminate in a feast, but the ninth day of the Novena is taken for a feast day.
March 6 (Sunday): Additional Masses at 9.15 am (Konkani) and 10.15 am (English) and the Monthly Mass in Konkani at the Chapel of St Francis Xavier at the well at 10 am.
March 12 has two solemn Masses: Solemn High Mass in Konkani (9 am) followed by the penitential Way of the Cross. A Special Solemn Mass (11 am) will be celebrated by the Archbishop and Goa Jesuit Provincial along with other priests, Jesuit collaborators and Diocesan invitees.
[The writer is Rector at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa]
