The tomb of Venerable Agnelo de Souza at Pilar.
PANAJI
Here comes the much-awaited month for the devotees of Venerable Agnelo de Souza, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate his novenas and 97th death anniversary. Venerable Agnelo has carved a special place in the hearts of Goans and people all over the world.
His life might have seemed ordinary, but he made an extraordinary difference in the lives of the people through his powerful proclamation of the Word of God. He was popularly known to be a “Lion in the pulpit and a lamb in the confessional.”
Mission to preach
God’s word
Padre Agnelo had a special gift of preaching God’s word which was evident in the fact that parishes would book him in advance to preach at novenas, people would travel long distances to listen to his sermons and it is said that the church would be filled with people much before Ven Agnelo arrived for preaching.
He was passionate about proclaiming God’s word that he even died in the pulpit while preparing to preach at the vespers of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He did not care about his frailty and his illness; he did not refuse to accept a preaching invitation, rather it was with great joy and enthusiasm that he would look forward to proclaiming God’s word to His people.
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. And it is the word of God which touched the life of Ven Agnelo, that gave him that much required strength and passion to touch the lives of people through his beautiful and effective sermons.
People who did not confess their sins for years, were inspired through his sermons to go for the Sacrament of confession. People who were living in enmity and unforgiveness were inspired to forgive and transform their lives through his preaching.
Ven Agnelo who was so committed to his mission of proclaiming God’s word, would prepare his sermons well and write them down. They were interspersed with quotations from the Scriptures, writings of the Fathers of the Church and Saints like St John Marie Vianney and St Catherine of Sienna. Spending hours kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, he would implore the Lord to touch the hearts of those who would hear him preach.
Impact of Ven Agnelo’s
preaching
And what was most touching was the fact that he practiced what he preached; his life was a living sermon. His God-loving and soul-seeking heart was evident in his warm and compassionate behaviour and even his silence would speak volumes of compassion and love.
He had a peculiar originality and sagacity in developing his own themes for preaching. His zeal to win souls for Christ was tremendous, as he would frequently speak about death, judgement, hell and heaven. He would frequently say this from the pulpit, “We have to burn ourselves somewhere; either in this world with the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or in the next life--in hell.”
When he spoke of sin and vice, he seemed to exorcise the devil from the pulpit. It is said that one day he preached about things misappropriated or stolen and the impact was such that in the following days people came to church to return things which they had stolen or misappropriated.
Once there were two groups of parishioners in a village in Bardez who were fighting against one another and Ven Agnelo was called to preach a novena of reconciliation. For eight days he preached in vain and when none of the groups came for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which was arranged on the eighth day, Ven Agnelo was deeply saddened and heartbroken.
On the ninth day, he cried on the pulpit and said that he was going back very sad and dejected as he could see no change after preaching to them. Immediately, members of the two groups started asking pardon and reconciled with each other and thus peace and unity was restored in the village. So deep was the impact created by Ven Agnelo’s preaching and his commitment to his mission.
Powerful intercession
Many have experienced his powerful intercession through signs and wonders performed by God and several testimonies are heard even today; some are healed of their illnesses; some receive an answer to their prayers in difficult situations in life and there are others whose faith is increased praying at the tomb of Ven Agnelo and at the Pilar monastery.
It is good to venerate saints and holy people, it is beneficial when we pray through their intercession, but it is best to try to learn from their example and imitate their virtues and teachings and try to grow in holiness, as Ven Agnelo often said, “There is nothing better than to be a saint, even the bones of the saints are venerated.”
(The writer is a consultant paediatrician based in Alto Santa Cruz)
