A first-class relic of St. Francis Xavier was exposed for veneration during a Mass at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Dec. 3, the saint’s feast day.
The Mass and exposition of the relic was held in conjunction with the Solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St. Francis Xavier event in India. Relics of the 16th century saint, who baptized tens of thousands of people in India and Japan, are displayed for veneration every 10 years in the Indian Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
Faithful who came to St. Joseph Cathedral on Dec. 3 had an opportunity to venerate a piece from St. Francis Xavier’s bones.
The 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes that evening drew approximately 100 people. Several priests concelebrated the Mass, many of whom are Indian natives serving in the diocese.
Individuals were invited to come forward after Mass for a blessing with the relic from the bishop.
The body of the saint, who died in 1552 while en route to China, was found incorrupt a year after his death. It is preserved in a casket in the Basilica of Bom (holy or good, or infant) Jesus in the western state of Goa, India and taken to nearby Se Cathedral for veneration every 10 years.
Held in a four-centuries-old glass casket, the saint’s body was transported to Se Cathedral on Nov. 21. The relics will remain on display for 45 days, with public veneration concluding on Jan. 5.
Approximately 8 million people are expected to visit Francis’ relics while they are on display in India.
In Rome, a major relic of St. Francis Xavier’s right arm is kept in a shrine in Church of the Gesù, the mother church of the Jesuit order. Pope Paul V requested the saint’s right forearm be removed in the early 1600s.
As a university student, St. Francis Xavier befriended St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. Ignatius encouraged St. Francis Xavier to give his life to God, and he later became a priest and missionary.
In 1540, Pope Paul III confirmed St. Ignatius, St. Francis Xavier and their companions as a religious order, the Jesuits. About a year later, St. Francis Xavier and another Jesuit set out as missionaries to Goa.
For Maria Pushparaj, a native of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, attending Mass and venerating the Jesuit saint locally at St. Joseph Cathedral was meaningful.
Pushparaj graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School in Tamil Nadu and received two master’s degrees from Loyola College, Chennai.
“All my 17 years of education, I was with the Jesuits,” he said. “I am a product of the Jesuits. So, I’m so happy today to see my patron saint’s relic is right here.”
More than a patron saint of his studies though, Pushparaj credits St. Francis Xavier as the saint who introduced his ancestors to Christ.
“The Jesuits brought us the Gospel and good news to the southern part of India, like Goa, Diu Daman, and then Kerala, and then Tamil Nadu – all those coastal areas,” he said.
“St. Francis Xavier tirelessly preached, and then, because of him, we came to know about our Lord. So, we are so thankful to him. He’s our spiritual father.”
Pushparaj moved to the United States in 2010. He and his wife are the parents of two sons, a sophomore at Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School and a fifth-grader at Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare School. The family belongs to St. Brigid parish.
Several India natives who now reside in the diocese attended the Mass and veneration of St. Francis Xavier’s relic at the cathedral.
“It’s so lovely to see people coming to seek the spiritual father’s blessing,” Pushparaj said. “We are so proud to see each of one us today, and we are so happy.
“This is a wonderful opportunity … so immediately we came.”
In his homily, Bishop Fernandes reflected on St. Francis Xavier. He described him as a great saint and true missionary, also noting that St. Francis Xavier is considered the second apostle of India after St. Thomas the Apostle.
The bishop shared his own memories of St. Francis Xavier’s relics.
He recalled venerating the relics as a child when his parents – both natives of India – brought the family to Goa.
“One of my earliest memories was my parents taking my brothers and me to Goa to venerate the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier,” Bishop Fernandes said. “I can remember it clear as day.
“When I was a young priest, I remember being in Rome at the Chiesa del Gesù (the Jesuit Church) and offering Mass at the altar, where his right arm is kept. … He loved Jesus so much that he left everything he knew and everyone he knew to go halfway around the world to preach the good news.”
St. Francis Xavier brought the light of faith to the peoples, the bishop said. He encouraged those gathered to spread the same light.
“St. Francis Xavier went to the ends of the earth,” he said. “Now it is our turn to take our place in the Apostolic band, to proclaim this good news that our God comes to see us, that our God comes to be with us. He is Emmanuel. He is God with us.”
