Pilar seminary
The sun was hot and the air-conditioning inside the car was on full blast as it made its way slowly up the winding hilly road. Goa was breathtakingly green in the winter, with the tall palm trees swaying softly in the breeze. We reached the top of the hill and the driver parked the car in the shade. We walked up the wide promenade, up the flight of steps and towards the white building of the seminary. I couldn't wait to discover what lay within those old walls that had been witness to many a historical event.
The Portugese explorer Vasco da Gama found a sea route to India in 1498 and in the 16th century the Portugese laid seige upon Goa. One of Vasco de Gama's goals in coming to India was to find 'new Christians' and the Portugese introduced Roman Catholicism and the Society of the Jesuits to Goa. Having attended a wonderful school run by the Jesuits in my hometown, I felt a special connection to Goa.
While initially the Hindus and the Chistians co-existed peacefully in Goa, Christianity was forced upon the Indians with religious fervor during the period of the 'inquisition'. The Portugese destroyed temples and built Churches on the very same sites. The result is that today Goa boasts some of the most beautiful Churches in India. The Pilar seminary was established by the Capuchins in 1613 and today houses the tomb of Father Agnelo D'Souza, and attracts many pilgrims.
We felt almost guity to violate the peaceful aura that the seminary gave off as we peeped through the huge, ornate, half-opened doors. A man in his late fifties came outside.
"We would like to visit the seminary".
"Welcome to Pilar", he smiled. "Why don't you visit the garden first and then you can come inside". He spoke with a stange lisp and his speech was a little slurred.
We walked to the garden and splashed cool water on our faces from the artificial stream. There was a multicolored fish - Ichthys, the symbol of Christianity - carved in stone amid the beautiful plants. Having cooled off in the garden we entered the seminary and walked upstairs to the museum. The museum houses ancient relics of Goan Chritianity, paintings of Jesus and Mary, scripture, and stone statues belonging to the reign of the Portugese. As we looked through the collection, a Father came upto us and started telling us about the history of the artifacts. He was the same gentleman who had greeted us at the door. While he walked us through the exhibits, the peaceful atmosphere, the high arched ceilings, and the slight musty smell reminded me of my old Catholic schools.
As we neared the end of the exhibits, we thanked Father for his time and he smiled and pointed to a last small painting by the door.
"That is Father Angelo De Souza." He went on to tell us about the greatness of the Father and his contribution to the Faith. After his death, the local clergy had undertaken all the steps in the process of his Beatification. The only step remaining in him being declared Blessed by the Pope was a miracle.
At this point Father paused and said, "And that miracle is me".
We stared at him and he saw the obvious surprise on our faces. "Yes it's me", he said with a smile. We waited with baited breath for him to continue.
"You see when my mother was pregnant with me, she was not keeping well at all. The doctors told her that there was no hope for the child and ordered her complete bedrest. After a few days of bedrest, my mother became impatient and started moving about. That's when she fell very sick and the doctors gave up hope that either she or I would survive. She had great faith in Fr Angelo and prayed fervently to him to save her child's life. And as you can see, here I am". He smiled as we looked at him in awe.
"I have dedicated my life to Christianity. We sent the petition to the Roman Catholic Church to accept my birth as the miracle for Fr Angelo to be granted Sainthood. And it was accepted."
As I left the seminary, I realised that inside that monument, I had felt as if I was in the presence of that higher being that we call God. The one that has the power to create miracles. For a moment, I felt myself disconnected from all the material things, fame, money, and success that we all seek in our everyday lives. And I thought about the simple life of Father who considered his existence a miracle. And I felt a deep sense of relief; there was hope still for mankind.
The Portugese explorer Vasco da Gama found a sea route to India in 1498 and in the 16th century the Portugese laid seige upon Goa. One of Vasco de Gama's goals in coming to India was to find 'new Christians' and the Portugese introduced Roman Catholicism and the Society of the Jesuits to Goa. Having attended a wonderful school run by the Jesuits in my hometown, I felt a special connection to Goa.
While initially the Hindus and the Chistians co-existed peacefully in Goa, Christianity was forced upon the Indians with religious fervor during the period of the 'inquisition'. The Portugese destroyed temples and built Churches on the very same sites. The result is that today Goa boasts some of the most beautiful Churches in India. The Pilar seminary was established by the Capuchins in 1613 and today houses the tomb of Father Agnelo D'Souza, and attracts many pilgrims.
We felt almost guity to violate the peaceful aura that the seminary gave off as we peeped through the huge, ornate, half-opened doors. A man in his late fifties came outside.
"We would like to visit the seminary".
"Welcome to Pilar", he smiled. "Why don't you visit the garden first and then you can come inside". He spoke with a stange lisp and his speech was a little slurred.
We walked to the garden and splashed cool water on our faces from the artificial stream. There was a multicolored fish - Ichthys, the symbol of Christianity - carved in stone amid the beautiful plants. Having cooled off in the garden we entered the seminary and walked upstairs to the museum. The museum houses ancient relics of Goan Chritianity, paintings of Jesus and Mary, scripture, and stone statues belonging to the reign of the Portugese. As we looked through the collection, a Father came upto us and started telling us about the history of the artifacts. He was the same gentleman who had greeted us at the door. While he walked us through the exhibits, the peaceful atmosphere, the high arched ceilings, and the slight musty smell reminded me of my old Catholic schools.
As we neared the end of the exhibits, we thanked Father for his time and he smiled and pointed to a last small painting by the door.
"That is Father Angelo De Souza." He went on to tell us about the greatness of the Father and his contribution to the Faith. After his death, the local clergy had undertaken all the steps in the process of his Beatification. The only step remaining in him being declared Blessed by the Pope was a miracle.
At this point Father paused and said, "And that miracle is me".
We stared at him and he saw the obvious surprise on our faces. "Yes it's me", he said with a smile. We waited with baited breath for him to continue.
"You see when my mother was pregnant with me, she was not keeping well at all. The doctors told her that there was no hope for the child and ordered her complete bedrest. After a few days of bedrest, my mother became impatient and started moving about. That's when she fell very sick and the doctors gave up hope that either she or I would survive. She had great faith in Fr Angelo and prayed fervently to him to save her child's life. And as you can see, here I am". He smiled as we looked at him in awe.
"I have dedicated my life to Christianity. We sent the petition to the Roman Catholic Church to accept my birth as the miracle for Fr Angelo to be granted Sainthood. And it was accepted."
As I left the seminary, I realised that inside that monument, I had felt as if I was in the presence of that higher being that we call God. The one that has the power to create miracles. For a moment, I felt myself disconnected from all the material things, fame, money, and success that we all seek in our everyday lives. And I thought about the simple life of Father who considered his existence a miracle. And I felt a deep sense of relief; there was hope still for mankind.
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