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Showing posts with label St. Francis and the Wolf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Francis and the Wolf. Show all posts

Saturday, October 04, 2014

St. Francis of Assisi, Patron of St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Gurim, Bardez, Goa

October 4 , 2014

Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), one of the best-loved Catholic saints, who was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Capuchin) and the Secular Franciscan Order. He is the Patron of the renowned institution of St. Anthony's High School, my Alma Mater, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa. Our present Pope has adopted his Papal name as 'Francis' - after St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his humility.

 Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte de Guirim.
Bardez Goa.

Main altar of the Chapel, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.

Twilight view of the Arabian Sea from Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa.




The Alverno Friary & Residence

Resting place of the great Capuchin Friars of Monte de Guirim.





Cross of peace and tranquility facing the Chapel on the Hill. Monte de Guirim. An ideal quiet place for prayer, solace, comfort and inspiration.

On the right side of this cross, as one looks at the picture above,  the giant old nunerca tree stood strong perhaps for generations. This tree was a legend in its lifetime. It was like a mother that sheltered and protected her children under her huge arms from the hot sun and rain.  For the physical training exercise, boys lined up for the “drill” under this legendary tree. In the afternoon boys some played, while other read books. Mission Sunday event was held on this mini plateau. Its own branch roots were very cleverly nurtured back into the earth with soil around it round tin pipes, thereby providing support for itself. Though botanists tried to save it, the old tree sadly did not survive. But a new one that was immediately planted in its place soon grew to its full size and provides a nostalgic reminiscence to the visiting scholars of the old days.


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Habemus Papam! (L) - (We Have a Pope!)




Habemus Papam! ("We Have a Pope!")

came  the announcement yesterday given in Latin by the Cardinal Protodeacon, the senior Cardinal Deacon, upon the election of a new Roman Catholic Pope. He is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. At 76, he is the first Jesuit ever to be elected Pope. He is known to have been a very simple and humble man, commuting by bus and cooking his own meals.

There is something special about this announcement that gave me goose bumps as soon as I heard the news.

Viva Il Papa! were cries heard in jubilation in St. Peter's Square, Rome, and as banner headlines in the newscasts all over the world announcing the Pope's election.

Humility and servitude personified!

People around the world waited eagerly for this moment, glued to their TV sets. This news was proclaimed from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Later the new pope was presented to the people and he gave his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.

Most importantly though for me it only seems fitting and apt that we have a new Pope who has adopted his new name as 'Francis' - after St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his humility.

What's in a name?

Incidentally, Francis is a common name in Goa, India, and all around the world.  St Francis of Assisi is also the patron of my Alma Mater - St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Guirim, which is run by Franciscan Friars for the last 71 years.

At this juncture, we should not forget the name Francis for yet another reason - St. Francis Xavier - the pioneering Jesuit Missionary of the Orient.

“Vere dignum et justum est".

Is it not then, fitting and just, that 'Francis' is the apt name that the new Pope, a Jesuit himself, has adopted after two great Catholic Saints?

*  Francis - after St. Francis of Assisi - a symbol of humility - the Franciscan Friar and preacher. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, he preached sermons to animals, and praised all creatures as brothers and sisters under God. St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology, was born in Italy around 1181 or 1182.

and

* Francis - the great Missionary to the East - St. Francis Xavier - the Jesuit and Apostle of the Indies - whose relics are kept in a silver casket, elevated inside the Cathedral of Bom Jesus, Old Goa.

Coincidence?

The new Holy Father has Italian and Spanish roots - St. Francis of Assisi was Italian and St. Francis Xavier was Spanish.


May long be the Reign of Pope Francis I
(so far the 7th Pope in my lifetime)

Viva Il Papa!

Sunday, October 03, 2010

LEGEND OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI & THE WOLF

LEGEND OF
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI & THE WOLF
is a metaphor for the Christian response to urban problems. The wolf can be any problem that presses the people into a fear-based fight or flight response; a problem which the population consistently fails to solve, and which tears them apart day and night without mercy. Whatever is "tearing a community apart" - that is its wolf.
The wolf kills to satisfy its hunger, but it does so in a lawless and uncontrolled way, bringing judgment on itself and fear to the people, generally the lawless meeting of an out of control need.
This is where St. Francis of Assisi steps in.
The wolf is challenged, forced into submission and made to stop its rampage of destruction. Instead it has to beg for food to sustain itself for the rest of its life and dies in poverty.
Picture above: Life-size figure of
St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf.
(Garden opp. Alverno Friary - top of the Hill of Guirim)