Why Goans should remember 29th August every year? Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 Wondering Guru (72)

Have you ever wondered 

Why Goans should  remember 29th August every year? 

               It's the death anniversary of Goa's favourite saint of course after St. Anthony and St. Francis Xavier. So how many Goans will attend the death anniversary mass of John the Baptist?  How many will remain silent, drop a tear and may be pray a rosary in his memory? 

       When someone is murdered people take out morcha and have candle light processions. Will there be lighted candles 'procession' or anniversary photos on newspapers or on FB/Insta in his name?  

        All those who had grand celebration on Sào Jòa day will they spend the day in silence and prayer? The bitter truth is people will be with us during our happy days.  The birth of JB is celebrated with great pomp and glory but his death..? 

       When we laugh the world laughs with us. When we cry we cry alone. After our death we are remembered no more. It's  good to wonder about why we do what we do. JB remained honest, faithful and fearless till the end. May we have the courage to imitate his principles and virtues. 

Feast of Assumption & Independence by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 WONDERING GURU (114)

As Indians Independence Day is important for us and as Catholics the Feast of Assumption is equally important. Have you ever wondered? We adore Christ in the  man made Tabernacle. Mother Mary instead became the Living Tabernacle chosen by God. She preserved and nourished in her womb a lawgiver greater than Moses; the living bread greater than manna in the Old Testament; the High Priest greater than Aaron. 

With this she becomes the new Ark of the Covenant. So is it any surprise that this Living Tabernacle and the Ark of the covenant is taken body and soul to heaven? Wherever there is Jesus there has to be the Living Tabernacle and the New Ark of the Covenant.   

Today we also bless the first fruits/first crop of the harvest. The best is offered to God in gratitude like Abel. Mary is the first and the best fruit of humanity. She is our gift to God. Think about it and be proud of our Catholic Faith. 

On patriotic days we are naturally inclined to think of our freedom and our rights but we forget our duties and our contribution to the society.  On feast days we think of celebrations and parties but we forget to imitate the virtues and the inspiring life of the saints or of our dear Mother Mary.  More than external celebrations let's try to become good citizens and good Christians.

Wish you a very happy Independence Day and a very Happy Feast of Assumption. God bless our country and our church.

Pastor's Day Thought by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Wondering Guru ( 112)

As the church is celebrating the feast of St. John Mary Vianney the patron of all priests I wish all the priests a very happy Pastors Day. 

The life of a priest in today's world is very challenging: too many demands and expectations from the people and the government.  On many occasions when expectations are not met people get disappointed. Inspite of all the failures, hardships, criticism, accusations, unnecessary gossip, back biting, character assassination it's still wonderful to be a priest. What sugar and salt is to the food a priest is to his church. A church without a priest is like a headless chicken.  

So today when you decide to pray for your priests what are you going to pray for? Pray that God may bless them with...

the faith of Abraham, 

the endurance of Moses, 

the patience of Job, 

the humility of St. Peter, 

the fearlessness of St. Paul, 

the power to preach the Word of God like St. Anthony,

the patience to sit for confessions like St. JM Vianney and

like SFX to go in search of souls. And finally to die like the first martyr Deacon Stephen praying in return for the each stone that killed him. 

Happy Pastor’s Day dear Fathers.  God bless your vocation and your ministry. 

The Great Pardon (Indulgence) of Assisi by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Portiuncula-The Cradle of the Franciscan Movement

Pace e bene Fratelli e Sorelle

Peace and Goodness to You!

2^nd August  is a very special day for the thousands and thousands of Franciscans all over the world, as they celebrate The Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula. Portiuncula what is this Portiuncula? Well let me tell you the story.

2.  When St. Francis of Assisi in Italy was discerning his vocation, he heard the Lord tell him, "Go and re-build my church". Francis took God’s voice literally and started repairing the chapels that were deteriorating or dilapidated. The word Portiuncula in Italian means the “Little Portion,” or the little place dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. It was one of the three chapels he repaired. In 1209, after returning from a visit to Pope Innocent III, during which Francis received permission to form a “religious order,” Francis and his first companions took up residence at this little place called porciúncula.

3.    The chapel and the little portion of the land actually belonged to the Benedictines for it was given to St. Benedict in the 6th century. However, the Franciscan friars or brothers came to live at Portiuncula from 1210 onwards. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans.  This little chapel is now enclosed in a large basilica in Assisi (416 feet long by 210 feet wide)  and the original structure of this little chapel in Portiuncula is still preserved of course with minor repairs.

4.   So what is special about this place?  Why should we know about this place? Is it important only to the Franciscans? NO. It’s important to all the Catholics. But Why? Here is the story.

5.  A special impulse led St Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother the queen, surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine vision. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with tenderness to ask some special favor. Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all the people who, being contrite of heart and having confessed their sins, would visit this little place. This pardon is called indulgence or Pardon of Assisi. It is said St. Francis pleaded the Lord’s mother to intercede on his behalf. And so, on behalf of St. Francis the queen of the angels also pleaded the Lord. Thereupon the Lord said to Francis: "It is a great favor that you request, nevertheless it shall be granted to you. Go to my Vicar on earth, the Pope to whom I have given the power to bind and to lose, and ask him in My name to grant this indulgence/this pardon." So Saint Francis presented himself to Pope Honorius III, who, after having assured himself of the truth of the vision, granted his request, but with the restriction that the indulgence could be gained only on one day of the year. The 2nd of August was the designated day. At the command of the pope and in the presence of 7 bishops, St Francis preached the extraordinary indulgence at the Portiuncula before a great crowd of people. From that time the Portiuncula was annually the goal of innumerable pilgrims.

6 But why did St. Francis choose 2^nd August as the special date?

Here is the story-On 2^nd August the Portiuncula church was dedicated to the Our Lady of the Angels. 1^st Aug is the feast of the chains of St. Peter. The day Peter was released from prison, freed from his chains. St. Francis felt 2^nd August following this feast would be a good day to liberate the souls from the chains of sins by seeking indulgence.

7.What about you and me? Very few of us can afford to travel to Assisi. Can we receive this indulgence (Pardon of Assisi) in our own country in our own church? By virtue of their apostolic power the popes have extended this indulgence to all Franciscan churches since 1481, and under special conditions even to some other churches. They have also granted that the indulgence can be gained every year provided one has gone to confession, received the Holy Communion, prayed the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father and visited the appointed church on Portiuncula day ie. on 2nd August.                                                         

8. So my dear friends take this opportunity, visit any Franciscan church close by to your parish fulfil the conditions of the indulgence and receive the Lord’s pardon for all your sins. The Franciscans remember Portiuncula the little portion as the beginning of the great Franciscan movement and the end of St. Francis’ earthly life. And you my listeners you must remember Portiuncula because of the pardon of Assisi or the indulgence.