Come a Tuesday, devotees will make their way to the numerous crosses and chapels dotted across Goa that are dedicated to St Anthony. Such is the faith of the people of Goa who fondly venerate Sant Anton, especially in times of dire need.
St Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and baptized as Fernando Martins. He went on to join priesthood, becoming part of the Augustinian Canons.
However, after seeing five Franciscan priests brutally murdered for preaching the Catholic faith, he shifted to the Franciscan order and took the name Anthony.
In Goa, people make vows and petitions to St Anthony to find stolen/lost items, find a suitable partner, have a child or grant health to a newborn. With closed eyes and joined hands, people recite the prayer, "Whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus," and are ensured that St Anthony, whose statue before them holds Jesus, will comply.
Children born as a result of prayers answered or in the month of June, which is the saint's feast month, are usually named Anthony. Miniature statues of the saint are found on the altar of almost every Catholic home in Goa.
With the depiction of the saint holding lilies, a particular white flower that blooms during the monsoon season, is also regarded as the "St Anthony flower". There's also a belief that it's very likely to rain on the saint's feast day.
With great devotion and admiration, Goans celebrate the feast of St Anthony on June 13, annually. People gather in churches and chapels and at crosses thirteen days prior to the feast and conduct the novena/prayer service known as trezena. The thirteen-day celebration commemorates the 13 famous miracles of the saint.
Unlike the rest of Goa, the church at Siolim, which is dedicated to the saint, celebrates the feast on the following Sunday.
PATRON OF LOST THINGS
In Goa, people from all walks of life credit St Anthony for many miracles that involve finding lost items. Almost every second household in Goa can give a testimony as to how keys, wallets and even important documents have been miraculous recovered after petitioning the saint.
Some attribute this belief to an incident that took place in Morocco. St Anthony used to possess a book that contained many teachings that he would go on to preach. In a time when there wasn't a printing press, this book was precious to him.
However, there came an occasion when the book went missing. Disheartened, St Anthony prayed so that he could find it. His prayers were answered when the thief somehow was moved and returned the book to him.
People have great faith in St Anthony and ask for his intercession throughout the year. Once their petition is granted, they offer money, candles and sometimes bread as thanksgiving.
At times favors are also requested in a peculiar manner wherein the statue of the saint is tied and lowered down into a well with the hope that St Anthony will help recover lost items.
THE MIRACULOUS TONGUE RELIC AT DEUSSA
St Anthony is regarded as one powerful preacher whose sermons are said to have touched many. Once, while on such a journey of preaching the Lord's ways, no one seemed to be interested. Observing this, he went by a water body and began preaching. Scores of fish came up, appearing to listen to his words.
Seeing this, people gathered around to hear what he had to say because even the fish were captivated. This is credited as one among the 13 famous miracles of the saint.
Even decades later, when his tomb was dug up for his body to be reburied at the newly constructed basilica, his body was found decayed except for his tongue. It was found to be as wet and fresh as that of a living person-a testimony to his great oratory skills in proclaiming the Catholic faith.
At present, his jaw bone and tongue are on display in an exquisite reliquary at the Basilica of Saint Anthony at Padua.
A relic piece of his tongue was also brought to Goa and has been kept at the chapel in Deussa, Chinchinim, that's dedicated to the saint.
Every year February 15, the feast of the Miraculous Tongue of St Anthony is celebrated at this chapel in South Goa, to commemorate the day the incorrupt tongue was discovered.
THE STATUE AT SIOLIM
Unlike the usual statues of St Anthony, who is seen with a bible, white lilies or carrying the infant Jesus in his arms, the church in Siolim has a unique statue where the saint is holding a rope with a dangling snake. This depiction is due to an incident that took place while the church was under construction.
When the Franciscans arrived in Goa, they wanted to build a church dedicated to St Anthony. However, they lacked the required funds.
Around the same time two Portuguese merchants were caught in a storm at sea and prayed to the saint to aid them in reaching safety. When they did so, they offered to help build the church.
But each time the workers tried, the construction failed, hampered by a serpent. They placed the saint’s statue at the site. But frustrated enough, they decided to give up.
They did not end up doing so because the next morning they were stunned at what they saw. The serpent was found dead, hanging by a rope that appeared to be held on by the saint’s statue.
Throughout the year, parishioners and devotees venerate St Anthony, the patron saint of the Siolim church, by making offerings of thanksgiving Masses and candles.
With the numerous miracles that took place during his lifetime and following his death, Pope Gregory IX canonized him as saint in 1232 within eleven months of his death. Pope Pius XII declared him 'Doctor of the Church' in 1946.
For Goans, St Anthony has always been a spiritual guide and through his miracles many have gone on to strengthen their faith.
