The chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Livra Febres (Our Lady of Cures from Fevers), Nossa Senhora de Livra Febres, in Portuguese, in Belbhat ward, is about 1,300 metres from the Church of St Bartholomew, the Apostle. There is no resident priest here and so there is no Mass on Sundays. The parishioners celebrate the feast on February 11, with great zeal and enthusiasm.
THE CHAPEL
The chapel was constructed in Belbhat ward in 1786 and it was thrown open to the public for religious services in the same year on November 17. It was enlarged in 1949 and thrown open to the public on February 1, 1950. To accommodate more people, keeping the main façade of the chapel intact, an extension was constructed in front of it a few years back.
THE LEGEND
The elders of the village state that when the archbishop was proceeding towards Aldona, he was suffering from high fever. When he reached the chapel here, he stopped and prayed to Our Lady of Livra Febres to be cured from it. By the time he reached Aldona, he was cured of this fever. The villagers believe that this was a great miracle through the intercession of Our Lady.
THE ALTAR
The main altar is dedicated to the patroness, on the back of the wall is the statue of Our Lady of Livra Febres. There is another small altar on one side of the wall.
THE FAITH
A number of people have been cured through the intercession of Our Lady of Cures from fevers; she has also blessed couples with children. A number of Hindus, who reside around the chapel, also celebrate this feast. They come and do obeisance to her by offering flowers and lighting candles before the statue of Our Lady. Those in distress also have recourse to her. They make a vow if their prayers are answered, they will come on the feast day and beg.
THE FEAST
The parishioners of this area celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Livra Febres with great enthusiasm and fervour. They make arrangements for the priests for the novena day Masses and so too for the Feast day. Prior to the feast is the Maddi and the nine-day thematic Novena. During the Novena days and on the Feast Day there is no Mass in the Church. On the Feast Day there are two Masses, one at 7 am and the Feast Mass is at 9 am. After the Feast Mass is a procession with the statue of the patroness in the earmarked area, which is accompanied by the traditional brass band. After the procession is the blessing and the veneration of the statue. The parishioners gather in the evening for a Tiatr.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
