PANAJI
By Fr. Cosme Jose Costa sfx
Venerable Fr. Agnelo’s approach to the world was that of a mystic; he saw everything through the all-encompassing love of God. It was an approach of a liberated soul which experienced God and lived in complete communion with him. He used to spend hours on end, before the Blessed Sacrament in rapt contemplation. Sometimes he fell into ecstasies while celebrating Mass. His liking for a contemplative prayer life continued with him throughout his active ministry, and to the end of his life. He was a preacher of renown who wrote down his sermons in advance and prayed on knees for a long time before delivering them.
His life was outstanding by its intense spirituality and austere simplicity of a Christian, who led a God-centered life of a Sanyasi in the real Indian tradition. With a harmoniously blended personality, he exuded such magnetism, that his presence could not be ignored in spite of his meek and quiet demeanor. His life was marked by an almost otherworldly detachment. It is attested that he never spoke more than what was required, he shunned entertainment, good food and money which was not due to him. However, those who lived with him and those whom he served found in him a loving friend, a father, and a man of God. He went out of his way to help the poor.
: Born in Anjuna, Goa, on 21st January 1869, Agnelo Gustavo Adolfo de Souza had completed his priestly studies in Rachol Seminary with “” (distinction) in 1893. He joined the Society of Pilar on 17th July 1897, was ordained a priest on 18-12-1898 and spent the first ten years of his priesthood (1898 to 1908) in the Pilar Monastery, completely submissive to his Superior and in a life of prayer. He had his hand in this catechetical apostolate and in the retreats were preached in the Monastery, in which among laymen: judges, lawyers, civil officers, doctors and businessmen participated. Fr. Agnelo shared with the Superior in this preaching, especially on the Passion and Death of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary His Mother.
: From 1835 to 1928, that is, for 93 years, the Goa Government was controlled by Free Masons who were agnostics, anti-religious and anti-clerical. Their ideas were slowly percolating among the elite officers, Lyceum professors and students in schools in Goa. As all the religious were banned from Goa, from 1890, the Superior of Pilar and Fr. Agnelo were instrumental in the task of combating atheism in Goa, by conducting the retreats and spiritual exercises described above. Fr. Agnelo penetrated in the parish Churches and Chapels of Goa, preaching with unction, at Novenas and retreats, strengthening the faith and Christian values among the masses. After the preaching Fr. Agnelo would pass hours in the Confessional, reconciling the penitents who flocked to him in big numbers.
Ven. Agnelo’s bones were transferred, eleven years after death, from Rachol cemetery to Pilar Monastery on 10th January 1939. Since then, devotees in thousands from all over the world, flock to his shrine in Pilar to seek his intercession or thank God for favours received. The process of Canonization of Fr. Agnelo was started in Rome in 1947. All formalities done, Fr. Agnelo was declared Venerable after the approval of the Apostolic Process of his life and virtues on 10-11-1986. The last Process of Miracles, attributed to him, is yet to be finalized.
These days, from November 11th to 20th, the Novena to pray for Ven. Agnelo’s beatification is in full swing in the Pilar Monastery. From 6.30 in the morning to 6.15 in the evening, 8 Masses are held at a spacious pandal, especially erected for the occasion. November 20th being his 88th death anniversary, a solemn Concelebrated Mass will be presided over at the same venue by the Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican in India, His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pennocchio, at 9.30 a.m., preceded and followed by the other Masses as usual. Let us pray fervently that Fr. Agnelo may soon reach to the honours of the Altar.
