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2006 * * * Y E A R * * * O F * * * T H E * * * S E N I O R
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Goa Sudharop Annual Awards on November 20, 2006 @ Mandovi Hotel @ 4:30pm
Chief Guest: Dr. Asha Vishwanath Sawardekar
A series of essays as a tribute to Goan Seniors can be found at:
http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=524
------------------------------------------------------------------------FR. AGNELO'S 79TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY, LYRICS OF KONKANI SONG BY DOMNIC &
ALBERT
Today, November 20, 2006, we commemorate the 79th death anniversary of Fr.
Agnelo Gustavo Adolfo de Souza. Agnelo was born on January 24, 1869 to a
very pious Catholic couple, Minguel Mariano D'Souza and Maria Perpetua in
Gaumvaddy, Anjuna, Bardez, Goa. The ancestral house, which houses Fr.
Agnelos altar, still stands, with his relatives, Mrs. Alda and her son,
Gustavo, living in it. Many people visit the house every day on pilgrimage.
Fr. Agnelo died on November 20, 1927. He was declared Venerable by Pope
John Paul II on November 10, 1986. Every Thursday, people attend his
novenas in Pilar and at St. Johns chapel in his native ward, Gaumvaddy.
SAINTS FOR US (Fr. Tiburcio Ferrão, sfx)
Saints are powerful beacons of the light that Christ gave to the world.
Every situation in their lives is an exemplar of their discernment of God's
will and of their total commitment to realize this will - in themselves and
when they are at the service of others. They give us courage and assurance.
After all they were men and women like us, graced yet frail, who did what
all of us are called for - to search for God and to respond to Him at every
moment of our lives.
It is in this context that reflection on the lives of saints plays an
important role in our faith formation. These are persons whom we have seen,
who lived in our villages, who went to the same kind of schools like ours,
who ate and drank the same kind of food like us. They lived and radiated God
within these routine circumstances and made the world a better place to live
in.
WHAT THE CONTEMPORARIES SAY OF AGNELO
One of his uncles, Fr. Lazaro Fortunato Souza, seeing him and drawing around
him the boys of the village and catechizing them, uttered these prophetic
words: "Agnelo will one day be a virtuous Priest and a renowned Preacher.
Those living at the time will have the pleasure of bearing testimony to and
admiring what I say."
One of his colleagues, during these years, Fr. Luis Filipe de Ataide, gives
the following account of Agnelo's way of life: "He was very different from
the other students, moving about alone, speaking only when it was absolutely
necessary to do so, devoting all his time to reading books of study and
devotion, giving a wide berth to games, amusements and even evening walks.
He never spoke of himself, but was exceedingly modest, and he was
meticulously faithful in the execution of his duties. Whoever saw him would
say at once that he was an angel in human flesh."
One of his students in the school at Calangute records this observation
about his beloved teacher: "He would not admonish his students, nor would he
be annoyed by their mischief; he was ever a friend to them, as if they were
his own children. His mild and kindly gaze would be enough to call to order
any transgressor of discipline. If there was anything that violated modesty,
he would then be severe, not tolerating any gesture or word against the
angelic virtue. For this reason, the boys derived much fruit from his
instruction and behavior and several of them decided to become Priests."
Fr. Alcuino da Costa, a Diocesan Priest, who administered the parish of
Sanvordem has described the life of Fr. Agnelo at Sanvordem: "From my
associations with Fr. Agnelo, whom everyone without exception considered as
a saintly priest, I had occasion to admire in him in particular the virtues
of obedience, mortification and temperance. His obedience to his superior
was admirable."
Fr. Irineu, O.C.D. has this to say about Fr. Agnelo as a preacher: "His
sermons were simple, gentle discourses, resembling if I may dare to say so,
Our Lord's Sermons on the Mount. He disliked flowery, pietistic phrases and
spoke a child like language that everybody could easily understand with such
success that lukewarm and indifferent hearts changed their mode of living
and became fervent Catholics. He preferred to dwell more on the fundamental
doctrines of our religion such as the commandments and the eternal truths
and he labored to drive home the necessity of prayer and penance which he
himself practiced to a high degree."
SAYINGS OF FR. AGNELO
"We ought to be saints to attain our goal."
"There is nothing better than to be a saint, even the bones of the saints
are venerated."
"In order to become a saint one must suffer much and talk little."
"By amusing ourselves we cannot reach heaven, the saints were not fools to
do penance."
"That a sinner may be converted and come to the right path of penance and
perfection, it is necessary that he should meditate daily for a quarter of
an hour and examine his conscience at night."
"At the Last Judgment, we shall have to render to God a strict account even
of idle words."
"One who fulfils his duties faithfully is on the way to perfection."
"By the faithful observance of rules (this applies particularly to
Seminarians, Priests and Religious) one expiates one's past sins, forms
oneself in virtue and avoids future sins."
"Trust in God, rest like a dog at the feet of its master."
"One must not leave off a good action on account of the criticism of
others."
"Without continual divine breathing, we would be reduced to nothing."
"It is not the clothing that honors a man, but his virtues."
"If we ourselves do not pay attention to what we are asking for from God,
how can we expect Him to hearken to us?"
"Each time we go to confession, we should consider it to be the last in our
life."
"Our willingness to pray, to do good works, and to become virtuous, are
gifts of God."
"One, who lives according to the rule, lives according to God."
"Our devotion must be disinterested and not like that of the pagans who care
only for worldly interests."
"Misfortunes are secrets of Divine Providence, which directs everything for
our good."
"It is difficult to love this world and to save our soul."
Here are the lyrics of a song Albert DSouza and I sang in Bahrain in 1978,
the following year of Fr. Agnels Golden Death Anniversary celebration.
PADR AGNEL by Domnic Fernandes (Anjuna) and Albert DSouza (Pilar)
I
Novembrache 20ver, dis Aitaracho
Lok tanktalo, rosto Pilarcho
Ponas vorsancho, utsov bhangaracho
Zalo Padr Agnelacho
Ponas vorsancho, utsov bhangaracho
Zalo Padr Agnelacho
Chorus
Aiz Hindu-Kristanv
Mhunttat sant tum zanv
Anjuna tuzo zolmancho ganv
Sonvsarak tujem gazta nanv
II
Padr Agnel tum, xegunni vortovlo
Onbhavarteank, konverter kortalo
Jivan oskot, choltannam loktalo
Punn polputrar vag distalo
Jivan oskot, choltannam loktalo
Punn polputrar vag distalo
Chorus
Tum pregador vhoddlo
Raitura jiv soddlo
Raiturche cimitirint purlo
Pilarcho convent vinchun kaddlo
III
Devosanv tujem, xara-xaranim
Rupkar tuzo, ghara-gharanim
Piddevont bore, zaleat ozaranim
Padr Agnel tujea milagrinim
Piddevont bore, zaleat ozaranim
Padr Agnel tujea milagrinim
Chorus
Tum bhagivont khoro
Milagrincho turo
Bhavarteancho tum alaxiro
Veginch sant tum zalear puro
Veginch sant tum zalear puro
Veginch sant tum zalear puro
(From Doms antique shelf)
Here is Fr. Agnelos novena in Konkani and English
PADR AGNELAK BHAGEVONTACHO MAN MELLUNK MAGNNEM
Sorpodvedar Deva, amchea sorginchea Bapa, amche soddvonne khatir, Tuji
manddavoll, dhinvaxi monan ami ollkhotanv ani teach khatir Tujea vinchun
kaddloleam sevokam udexim ochoriam legun Tum korun dakhoitai mhonn mandtanv.
Tujea Putachea panvlar ami koxe porim cholunk zai hem dakhounk, Tuzo visvaxi
sevok Pri Agnel, ek nomunno koso amkam diloi mhonn Tuka dhinvastanv ani
Tujea Povitr Atmeachea uzvaddan, Pri Agnelachea bhagivont jivitachi dekh ami
ghevnk pavlear puro mhonn kallzant thavn magtanv. Toxench atam Pri Agnel,
Tujea Putachea, Jezuchea onodbhorit jivitant, bhagidar zalo mhonn dakhounk
ho upkar (tuji goroz sang) ek khunna koxi favo kor mhonn vinoitanv.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN THE GLORIFICATION OF VEN. AGNELO
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we gratefully acknowledge your plan for
our salvation, even by working miracles through your chosen servants. We
thank you for giving us your faithful servant Fr. Agnelo, as an example of
how to follow in the steps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. With our whole
heart, we pray that you may lead us through your Spirit to imitate his
saintly life. Grant us also the favor we ask (mention the favor) as a sign
that he now shares in the Glory of our Risen Lord.
BHAGEVONTACHO MAN MELLUNK MAGNNEM
Ogonnit kaklutichea Deva, sorpott poddun Tujeam paiam sorxim, ami magtanv
vhodda visvasan, Tuji khuxi ani amchea boreponnak upkarta zalear, Pri
Agnelak Santacho man favo kor, amche Povitr Sobheche, Igorjeche, ughodd
porghottnne udexim. Magtanv amchea Somia Jezu Kristache nanvim. AMEN.
PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF VEN. AGNELO
O God of infinite mercy, we humbly prostrate at your feet, we beg of You,
with whole hearted trust, that if it be Your Holy Will, and if it serves our
salvation, grant Fr. Agnelo the honors of the Altar, through the Solemn
declaration of Our Provident Mother, the Church. We ask this through Christ
Our Lord. AMEN.
Let us continue to pray ardently for Venerable Agnelos early beatification.
Thank you.
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
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