Jesus called, "Come follow me... and I will make you the fisher of men." St. Francis Xavier, known as the "Apostle of the Indies," passed away on December 3, 1552, on Shangchuan Island, China. Pope Paul V beatified him on October 25, 1619, and Pope Gregory XV canonised him on March 12, 1622. In 1624, St. Francis Xavier was designated co-patron of Navarre, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the greatest missionaries in history, often compared to Paul the Apostle.

The holy relics of St. Francis Xavier, preserved in a silver casket at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, are brought down for exposition every decade. This exposition is scheduled to take place this year from November 21, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This sacred event is a significant occasion for the faithful to recall the legacy of St. Francis Xavier, how marvellously the grace of God worked in his life, to repent for failing to live up to our call and for not cooperating with the grace of God, and finally to rejoice in thanking God for such a wonder. It is, therefore, a spiritual preparation, especially for overseas visitors to Goa.

Subhash Velingkar, former Goa RSS chief, raised the devil in Goa. There is no text without context. A wired demand by a so-called educated person, Subhash Velingkar, to have a DNA test of Saint Francis Xavier's relics does not augur well for the community. Since the exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier is an international event, the inflammatory speech by Velingkar is uncalled for and exposes the mindset of the RSS.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel rightly suppressed RSS because it neither represents Hinduism nor Hindustan. Therefore, what is the context for this text: the demand for a DNA test? Yes, everyone can speculate, but one thing is sure: it is not well intended. The people of Goa should rise above the political and faulty religious quagmire created by our political leaders to pave the way for peace and harmony.

The legacy of St. Francis Xavier is not in his DNA but in his profound love for his Lord Jesus Christ and his loving and humble service to humankind. And this legacy is beyond borders. The words of the High Priest, Gamaliel, regarding the apostles, reverberate, "But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

The demand for DNA does not undermine the legacy of Saint Francis Xavier but is decidedly a fight against God. Velingkar is confused: how could God bestow such glory on St. Francis Xavier? For that reason, all should condemn this uncouth and irrational demand by a man who espouses a false sense of patriotism and Hinduism. Those who disregard God cannot work for the good of others. They are not at peace with themselves but are restless souls that create restlessness in society.

St. Francis Xavier relinquished the comfort and honour of royal lineage and the European lifestyle to emulate his master Jesus: "The Son of Man has no place to lay his head." During his voyage, Francis was found to be fully engrossed in serving the distressed and disheartened co-voyagers. He was nursing and consoling the sick, assisting the dying, instructing and settling quarrels, etc. He moved freely among the passengers and lived like one of them.

Whilst in Goa, Francis, during the day, would work tirelessly in proclaiming the Gospel, while, in the late evenings, before going to retire, he would live out those gospel values tangibly by serving at the royal hospital in nursing the sick and accompanying the dying. As an emissary of the King of Portugal and Nuncio of the Pope, he could have availed himself of the facility of residing at the Viceroy's palace. Instead, he chose to sleep on the hospital floor while caring for the sick. St Paul exhorts, "Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly". In the name of pseudo-nationalism, humans are made enemies of one another. And for what? One should understand that land existed much before humans appeared on earth. A nation is a shared identity, and a state is a political entity with a geographical boundary. Without humans, there is no such thing as a nation; without a nation, a state's existence is impossible. Historically, the nation-state of India came into existence only after 1947. The East India Company conquered the divided kingdoms and brought the people of this land (Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, and others) under British rule, which became an independent nation-state, India, in 1947.

Yes, no empire is perfect. Portuguese had their share of undermining and dominating the locals, which was not appreciated. However, Goa is grappling with many issues today, particularly the land scam. With the help of elected representatives, outsiders and builders are grabbing land with shady deals. The identity of Goa and Goans is at stake. Therefore, a sincere and honest patriot would engage himself or herself to redress the wrong happening in Goa under the present dispensation to make things better for people of all communities and for future generations. Subhash Velingkar totally misunderstood the title "Goencho Saib." Goencho Saib is not a political entity with jurisdiction but spiritual. And the spiritual realm is beyond borders.

The false allegations to tarnish the image of a holy man were ill-intentioned. The Inquisition was established in 1560, long after the death of Saint Francis Xavier. If Subhash Velingkar had understood Saint Francis Xavier even on the periphery, he would have known that Saint Francis Xavier had relinquished his desire for the world. In fact, the greatness of Saint Francis Xavier lies in these words of Jesus: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul?"

Saint Francis Xavier never held and never claimed earthly authority. His relic could be anywhere; his influence and guidance are sublime. For that reason, people worldwide come to kiss the relic of St. Francis Xavier for spiritual enrichment. Hence, the good-hearted people of Goa should create a spiritual atmosphere and be welcoming to all devotees. Religious freedom is a fundamental right and protected by the Constitution of India. Therefore, don't write a text without proper context.