St Francis Xavier Exposition
The 16th decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier was held at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa from November 21, 2004 to January 2, 2005. The public were allowed to pay their respects to the sacred body of the saint from November 22nd to January 1st. Over these 41 days, more than two million people from around the world visited the Se Cathedral to witness the sacred relics and strengthen their faith.
This write-up is on the exposition 2004. There are some photographs too.
About Francis Xavier
St Francis Xavier, known as the Patron Saint of Goa, was a missionary who reached Goa in 1542. He travelled across India and other countries and islands in South East Asia, and died near the coast of China in 1552. Although his body was buried several times, it survived disintegration, and was brought to Goa in 1554. The body is kept in the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, and is open for public viewing during a 6-week decennial event called "Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier", the most recent of which took place in 2004.
Pope Gregory XV canonized Francis Xavier in the year 1622.
What is exposition?
The term "exposition" means "exhibition". During the Francis Xavier exposition, the sacred remains of St Francis Xavier, kept above the altar of a chapel inside the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, are lowered and taken to the Se Cathedral opposite the Basilica for public viewing.
Francis Xavier expositions
The first exposition took place in 1782. The second was in 1860, and the third in 1878. Thereafter, expositions have taken place almost every 10 years.
The recent expositions were in 1961, 1964 (because of International Eucharist Congress in Bombay), 1974, 1984, 1994, and the latest in 2004 (16th exposition).
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