Father Agnelo D'Souza: the power of forgiveness and love for all
Delhi (AsiaNews) - Father Agnelo lived a life of virtue, which gave him the ability to disarm his critics not only by his integrity but also his ability to understand, forgive and love those who sought to attack him' . This is how the Father Theodore Mascarenhas, of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier recalled the venerable father Agnelo D'Souza. On 27 April, the parish of St John the Baptist in the village Kumta, diocese of Karwar in Karnataka, celebrated 100 years since Father Agnelo was appointed parish priest. The parishioners have also presented a "public apology" for the sins of their ancestors against the priest.
Father Salvador Gonsalves, current pastor, told AsiaNews that "in this Year for Priest’s it is a joy and a privilege for us to commemorate Father Agnelo who was pastor here from 1910 to 1917. He was a huge blessing. We pray ceaselessly that he will be declared a saint. " Father Agnelo died in 1927 at the age of 58 and was declared venerable in 1986.
Father Mascarenhas, memeber of Pontificial Council for Culture and coordinator of the process for beatification together with Father Antonio Marrazzo, spoke to AsiaNews of "his great calm. He was born Jan. 21, the feast of St. Agnes, a name which means pure, holy, and that comes from the Latin agnus, lamb. His motto was: ‘It is not the clothing that honours a man, but his virtue’. He lived a life of virtue. "
The priest recalled the "famous incident" with some parishioners, "When Fr. Agnelo was vicar at Kumta it happened once that at dead of night some troublesome parishioners who were in their cups, knocked at his door, demanding the parish accounts.. They had been in the bad books of a previous Parish Priest, whom they had even dragged to court over the accounts, but who was acquitted by the judge. These drunkards took the law into their hands and wanted to harass Fr. Agnelo. Mild and gentle by nature, he said to them: "Would you like to see the accounts? Well, that is but fair and proper. The money is ours and you have every right to examine the accounts. Here is the account book. Fr Agnelo lived a life of virtue and it is this virtue that gave him the courage to deal with his critics, he disarmed his critics not only with his integrity but also with his ability to understand, to pardon and to be loving towards those who sought to abuse him" The episode is recounted in many books and even represented in pictures.
On 27 April, during the commemoration of the centenary, the parishioners have apologized for the sins, voluntary and unconscious, of our ancestors. " The ceremony was also attended by the General Superior Father Tony Lopes.
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22/12/2020 16:43
