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http://www.dommartin.cc/Exposition/Exposition.html
Cradle The cradle upon which the sacred coffin rests, was constructed by a lay Salesian Brother at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Panjim, and possibly, even designed by him. The concept originated from the need to isolate the coffin from coming into physical contact with the bearers. The set of 10 frames that engird the cradle was incorporated for the purpose of giving it an aesthetic extension.
1964 Exposition The cradle was first introduced at this Exposition, and the frames contained panels that bore the inscription, "St. Francis Xavier, Pray for us", transcribed in various Indian dialects. The section beneath the panels was skirted with a richly embroidered fabric, in order to minimize the imposing look of the tubular arms that constitute the chassis of the cradle.
1984 Exposition At this Exposition -- for reasons unknown -- the Exposition Committee opted to display the coffin with the frames and the cradle itself, completely shrouded amidst fabric and flower-garlands. The picture below (assuming it pertains to the 1994 Exposition) makes a fair visual representation of the 1984 display, except that at the 1984 display, the choice of fabric was saffron -- which choice, along with the mound of flowers that cloaked the cradle, gave the sacred event the semblance of a funereal pyre.
http://www.dommartin.cc/Literature/2004%20Exposition.html
1974 Exposition At this Exposition, I was called upon to create a new set of panels. Click here to view details of the panels)
-1974 Exposition
Note Three days prior to the official opening of the Exposition -- the late Fr. George D'Sa summoned me to his office. At that meeting, he displayed the now weathered 1964 Exposition panels and called upon me to come forth with something more powerful to showcase the 1974 Exposition. Overwhelmed with the prospect of producing something of such importance at such short notice, I left the Basilica but not before humbling myself at the saint's tomb and invoking: "Provide me with the inspiration and I'll come through".
The saint did come through!
Note:
In light of the forthcoming Exposition, it is not my intent to enlighten the Exposition Committee of any residual grievances I might still have over the manner in which the saint's body was displayed at the prior two Expositions, nor will I be aggrieved should the Committee favor the same prototype (i.e., shroud the frames and the cradle), or even if the Committee were to entrust the task of creating new panels to another artist. However, if the Committee should call upon my services, I would like to alert the Committee that I am still graciously fit and contributive in that creative realm! Secondly, each time the Exposition comes around, I develope an ambitious aspiration to see the statue of St. Francis Xavier erected in the spot where Luis de Camoes once stood. The proposition to erect St. Francis Xavier's statue in Old Goa was first made in my 1985 article titled, St. Francis, Abbe Faria and the Power of Wild Shrubbery, and subsequently in my 1992 article titled, St. Francis Xavier, Old Goa and the vacant pedestal. [Note: The size of the statue appears oversized in relation to the buildings due to the fact that it is in the foreground, and the proportion itself slightly exaggerated for ease of view. I would envision the statue (excluding the pedestal) to be in the range of 9-12 feet.] Over the years, I have attempted to keep this proposition alive with the Archeological Survey of India, and in 1996, I made this proposition in person to Dr. B.P. Singh when he visited Old Goa, as well as presented him with a copy of my aforementioned article, St. Francis Xavier, Old Goa and the vacant pedestal. Dr. Singh was, at the material time, the Secr
etary of Culture and then acting Director of the ASI. (see current email to the Director General of ASI)
Should the Archdiocese be keen in pursuing this proposition with the Archaeological Survey of India, the State, the Central Government, or with any other official entity, I shall feel duty-bound to offer any and all assistance towards its realization.
-Dom Martin
Open email to the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
Sub: Proposition to erect St. Francis Xavier's statue in the traffic-island overlooking the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Se Cathedral, Old Goa, where Luis de Camoes' statue once stood.
It is a universal fact, sanctified by faith and magnified by curiosity, that the city of Old Goa is synonymous with St. Francis Xavier's name and his sacred remains. Oddly yet, the essence of his immortal significance appears undermined — almost nonexistent — as one enters the historical City of Old Goa.While many millions are expected to attend the Exposition of St. Francis Xavier's miraculously preserved body this November, the majority of them will be tourists -- spurred by curiosity -- and expecting a larger than life impression of St Francis Xavier upon setting foot in Old Goa. Instead, they will find themselves awe-struck and besieged by the monumental grandeur of several churches and convents, scattered within a convergingly small radius. Eventually, their realization of who St. Francis Xavier is or was, will hinge on a subjective assimilation upon taking their stand before the saint's casket and viewing his weathered remains.On the other hand, if a life-size statue of St. Francis Xavier (see above pic) were to be erected in the existing traffic-island, the majority of these tourists would, undoubtedly, at least have the occasion to acquaint their curiosity with a more discernible insight of St. Francis Xavier before taking the pivotal stand.Indeed, there are relevant reading materials and imagery that depict St. Francis Xavier's life and work. And there are also a number of guided tours available to tourists upon their arrival at various points of entry in Goa. But these resources and facilities are not the issue here. The issue here pertains to one of essence: Does the city of Old Goa – and in a greater context, will the Exposition itself – evoke the essence of St. Francis Xavier in a manner consistent with his spiritual aura which distills the faith of the faithful with fervor, and the curiosity of the curious with unsustainable prejudice?
The proposition of having St. Francis Xavier's statue erected in the subject location would have been complex, perhaps political -- even inflammatory -- if Old Goa was an administrative, commercial and residential city like Panjim. Or it would have been redundant, if St. Francis Xavier was merely some village icon or a mythological artifact in the corridors of the supernatural.
Similarly, if statues of statesmen and other civic notables can be liberally enforced on the public eye in order to perpetuate the legacy of their stay on earth, then logic would dictate that something is gravely amiss in Old Goa.
NOTE: In 1996, I made the subject proposition in person to Dr. B.P. Singh when he visited Old Goa, as well as presented him with a copy of my article titled, St. Francis Xavier, Old Goa, and the vacant pedestal . . . , which appeared in a local newspaper four years prior. Dr. Singh was, at the material time, the Secretary of Culture and acting Director General of the ASI. In reviewing my proposition, Dr. Singh's overall impression was in the positive.
It would thus appear to be in the binding wisdom of the Archaeological Survey of India and of the State, to sanction and erect a statue of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa, in the very location where Luis de Camoes' statue once stood and welcomed visitors to the historic city of Old Goa. The statue, ideally, should be a replica (see pic at left and detail of same above) of the one situated to the left as one enters the Bom Jesus Basilica. For purposes of accelerating the project, the statue could initially be made of plaster, and the original mold reused for the permanent cast in bronze.
In light of the above, it is earnestly hoped that expediency becomes the order of events in resurrecting this proposition to its incarnation for the 2004 Exposition so that the faithful, the curious and the skeptical can be on the same optic latitude.
Submitted by Dom Martin on this 17th day of May, 2004
email: dommartin9@aol.com