July 26 – THE FEAST OF ST. ANNE AND ST. JOAQUIM Anne and Joaquim were grandparents of Jesus Christ. They were an exemplary couple. Theirs was the best family next only to their daughter’s, Mary’s, which comprised of Mary, Joseph and Infant Jesus.
Anne and Joaquim spent most of their time in prayers. They were simple, pious, God-fearing, patient, kind-hearted and a peaceful couple.
When Mary was three years old, Anne took her to a temple and offered her to God’s service and thus she fulfilled her promise.
In the past, people only celebrated St. Anne’s feast on July 26, and St. Joaquim’s feast was celebrated in August. However, in the recent past we have been celebrating their feast jointly on July 26.
This feast gives us an opportunity to remember our old parents, grandparents and other elderly people in our neighborhood/parish, who may be ailing in their homes and helpless.
They looked after us and took care of us when they were in good health. Today, they are old and frail and need our assistance and shelter. Just because they are old, we should not dump them in a corner or admit them to Old-Age homes.
We must behave with responsibility towards our old parents, grandparents and other elderly people, and set a good example to our children, as otherwise they will follow and repay us in the same coins as per the good old Konkani saying: “Korta tea mapan bhogta” (You get repaid in the same coins.)
At this great feast, let us emulate St. Anne and St. Joaquim, follow in their footsteps and promise to look after and take care of our elderly.
St. Anne’s feast is celebrated all over Goa but it is celebrated with more fervor in the South. Per my knowledge, besides Telaulim (Santana), the following churches in Goa are dedicated to St. Anne:
Parra Church
Olavlim (Pomburpa) Church
Boddiem (Tivim) Church
Ponda Church
Agonda Church, and
One chapel in Saligao.
In Anjuna church, we have an altar on the left of its entrance dedicated to St. Anne. At home, we still have in our oratorio or olotor a small wooden statue of St. Anne, which was brought from our maternal grandparents’ house in Benaulim around sixty years ago.
St. Anne’s feast is also known as “Tovxeanchem fest” (Feast of Cucumbers.) This being the season of “tovxim” (cucumbers), people offer the vegetable at the feet of St. Anne and make a humble request.
The tovxeanchem feast is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety at the 310-odd-years old St. Anne Church, Santana-Telaulim. The historic church is unique in the whole of Asia for its hollow walls and is one of the best examples of Indian baroque. It is a heritage monument of great importance in Goa.
The church was founded in 1577 but was rebuilt by Msgr Francisco de Rego 1681-1689, and completed by his successor, Fr. Antonio Francisco da Cunha in 1695.
It is believed that while the edifice was under construction, an old lady appeared in a vision to a senior villager and she told him that the church was her home and she wanted to live in it. Another old lady from the village also saw the same vision.
The church had not been dedicated to any patron saint till then. And so, the church was dedicated to St. Anne.
Newly wedded couples go to Telaulim, offer a cucumber at the feet of St. Anne and petition:
Portuguese: ‘Senhora, tomai pepino, dai me menino’;
Konkani: ‘Saibinni, hem tovxem ghe ani mhaka ek ballok di’ (Our Lady, take this cucumber and give me a child.)
It is not only the childless couples who go to Telaulim, bachelors and spinsters, too, go there. Bachelors take a long spoon and petition:
Portuguese: ‘Senhora, tomai colher, dai me mulher’;
Konkani: ‘Saibinni, hem kuler ghe ani mhaka bail di’ (Our Lady, take this spoon and give me a wife.)
Similarly, spinsters take some lentils and beseech the saint:
Portuguese: ‘Senhora, tomai urido, dai me marido’;
Konkani: ‘Saibinni, hi uddid-dal ghe ani mhaka ghov di.” (Our Lady, take this uddid-dal and give me a husband.)
It is a tradition that has been followed for long and is significant to the things presented. A ‘kuler’ (spoon) relates more to women and ‘ballok’ (infant) to the males.
The feast of St. Anne and St. Joaquim falls on July 26, but in Telaulim it is celebrated on the last Sunday of the month – this year July 26th is a Sunday. Other parishes celebrate the day as ‘Grandparents Day.’
Here are the lyrics of two hymns dedicated to St. Anne:
1.
SANT AN, TUJEM SUFOLL JINNEM
Sant An, tujem sufoll jinnem
Devu zala natu tuzo
Somi mhozo, Raza mhozo
Dan-dhorm, Maie, thoru tuzo
Tujem ge nanv novia porim
Ana mhonnge kurpa thori
Kurpest astam thori zali
Devan Apli aji keli
Tuje kuxim sodoiv lenki*
Deva-Mata Ankvari ieki
Tiche kuxim Deva Putu
Maie, tuzo mogall Natu
Tujem ge bhag anond thoru
Bhoddveam modem ason koru
Lenki Ranni, Natu Raza
Vhoddu Ranni mhonntit tuka
Tuzo poti Jokim Bhoktu
Devach’ azo pritivontu
Bhoktam modhem manu bhogi
Siason kelam Natva lagim
Sant An, Maie, amchi sasai
Chumbon korun tuje ge pai
Kurpa amkam dig e thori
Amche pasun vinot kori!
2.
SANT AN, TUM GE DEVA-AJI
Sant An, tum ge Deva-aji
Porob palltanv azu tuji
Devan tuka keli thoru
Amche pasot vinot koru
Ana mhollear kurpa thori
Amchea atmeant kurpa bhori
Tuji lenki* Devu-Mata
Dev-lenk* tuzo natu zata
Zannttea voiar** gorbest zalii
Deva-Matek zolma haddlii
Mon’xa-vorgak xanti dilii
Kurper-kurpa amkam zoddlii
Tuka keli Rannie-mata
Jezuk tum ge Natu lekhta
Jem tum Tache lagim magta
Tuka To tem sodanch dita
Sam Jokinchi tum ge kanta***
Dev-Matechi tum ge mata
Devu tuka aji mhonntta
Srixtti tuka noman korta
Tum ge amchi za xar’tinni
Borea margak lai svaminni
Bodol amcheo papi jinni
Pavoi amkam sorga-jinni
*Lenk = put; Lenki = dhuv
** Zanttea voiar = Piraer
***Kanta = Potin
There is one litany in Konkani and one rosary of Saint Anne sung in Parra church.
I wish all the Goans a happy feast of St. Anne and St. Joaquim - Boas Festas! And congratulations to all grandparents!
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Goa
Mobile: 9420979201
26/7/2009
