Rely on Fr Agnelo to inspire your faith’

Pilar: Focusing on the life of Venerable Fr Agnelo de Souza, we need to nourish ourselves with spiritual food served through the word of God and the Holy Eucharist.
This was stressed by bishop of Shimoga diocese, Francis Serrao, during the Eucharistic celebration commemorating the 87th death anniversary of Fr Agnelo at Pilar.
The bishop said, “If I possess something, then I can give it to others. But if possessions have possessed me, then I become a slave.”
Reflecting on the theme ‘Ven Agnel, a model to live and proclaim faith in today’s society’, Serrao mentioned that Fr Agnelo was a man who treaded his journey of life with simplicity and deep faith in words and deeds.“Other than his sermons which are noted down, I have never come across any books penned by this saintly man,” he added.
Serrao said that Fr Agnelo had a two-fold vision, one focused on society and the other on heaven and God. “His simplicity brought him closer to God. His concern towards the poor prompted him to give everything to them,” he said.
Highlighting the beatitudes, Serrao said that six among them are in the future tense while only two are in the present tense. Elaborating further, he said, “Two beatitudes which speak about persecution and poverty initiate immediate reward.”
The main celebrant urged the faithful to seek inner freedom as reflected in the life of Ven Fr Agnelo. “Let us pray that we may be free from all things and persons so that we are free for God,” he concluded.
Present on the occasion was the superior general of the Society of Pilar, Fr Francis Carvalho, vice-postulator for the cause of beatification of Venerable Agnelo, Fr Hillary Fernandes and other clergy.