Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Friday, 16 January 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sacred Shrine
The 450-year-old sacred Shrine of Our Lady of Rosary in the northwest of Sri Lankan is significant place of pilgrimage for people of the diverse ethnic and religious communities in the country.
“Just as she never left the side of her son on the cross, so she never left the side of her suffering Sri Lankan children. Today we want to thank Our Lady for that presence. In the wake of so much hatred, violence and destruction, we want to thank her for continuing to bring us Jesus, who alone has the power to heal open wounds and to restore peace to broken hearts. But we also want to ask her to implore for us the grace of God’s mercy. We ask also for the grace to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil which this land has known,” the Holy Father prayed.
St. Joseph Vaaz, Apostle of Sri Lanka, who was canonised by the Holy Father on Wednesday morning, had visited Madhu Shrine nearly 325 years ago and vouched to dedicate his life to Virgin Mary.
Tears of joy
People from far and near had travelled to Madhu Shrine to witness the Holy Father. They came in numbers from Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Ampara, Mannar and Colombo. Most had come on Tuesday afternoon and stayed the night in the church premises.
The Marian Prayer service commenced at 3:15 p.m. The Pope was flown from Colombo. The white land rover carrying the Holy Father drove around the church premises before he commenced the prayer service. Pope Francis was smiling and waving to the devotees who had waited for hours to get a glimpse of him. Many cried in joy when the Pope touched and blessed children.
Concluding the prayer service, the Pope blessed the devotees with the sacred Madhu statue. A wooden replica of the statue was gifted to the Pope as a gesture of goodwill.
Blessing for Sri Lanka
A Catholic nun from Kilinochchi said the papal visit was a blessing to the country and especially to the new Government. “We came from Kilinochchi. We left Kilinochchi this morning with lot of enthusiasm to see the Pope. We hope that with the Pope’s blessing there will be peace and harmony in Sri Lanka will experience peace and harmony,” Rev. Sr. Yasintha Sabamale said.
“I’m a Buddhist. I came from Rajangana, Anuradhapura to see the Pope,” said 35-year-old Priyadharshani. “It is rare. He is a world leader. We will not get such opportunity in our lifetime,” the mother-of-two said.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ajanthan, a farmer from Mannar, said: “I came to get the blessings from the Holy Father. Seeing such an important and loved religious leader itself is a blessing.”
Rare opportunity
Two sisters, nine and seven, were given the rare opportunity of talking to the Holy Father and receive his blessings.
“My sister and I drew pictures of Pope Francis while we waited for the prayer service to commence. When he was passing by, we called out his name and tried to give those drawings of him. Then the Pope’s security officers let us walk up to the Holy Father. He took our drawings, told us to study well and gave two rosaries. I feel so excited. I want to tell this to my class teacher and school friends,” said Minali Aanya, a Grade 4 student from Colombo.
Pix by Krishan Ranasinghe
