“The Appearances of Blessed Virgin Mary in various places in the world is not a secret to her faithful children. Even though, most of them are aware of the unfortunate incidents, which took place in the places, where she appeared, yet, it is truly unfortunate to see there are people, who are still not aware of those unfortunate incidents. Therefore, we all should be aware of the belittlement she is receiving from this world. Then only we could be awake to see how we should pay our attention to her.”
The Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, reflected these words, in the evening of Saturday 6th April 2013, during the Vespers Novena, which was conducted in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake. This Vespers Novena, which is conducted for the Honour & Glory of the Blessed Mother, has a history of 38 years, where her faithful children gather together and participate, without any religious differences. It is truly wonderful to know that devotees have received abundance privileges by participating in this Vespers Novena, which was commenced by the Most Holy Apostolic Father, at the beginning of year 1975.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake is the only Shrine in Sri Lanka, where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared. She has so far, appeared in this Shrine for 23 occasions.
This Vespers Novena began as usual in Sts. Peter and Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, on 6th April, the 1st Saturday of the Month of April 2013. These days the Apparition Church of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine is under construction. Therefore, this Vespers Novena, which was presided over by the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, was conducted in the garden, which is dedicated to Apostles’ Peter & Paul.
On that day, devotees who reached Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine from various places participated in this Vespers Novena. Addressing all of them, the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso further reflected the following.
“Especially, during the period of passion of Lord Jesus Christ, when Christians gather near the statues of Christ that depicts how he has been nailed into a cross and pays their respect, the non-Christians when they see that, might think how much the Christians have loved him and respected him while he was among the living. Yet, in reality, entirely, the opposite thing happened. At that moment, even out of the Disciples he has chosen, Apostle John was the only Apostle, who was at the feet of his Cross. Today, we could see a society, where people are paying their respect in public, to the person who has died, thereby, trying to show how they loved the person who has died, while he was among the living. The best example is, even today, we could see is how people are paying their respect to the dead bodies of their parents and how they are making every effort to offer alms giving in memory of their dead parents.”
Concluding his brief Homily, the Most Holy Apostolic Father further reflected the following.
“The Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake is the symbol of love that Blessed Virgin Mary has towards us.People have reached this Shrine for more than 3 decades from various places, searching the love of the Blessed Mother. They have reached this Shrine without any differences. They have reached this Shrine, searching the love of the Mother of God, without even having any religious differences. They came in search of this Shrine, which is the symbol of love of the Mother of God. The Blessed Mother Mary has also helped people without any differences and has consoled the children who came in search of her. Blessed Mother was our total consolation. In the future also she will be our total consolation. We should remember her every day. We should also remember Lord Jesus Christ with gratitude, for giving her to us.”
These photos show various segments of the Vespers Novena, which was conducted in the evening of Saturday 6th April 2013, in Sts. Peter and Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. This Vespers Novena was presided over by the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso
