Christian Perspectives

The 75th diamond jubilee of the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes - Nattandiya:

The Gentle Shepherd meets his flock

And they came in their thousands to see their beloved spiritual leader, some staying overnight, some braving the harsh morning sunlight and some with morning hunger which they forgot in his presence. He had the power to hold their rapt attention. Such was the silence and their deep devotion.

The grotto of the Lady of Lourdes beautifully and meticulously flower-decked in the purity of innocence that is the Mother of Jesus, was also a befitting facade to the Bishop as he mounted its platform to conduct the Holy Mass in commemoration to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of 75 years (1937-2012) of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Nattandiya in the Diocese of Chilaw. With lyrical choral voices in attendance, the Rt Rev Dr Devsritha Valence Mendis delivered his sermon. (Let me quote the Bible ahead....)

'A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus knelt down, and begged him for help. If you want to' he said, 'you can make me clean.'

Jesus was filled with pity and reached out and touched him. I Do Want To' he answered. 'be clean'. At once the disease left the man and he was clean. Then Jesus sent him away at once, after saying to him 'listen, don't tell anyone about this but go straight to the priest and let him examin you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice to Moses ordered.'

But the man went away and began to spread the news everywhere. Indeed he talked so much that Jesus could not go into a town publicly. Instead he stayed out in lonely places and people came to see him from everywhere.

Mark 1, 40-45

Mathew 8, 1-4

Luke 5, 12-16

In his sermon for the day, His Lordship told his people the significance of one's faith in Jesus Christ when a man who believed he could be healed of his leprosy of a long time, begged the Lord to do so only if he wished to. He knew he was not worthy of it but his Christian faith over-powered to face Jesus.

And Jesus healed him.

But he said do not go around announcing what I have done for you. My time has not yet come. Therefore, do not publicise. Show yourself to the High Priest so that he will know you are healed of the plague which is the custom of the day.

But the healed leper forgot all about what the Lord commanded him to do, instead he ran about announcing the miracle and the people flocked to see him. Bishop Mendis still went further, educating the people. 'During the time of the Old Testament, it was said....a tooth for tooth.... an eye for eye but with the coming of the Lord to save sinners as found in the New Testament, every pagan ideal changed. Jesus preached love among all, forgiveness to your enemies. He showed the way to Christian belief for which one must forget caste, creed, colour etc., and trust the Lord you in the right path. Then and then only would one find inner happiness and peace.

The Bishop still continued, 'One's heart is the citadel, the monument one gives the Lord... as he briefly surveyed the strikingly spectacular floral set-up amongs which he stood. This marvelous monument of our Lady's Shrine is only structural but within your heart you should possess a sacred monument for the Lord. That is what life is about to Christians.

'If there is something hidden deep down your heart which burdens you, it is symbolic of a pool. You must allow its water trickle out and be rid of your worries, he said in simple lyrical language for everyone to understand and concluded lustily.

More adoration to the shrine - history spanning 75 years that culminated with the Diamond Jubilee of this Shrine in the heart of Nattandiya is awesome and inspirational. In the last few months, many a time have I passed this Shrine when I saw a hugely motivated, dedicated Parish Priest, Rev Upul Churchill Perera finalising, putting the last touches meticulously into place, making it the most bewitching holy shrine in Nattandiya electorate. He was seen working thro'out the day, ably assisted by a dynamic committee and a labour force, who saw to its end until the last minute when Bishop Valance Mendis was conducted in a floral-decked vehicle to the venue from Marawila Town.

A big bouquet to the Parish Priest and all who made it to the end.... done in the name of the Lord.

A Brief History - The church's history span back to 75 years (1937-2012) during which time twenty five priests including the present one, Rev Upul Churchill Perera has served this shrine with generations of devotees passing through its portals. This all began with the appearance of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in a grotton at the City of Lourdes in France known as The Misabiyal grotto to a Rev Sister named Berneadette Subirose as she prayed one evening.

This is the version that is depicted at the Shrine of the Lady of Lourdes in Nattandiya, recalling one hundred and forty four years since the Virgin appeared. It has grown stronger by the day as a beacon of light to all who visit the church. The Diamond Jubilee celebrated further strengthens its future.

G H

The Season of Lent

E.WEERAPPERUMA

The Season of Lent begins on February 22, and the Catholics as well as the Christians call it 'the Ash Wednesday '. The term "Ash Wednesday" derives from the practice of the same and it falls on different dates in each year depending on the day of Easter Sunday. Thus, the Ash Wednesday could fall, on or before February 4,or as late as March 10.

Ash Wednesday comes as the first day of the Season of Lent following the day, known as shrove or fat Tuesday, (Mardi Gras) the last day of the carnival season. Perusing the pages of Christian history, we find that the term 'Ash Wednesday' derives from the age-old practice and it is basically a rite and a ritual observed by the Western Christians (Catholics). It has its influence over some of the other Christian denominations in the world such as Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians,Anglicans and Baptists. In the medieval period, Ash Wednesday was the required annual day of penitential confession occurring after fasting and the remittance of the tithe. These practices are optional in the other Christian denominations but they lay emphasis on repentance.

The Church history attributes the placing of Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting and abstinence, as the first day of the Lent Season, to Pope,St. Gregory the Great (590-604 AD) and this period covers about 46 days of fasting before Easter.

The Catholics bring back to the Church premises on or before Tuesday, the dried palm leaves, they had collected on Palm Sunday of the previous year, to burn them to be used on Ash Wednesday ceremony.

The ashes are blessed according to various rites proper to each liturgical tradition, sometimes involving the use of Holy Water.

To be continued