More than 300,000 pilgrims ask Our Lady of Lanka for peace
Unable to go to Madhu shrine, the faithful turned to Tewatte. Muslims and Hindus were also present.
Tewatte (AsiaNews/UCAN) In a country torn by a conflict that has dragged on for decades, more than 300,000 people participated in a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lanka to call for peace and to pray for the sick. The shrine, just north of the capital Colombo, is also visited by Muslims and Buddhists.
Usually the annual pilgrimage, which takes place on the last Sunday of August, is held to pray for the sick. But this year, due to renewed violence between the army and Tamil Tigers, the fundamental theme was a plea to God for peace.
"There is no peace in our country," said A.H. Samarasinghe. "But we gather here and pray for peace. We believe that our mother Mary will grant us peace."
Fr Merl Shanthi Perera, the basilica administrator, said many religious devotees of other faiths attended the feast. "This year we saw many Muslim devotees at this feast. All people want peace."
Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo and two other bishops participated in the prayer service for the healing of the sick, together with around 300 priests and religious. Before the Eucharistic adoration, all the faithful recited a prayer to Our Lady to attain peace for the nation.
In his homily, Mgr Gomis emphasised that peace starts in the family: "If we do not have peace within our families, we will not have peace in our country. If people can build peace in their families, it can restore peace in the country."
The most famous Marian shrine is that of Madhu, northern Sri Lanka (in territory currently held by the Tamil Tigers). This year, because of the conflict, pilgrims could not go.
The basilica in Tewatte is also a national shrine. It was built in 1946 to thank Our Lady for saving the island from the horrors of the Second World War. "Our dear Mother Mary has saved our beautiful country from war once, so I believe she can save us from this crucial situation too," said one student.
.png)
