Sri Lanka, priests overjoyed for the beatification of John Paul II
Colombo (AsiaNews) - For Father Gregory Jayantha, John Paul II has become a "source of inspiration and hope for everyone”. The priest is pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Jael (Archdiocese of Colombo), diocesan coordinator for the "small Christian communities" and former executive member of the Board of Trustees for the World Apostolate of Fatima. Here's what he told AsiaNews.
We Sri Lankans welcome the announcement of the beatification of John Paul II on the 1st of May with great happiness. It will be an important occasion, because he was always known and loved as an example of holiness by his spiritual life. Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement with "joy," and recalled that the date is "very significant”: it will be the second Sunday of Easter, which he dedicated to the Divine Mercy, on the eve of which ended his earthly life ". I myself have had the privilege to co-celebrate with Pope John Paul II held mass in Colombo in 1995, and to be present at Fatima in 2000 for the beatification ceremony of Jacinta and Francisco, the two shepherds.
John Paul II was always very devoted to the Virgin Mary. Remembering May 13, 1981, the date of his assassination and the day which marks the first appearance of Our Lady at Fatima, the pope always said that "one-hand shot, another stopped the bullet. He was a believer that with Our Lady’s help, nothing was impossible. I, too, share in that same belief through my personal experience. For instance, when I was at my old parish Nayakakanda, Sri-Lanka, a large tree uprooted by the strong wind and rain crashed on to the mission house, completely demolishing it. Luckily, I was not present when it happened for I had gone home that day, although I had not at all planned to do so. A voice in my head told me to go home even though it was late at night. The large tree had fallen on my bed, and had I been there I would surely have perished. The date of this occurrence was the13th and I strongly believe that Our Loving Mother for whom I had a deep personal adoration had saved my life that day because I was an executive member of the board of trustees for the World Apostolate of Fatima in Portugal.
John Paul II was a versatile man and will be remembered for many things. He loved young people and established the World Youth Day, a time of union of thousands of young people from all over the world. For them, the pope was a symbol of love and compassion. But the most significant of all, perhaps, was his role in world affairs. He was indeed the chosen leader to lead the Church in the turbulent 20th century.
For this and more, we welcome the beatification of Pope John Paul II. That he may become for each of us a source of inspiration and hope. I truly believe that through his intervention, much good will come for this troubled world of ours.
(Melani Manel Perera collaborated)
.png)
