Tewatta: the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Our Lady of Lanka

The celebration presided over by Card. Ranjith together with the Archbishop of Goa, Card. Filipe Neri Ferrao. From Pope Francis a message of closeness to the sick and pilgrims: I invoke upon you the gift of courage and perseverance. Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus also recount the graces received from the Virgin.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - A special solemnity marked the annual blessing of the sick on Sunday 25th August at the Tewatta basilica, which this year celebrates 50 years since it was recognised as the national shrine of Our Lady of Lanka.

As is customary, Catholics and non-Catholics flocked from all over the country, reporting that they ‘received the blessings physically and in spirit’, some pilgrims said.

Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists also came to ask for Our Lady of Lanka's intercession. Presiding over the recitation of the rosary in the three languages of the country (Sinhala, English and Tamil) and the Eucharistic blessing, together with the Archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Goa, Card. Fiilipe Neri Ferrao, who from next January will lead the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

A message on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Dedication of the National Basilica was sent by Pope Francis and read out by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka, Msgr. Brian Udangwe. In the text, the pontiff recounts that he personally asked God for ‘the gift of courage and perseverance’ for the sick pilgrims who come to Tewatta.
Addressing the pilgrims gathered for the ‘Day of the Sick’, the Archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcolm Ranjith, invited thanks to God the Father for preparing the peaceful environment that allows the people of Sri Lanka to gather in this place of worship today. ‘We thank Almighty God for presenting to us the Mother of God, who is full of love, and we entrust our country and all our brothers and sisters who inhabit it to God's maternal love,’ the cardinal added.

Among the devotees of Our Lady of Lanka, a Buddhist family from the distant central province of Polonnaruwa told AsiaNews that they visit every year on the Day of the Sick. ‘My husband had a pain in his left leg that lasted for months. Eventually, one of our Catholic friends invited us to come to Tewatta and participate in the special blessing day in 2018,’ says Vinishia Nissanka.

‘We are Catholics from the Kandy diocese. I too experienced a great miracle that happened from Our Lady,’ adds Mrs Marita Perera. ‘After the birth of my third daughter, since 2000, I suffered from severe stomach pain. I was treated by very famous doctors and had to spend a lot of money. But after five years, after attending holy masses and praying the rosary as a family, at the Basilica every month, I had the gift of healing’.