The Blessed Mother statue placed at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Miracle Shrine Grounds – This is the place where miracle of Blessed Mother’s benevolence happened
In the evening of 29th April, the distressed mother traveled from Kandy to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine with her six months old infant. She came with the hopes of attending the coronation mass of Blessed Mother Mary at Katunayake’s Miraculous Shrine and to plead a special request for her infant child from Mother Mary. She did not wait after asking for her request from the Blessed Mother. Instead, she continuously prayed to the Mother Mary. Even after April 29th, she traveled all the way from Kandy to miraculous Blessed Mother at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. She entered the Shrine Ground and at the feet of the statue of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus placed at the right side of the Shrine Ground, she expressed her pain to Mother Mary. The Blessed Virgin Mary replied her making her stunned. Her story makes us amazed as well.
Below published the remarkable story of Mrs. Nimalka Devindi Ariyasinghe from Kandy, Mahayyawa. Assuredly, your eyes will be filled with tears.
My only infant baby is 5 months old. Till the first week from birth, my baby fed on my milk. After that, the baby refused to breastfeed. The doctors said it was essential to give breast milk to the baby or else it will undoubtedly affect the baby’s development. However, until the baby begins breastfeeding again, the doctor prescribed a formula. But the doctor also mentioned that this wasn’t the accurate successful solution for the matter. We even went to a specialist and informed on the matter. The specialist doctor also said that without breast milk the baby’s brain development might be affected; therefore breast milk should be given to the baby. That specialist even disclosed a small trick to me. When my son is hungry, apply sugar dissolved water on my nipples and train my son to breastfeed again. But that method did not work either. Among everything, my son started to suffer from continuous colds. Everyone told me it was due to the fact, the baby isn’t getting necessary nutrition which should be received through breast milk. We took the child to numerous churches and retreats. Nevertheless, the baby did not feed from my breast. Every day he was suffering from one illnesses or another. One day our neighbor, my closest friend informed me about the Coronation Mass of Blessed Mother Mary at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine on 29th April. I even checked it on the internet. According to the details mentioned, on Saturday the 29thApril morning, I also wrote my request on a paper as my only request. “Mother Mary, you are also a mother. My own baby refuses to breast feed from me. Please ask my baby to feed from me”. Writing those words I went to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine and it was around 5.30 pm when I reached Shrine. There was a massive crowd. Clutching my baby, I entered the Shrine Ground with great difficulty. All the people were huddling against each other. I was holding my baby tight anyhow and stayed huddled among people. After the coronation of Mother Mary and before reciting the special prayer to Mother Mary, His Holiness the Apostle requested us to hold the paper with our only request in our right hand. I cradled my baby with my left and hold the written paper brought from home in my right hand. His Holiness the Apostle started the prayer. His Holiness allowed us a small moment to ask for our requests in silence. His Holiness the Apostle sanctified us for our payers. Looking at His Holiness, I was thinking for myself isn’t this the Holy person who was fortunate to see Lord Jesus & Mother Mary with his own eyes. After the prayer as His Holiness the Apostle advised, with great difficulty I went to the box near, statue of Mother Mary crowned in a sapphire, gold crown and placed my request in the box. As I was withdrawing my hand after putting the request, my son started crying. I understood my son who stayed quiet until then even among the mass crowd was hungry. As it was the end of all rituals, I took the baby out of the Shrine Ground and started to feed the child in our vehicle which was parked little afar. Even though I have already prepared the formula in safe manner, with my heart’s faith, I tried breast feeding. It was a surprise! My little son who only fed from me for a week and then refused to breastfeed for six months started to feed from me till his belly is full. Tears were pouring from my eyes. After breastfeeding, I went back to the Shrine and thanked Mother Mary and traveled back to Kandy. My son who had his belly full with breast milk after six months slept soundly throughout the journey. Next day (30thApril) I tried breastfeeding my little son, but he again refused. The whole day he did not drink breast milk, so I gave him formula again. The day after (May 1st) again my son refused to breastfeed. Therefore I gave him formula on that day as well. I was in immense pain. But I was sure thought that Mother Mary will assist me. My mind told me she was waiting to help me at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. Therefore, on 2nd of May, I again went to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine holding my infant son. I sat at the feet of the statue of Mother Mary holding Infant Jesus placed at the Shrine Ground and prayed while reading the sentence I wrote on 29th April. I came out from the Shrine Ground after recited the rosary as well. As soon as we came out my son started to cry similar to April 29th. Like the other day I got into our vehicle and started to breastfeed and did not give the home prepared formula. He drank till he was full. I felt so desolate. I went to the Shrine Ground again, showed my son to Mother Mary, thanked her and came back to Kandy. Yet when we reached home, my son did not feed from my breast. This was a mystery I could not understand. I even began thinking whether there is any erratum at our house. After that no matter how much I tried, my son refused to breastfeed. Again on May 4th, I went to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine from Kandy. As routinely sitting in the corner of the mango tree at the feet of the statue of Mother Mary holding Infant Jesus placed at the Shrine Ground, I described my pain looking at the statue of Mother Mary. I said the same sentence I wrote on the piece of paper and raised on April 29th When His Holiness Apostle gave his blessings. After reading the same sentence again & again for a while looking at the statue, I saw the statue of Mother Mary was changing. I looked carefully. I saw Mother Mary subtlety inclining her head when I reading of my sentence, like saying yes. I wiped my eyes and looked once more. I clearly saw the statue of Mother Mary nodding her head. It merely happened for a few seconds. Then the statue of Mother Mary went back to the normal status. I felt absolute happiness. I thought that Mother Mary granted my wish for sure. At the same time, my son starts fidgeting. I looked at Mother Mary Statue and said I will come soon Mother, and I left the Shrine Ground, went to the vehicle and breastfed my son. My son drank from me until he is full. Next I went back to the Shrine Ground and sat at the feet of the statue of Mother Mary and thanked her. My heart told Mother Mary who is at Katunayake Miraculous Shrine granted my request. After that, I left Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine and traveled back to Kandy. Near Kadugannawa my son fed from me again. After that day there was no necessity of giving formula to my child. Now he breastfeeds from me very well, and I have enough milk to give my son. Mother Mary exists at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. I am certain of that. She helps us, the sinners in unbelievable ways. I am amazed by the way she supported me. I am writing this letter on May 20th. After Mother Mary gestured me by nodding her head, at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, so far my son breastfeeds after six months since his birth without any issue. Indeed, I experienced Mother Mary at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine where the Blessed Mother appeared twenty-three times.
Mrs. Nimalka Devindi Ariyasinghe
Mahayyawa (Kandy)
The Shrine Ground is open from 6am to 10pm daily, for all the devotees to pray at the feet of Blessed Mother Mary statue placed at the grounds of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Miracle Shrine, 20th Mile Post, Katunayake, Sri Lanka