“34 years was completed in this year 2009, since Blessed Virgin Mary began to Appear in Katunayake in Sri Lanka. On 5th February 1975 Blessed Mother Appeared before me for the 1st time. So far, She has Appeared before me for 23 occasions. These Appearances of Blessed Mother are not yet completed. She has promised that She will Arrive once again along with Baby Jesus. Therefore, in this Solemn Vespers Novena, we thank Blessed Mother not because we commemorate the completion of 34 years of Her Appearances before me, but because it has completed 34 years since Our Beloved Blessed Mother Mary began to Appear before me. In view of the fact that these Appearances are not yet completed, today we thank and praise Blessed Mother not because we commemorate the completion of 34 years of Her Appearances before me, but because it has completed 34 years since Blessed Mother Mary began to Appear before me”.
The Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso reflected the above during the course of his Homily which he delivered at the Thanksgiving Solemn Vespers Novena which was celebrated in the Apparition Church of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine in the Evening of 7th February 2009.
By using a allegory to explain how people looked at the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake for the last 34 years, the Most Holy Apostolic Father further reflected the following during the course of his Homily when he addressed the devotees and the pilgrims.
“Those who became aware of the Appearances of Blessed Mother Mary in Katunayake looked at the “Appearances in Katunayake” wisely. They looked at the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake with the knowledge of the history of the Appearances of Blessed Mother along with the knowledge of how various wily people who were active to subdue the news of the Appearances of Blessed Mother. Today I praise such people for their wisdom. Some people looked at the “Story of Blessed Mother in Katunayake” wearing a pair of spectacles of other people. If you read a book or a newspaper by wearing a pair of spectacles of other people, you will see the letters in a twisted position thereby you will also understand the truth in a distorted manner. Likewise some people looked at the Story of the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake through the wisdom of others. Without looking at the Story of the Appearance of Blessed Mother in Katunayake in their own wisdom, they listened to what others thought about the Story of the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake and used of those thoughts as their own conclusion thereby losing their opportunity to see Glorious Acts of Blessed Mother Mary due to the fact that they saw the truth about the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake in a distorted manner. Therefore, innocent people also lost the opportunity of receiving Blessing Directly from Blessed Mother due to the reason of spreading of various false stories by various venomous people pertaining to the Appearances of Blessed Mother in Katunayake as well as due to the reason of Satan directing those wily people from the background. Due to their actions innocent people became the victims and lost their opportunity of receiving Blessing Directly from Blessed Mother Mary. Nevertheless, today by giving victory to Blessed Mother and by overcoming the power of Satan we are completing the 34th year of the Apparitions of Blessed Mother thus teaching a very good lesson to the Demon Ruler and to his venomous disciples”.
When the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso declared the above during the course of his Homily, the faithful who gathered were seen listening to him with joyful faces. They were in all smiles because they were able to receive abundance Graces from Blessed Mother as well as they were able to experience the Glorious Live Signs of Blessed Mother in view of the fact that they arrived at the Apparition Ground having faith in the Apparitions of Blessed Mother in Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
Blessed Mother Mary is expected to Arrive Once Again before Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso along with Baby Jesus at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. Devotees are anxiously anticipating Her Impending Arrival. At the conclusion of the Solemn Vespers Novena, the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso Granted Blessing from the “Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary” to all the devotees and to pilgrims who arrived from various places to attend the Thanksgiving Solemn Vespers Novena which was celebrated on 7th February 2009 to commemorate the completion of 34 years since Blessed Mother began to Appear at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, and it is necessary to mention that if there is a “Rosary” in this world which was taken to the Holy Arms of Blessed Mother Mary during one of Her Appearances in this world, that “Rosary” is Dressed in this Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary which is placed at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine and it is the “Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary” which was taken to the Holy Arms of Blessed Mother Mary.
At the end of the Solemn Vespers Novena the Most Holy Apostolic Father arrived at the Shrine Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine and Granted his Apostolic Blessing to devotees and to pilgrims from the Special Podium which was erected in the Shrine Ground.
