Rosary Vespers, presided over by the Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, was conducted in the evening of Saturday 5th October 2013, before the life size Statue of Blessed Mother, placed in the Shrine Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake, for a period of close upon to 30 years, was removed from the location where it was placed. During this period of 3 decades, this life size Statue of Blessed Mother has won the hearts of the people. Devotees who arrived from various places, who converged before the Statue of Blessed Mother Mary, offered Holy Rosary to the Blessed Mother, reverently, along with the Holy Apostle.
Devotees, having Rosaries and candles, which were lit by them, in their hands, prayed Holy Rosary, devotionally, along with the Holy Apostle, while the well-known Marian devotional hymn; “Ave Maris Stella” was sung. At that very moment, they were able to see Live Miraculous Signs, from this life size Statue of Blessed Mother to their own eyes, thereby; recitation of Holy Rosary reverberated throughout the Shrine Ground, devotionally.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, who has appeared in various countries in the world, appeared in our tiny island for the 1st time, on 5th February 1975. From there onwards, she has appeared in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake for 23 occasions. At this moment, I wish to mention something about her appearances at Lourdes, in France and at Fatima, in Portugal. Saint Bernadette, who saw the Blessed Mother to her own eyes, is not living in Lourdes now, even though, huge buildings have been erected in the Shrine of Lourdes, in France, where Blessed Mother has appeared. Similarly, the 3 children, Francis, Lucie and Jacintha, who saw the Blessed Mother to their own eyes, are not living in Portugal now, even though, huge buildings have been erected in the Shrine of Fatima, in Portugal, where Blessed Mother has appeared. People, who are visiting these Shrines, at present, are not able to recite Holy Rosary, even with one of them, who saw the Blessed Mother. But today, we are very fortunate, because we offered Holy Rosary to the Blessed Mother, before her Statue, placed in the Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake, along with the Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who has seen the Blessed Mother to his own eyes and who has conversed with her and who has listened to her messages. The Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake is the One and Only Sacred Shrine in Sri Lanka, where Blessed Mother Mary has appeared.
These photos show devotees offering Holy Rosary to the Blessed Mother, along with the Most Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, on Saturday evening, 5th October 2013, at the Sacred Shrine of Our Lady of Katunayake
