On Saturday, 27th of July a remarkable incident took place at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, the only shrine in Sri Lanka where Blessed Virgin Mary appeared twenty-three times. That was for several hours, Jasmine aroma continuously emanated from the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary holding Infant Jesus in Her left hand placed in the Apparition Church of the shrine.
Relating to this incident, next day on Sunday evening 28th of July, His Holiness the Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso addressed a group of devotees and stated a special proclamation as follows.
“Before all else, I thank Blessed Virgin Mary for the remarkable incident happened yesterday (27th of July) in the Apparition Church at our Shrine. The statue of Blessed Virgin Mary holding Infant Jesus in Her left hand placed above the main altar in the Apparition Church is the main statue established at the Apparition Church. Through that statue, you all are recalled the way Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in my presence for the eighteenth time. That apparition happened on July 27th, 1977. Exactly 42 years ago. Up until now, Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in my presence twenty-three times. On July 27th, 1977, She appeared in front of me holding Infant Jesus. During the rest of the apparitions, She appeared alone. She appears in my presence on yellow roses, wearing a long white veil glowing as snow from head to toe. Similarly, She was wearing a long cloak white as snow and was wearing a girdle in blue color as the sky but glistening as snow while holding a golden glowing rosary in Her right-hand elbow. On 27th July 1977, She appeared in the same way in front of me, yet up until now, there was a specialty on that day. Infant Jesus was on her left hand.”
Further addressing the devotees faithfully listening to His Holiness the Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso who was revoking His memory to describe the way Blessed Virgin Mary appeared with Infant Jesus, He stated as follows;
“The new Apparition Church was reconstructed and opened on Saturday evening, 11th of August in the previous year (2018). It’s almost a year. As the main Mother Mary statue of this new Apparition Church, I decided to place a statue portraying the way Blessed Virgin Mary appeared with Infant Jesus. The statue of Mother Mary holding Infant Jesus created according to that is placed inside the Apparition Church on the exact place She appeared in the same manner.”
His Holiness the Apostle also expressed His opinions on the remarkable way of spreading Jasmine aroma on 27th July 2019 from the statue created to commemorate that apparition, on the day forty-two years were completed for the Mother Mary apparition happened on 27th July 1977.
“This was the first time Jasmine aroma spread out in this Apparition Church which opened nearly a year ago after the reconstructions. The aroma of Jasmine is not a peculiar thing for this shrine. Jasmine aroma is still emanating from the apostolic ring taken by Mother Mary into Her hands. The Jasmine aroma emanating from it is experienced by the devotees who are miles away. Your houses experienced this pleasant fragrance. You are the best witnesses for that. You all have years of experience of the Jasmine aroma spreading from the miraculous statue of Mother Mary which was taken into Her own hands. The Jasmine aroma emanated from the old Apparition Church as well. But yesterday (27th July) the fragrance emanated from the main Mother Mary statue in the Apparition Church is extremely strong. This pleasant Jasmine aroma was not only confined within the Apparition Church. But it also spread to the entire Shrine Ground, to the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul garden. Also, we were informed that this Jasmine aroma spread out to the right and left sides of the road for about 100 meters out of the Shrine Grounds. Truly this is a great wonder. A special miracle of Blessed Mother Mary.”
Further addressing the devotees His Holiness the Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso finally stated the following as well.
“Yesterday (27th July) a strong Jasmine aroma which we couldn’t experience for four decades emanated from the main Mother Mary Statue of the Apparition Church. As I think, through this incident Blessed Virgin Mary, deliver three messages to us. First, She is accepting this Apparition Church made by completing Her request and She prefers this Apparition Church. Second, Mother Mary favors Her statue of holding Infant Jesus placed at this Apparition Church. I will not disclose the third. I will keep it in my heart. But if there approaches a time to disclose it, I will tell it to you all. This Apparition Church was designed by, the reconstructions were conducted by Mr. Manoj Chinthaka, the Director of the Apostolic Media. More than us he must be delighted that Mother Mary appreciates his effort in this way.”
These images show His Holiness the Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso address the devotees at Holy Apostles Peter & Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine on the evening of Sunday 28th July, and the statue of Mother Mary holding Infant Jesus at the Apparition Church of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine which emanated Jasmine aroma on all sides
