The Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world, Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms, is now placed at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine in Sri Lanka. The next Blessing from the “Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world, Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary, which was taken on to Her Divine Arms”, will be given at 4 pm (Sri Lankan time) on 5th February 2011, at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. Devotees, who wish to receive the blessing from this Powerful Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, should be aware of the Story behind this Statue.
On 1st July 1978, Blessed Virgin Mary Appeared before Our Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso in the Apparition Church of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. That was the 19th Appearance of Blessed Mother Mary. When she appeared on that day, she took the personal Rosary of Our Holy Apostolic Father on to Her Divine Arms. At that moment, She also took the Apostolic Crosier and the Apostolic Ring on to Her Divine Arms and returned those to Holy Apostolic Father. Even today, other than this Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to the Divine Arms of the Blessed Mother, the Most Holy Apostolic Father still uses all the other sacred items.
From his childhood onwards, His Holiness the Apostolic Father has a great faith in the Holy Rosary. Our Holy Apostolic Father started to use a New Rosary from the time of the 1st Appearance of Blessed Virgin Mary which took place on 5th February 1975. Nevertheless, he was able to recite the Rosary using that New Rosary, only up to 30th June 1978, because when Blessed Virgin Mary Appeared before Our Holy Apostolic Father on 1st July 1978, for the 19th occasion, she took the personal Rosary of Holy Apostolic Father on to Her Divine Arms. Therefore, from there onwards, this Rosary is preserved as a Most Sacred Relic.
Accordingly, in the night of 1st July 1978, Holy Apostolic Father recited the Rosary, using a new Rosary, and thereafter, this new Rosary, became the personal Rosary of the Holy Apostolic Father. Nevertheless, His Holiness the Apostolic Father was able to recite the Rosary using that new Rosary, only up to 11th January 1997, because on 12th January 1997, Our Holy Apostolic Father gifted that Rosary to Mr. W. Ashok Fernando, who rendered 10 Years of yeoman service, as the Public Relations Officer of the Holy Apostolic Father. Mr. W. Ashok Fernando is the only person who was fortunate to become a holder of a Rosary that was used by the Most Holy Apostolic Father. Our Holy Apostolic Father presented that Rosary to Mr. W. Ashok Fernando, at the moment when he was leaving Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, to the International Airport at Katunayake, to take up a foreign assignment, after rendering 10 years of yeoman service, as the Public Relations Officer of His Holiness the Apostolic Father. That presentation took place in the Apparition Church, at a place which was very close to the spot where Blessed Mother Mary Appeared.
This Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to the Divine Arms of Our Beloved Blessed Mother Mary, once again became the personal Rosary of Holy Apostolic Father. In the Evening of 6th August 2005, in the midst of a massive gathering of people, the Most Holy Apostolic Father recited the Rosary using this Most Sacred Rosary. Until that day, the Holy Apostolic Father was reciting the Rosary alone, in his room. In the Evening of 6th August 2005, His Holiness the Apostolic Father recited the Rosary in the midst of massive gathering of devotees, while Blessed Mother Mary was showing Glorious Live Signs by Smiling through Her Main Statue. On 6th August 2005, the Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, which is placed in the Apparition Church, above the Main Holy Altar, was continuously showing Exceptionally Glorious, Smiling, Face of Blessed Mother Mary, while Holy Apostolic Father was reciting the Rosary, using the Rosary which was taken on to the Divine Arms of Blessed Virgin Mary on 1st July 1978. The mammoth gathering of devotees who converged at this occasion saw to their own eyes, the Smiling, Live Face of their Beloved Blessed Mother. The Most Holy Apostolic Father, along with the devotees, recited the Rosary to the Blessed Mother, and Dressed a New Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms , and Crowned it with a Golden Crown studded with valuable Gem Stones, amidst thundering applauses and joyful tears of devotees, while Blessed Mother Mary was still showing through Her Statue, Her Exceptionally Glorious, Smiling, Live Face.
The Statue of Mother of God which was Crowned, and Dressed with this Most Sacred Rosary, was named as the “Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world, Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms”, and was preserved to grant Blessing to devotees. This is the “Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world, Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms”.
When we receive the Blessing from this “Only Statue of Blessed Mother Mary in the world, Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms”, when She Appeared before Our Most Holy Apostolic Father on 1st July 1978, for the 19th occasion, it is similar to a Blessing that we are receiving Directly from Blessed Mother Mary Herself.
Before we conclude this letter about the “Only Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the world Dressed with the Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to Her Divine Arms”, there is another one reason which has to be mention here; otherwise this letter might not be completed.
On 6th August 2005, when Holy Apostolic Father offered his Rosary back to Blessed Mother Mary, he started to use a New Rosary to recite the Rosary. That new Rosary was presented to Our Holy Apostolic Father 14 years ago, by Mr. W. Ashok Fernando. It was presented to Holy Apostolic Father by Mr. Ashok Fernando on 12th January 1997, when he became a recipient of a personal Rosary of Holy Apostolic Father. He presented this New Rosary to Holy Apostolic Father in Italy. The Most Holy Apostolic Father still uses that Rosary to recite the Rosary.
The Most Sacred Rosary which was taken on to the Divine Arms of Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Crowned Statue of Blessed Mother Mary.
At the conclusion of the Festive Ceremony, held on 6th August 2005, Holy Apostolic Father requested devotees to lift their hands up if they have seen the Smiling, Live Face of Blessed Virgin Mary through the Statue of Mother of God which is placed above the Main Holy Altar. A massive gathering of people who converged in the Apparition Church and in the Shrine Ground, who saw this Glorious Miracle lifted their hands up. Pictured here is a section of devotees in the Apparition Church who lifted their hands up.