Our Lady of Madhu

Wanni, Sri Lanka (16th c.)

 

In 1583, Catholics in Mannar to escape persecution  went to a safer locale in Maruda Madhu along with  a statue of Our Lady of the  Rosary and were joined by migrants from Jaffna peninsula in Wanni forests.

These two communities met in Madhu, and built  a Shrine which started to attract pilgrims from all over the country. Soon the devotion spread and people believed that they were not harmed by animals and poisonous reptiles due to the miraculous statue, and the soil was used as a remedy for snake bites. 

The Madhu Shrine is not only a place of solace for  Catholics, but also a symbol of racial harmony where  Tamils from the North and  East and Sinhalese from the  South and other parts of the country meet together like  one family to pray.

 

Text and image used with permission.
Source: "365 Days with Mary" by Michael O'Neill

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