Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - One of the main concerns for the Bishops of Sri Lanka, at this time, is the security of the Marian Shrine of Madhu amidst the violence and destruction that is tearing apart that area of the nation. In an official statement, they confirmed the urgent need to protect this sacred place on the island that is respected and visited, as a sign of peace and reconciliation, by both Catholics and believers of other religions.
The Shrine is located in the island’s central region, in an area controlled by Tamil rebels, where fighting has broken out between guerrillas and the army. Bombs and gunshots have already damaged Shrine, destroying a chapel and forcing Bishop Rayappu Joseph to have the antique statue of the Virgin Mary moved to a more secure area (see Fides 4/4/2008).
The Bishops have spoken out in a cry of alert. They have written to the government and have held a prayerful procession in efforts to make the danger of the situation known to the public. In the past, the Shrine was considered a “peace zone” and was exempt from fighting. It now seems that this sense of its sacredness has been lost and the Bishops’ Conference, which recently met to discuss the issue and find a solution, has renewed its request to the parties involved to end the fighting in the area of the Shrine. The transfer of the statue of Our Lady, as the text explains, has occurred for security reasons and not due to pressure from the rebels (as some media sources had claimed), and the statue will return to its place as soon as conditions allow.
The Marian Shrine of Madhu, in the Diocese of Mannar, has always been a respected place of prayer, visited by Catholics and members of other religions. The country’s Bishops have always asked that Madhu be left as a non-military zone, guaranteeing the security of its pilgrims and those who take refuge there. Since 1990, the 160 acres surrounding the Shrine has served as a refuge in the war for thousands, becoming an authentic refugee camp for the people.
The history of the Shrine dates back to over 4 centuries ago, to 1544 when king of Jaffna, Sankili, massacred 600 Christians of Mannar (who had been converted by the Portuguese who arrived in Ceylan in 1505), for fear of Portuguese expansion and influence. Some Christians escaped the massacre and built a small shrine in the forest, placing the statue on the site where the Shrine is located today.
Later, the Dutch who arrived to Ceylan, in 1656, began another persecution against the Catholics. Thirty Catholic families, in search of a refuge, went from town to town taking the statue with them. In 1670, they finally took permanent refuge in Maruthamadhu, the current site of the Shrine. Other Catholics began to join them there. Across all Ceylan, the devotion to the Virgin of Madhu was spread, especially for her capacity to heal and protect people from snakebites. When Fr. Joseph Vaz reached the island in 1687, Catholicism flourished once more, and in 1706, it was already referred to as a missionary center. The current structure was inaugurated by Bishop Bonjean, who laid the Shrine’s cornerstone in 1872. A Papal delegate crowned the statue in 1924, on behalf of Pope Pius XI. The island was consecrated in 1944. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/4/2008; righe 41, parole 560)
