The 62nd Birthday of the Most Holy Apostolic Father, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, fell on 2nd February. On his birthday, people came from faraway places to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine where He resides, to celebrate His birthday. This ritual is taking place for many years. Devotees observe this ritual willingly. Not only Christians but also Buddhists devotees who value His blessing and guidance, participate in this virtuous act.
We were able to witness this in the midnight of 1st February, 2019. His Holiness the Apostolic Father has spent more than half of His life, as an ‘Apostle’. This Holy Apostle was born to the world, precisely at 12 midnight, on 1st February. Therefore, the time he was born is not a convenient time for the people to reach Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine.
This Holy Apostle was born at the very moment when a day is ending and when a new day is dawning. Therefore, on the day of His birthday, people, from all groups of ages, from mothers who carry infants, to elderly people, who walk with the help of others, gathered at Our Lady of Katunanyake’s Shrine, where this Holy Apostle resides. They started to arrive in the Shrine from 10 pm onwards.
At the moment when the time was closing into midnight, devotees who arrived at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, lit 62 oil lamps at the feet of the image of the Holy Apostolic Father, which is placed in the Shrine Ground of Our Lady of Katunayake. Subsequently, at the very moment He was born, that means, precisely, at 12 midnight, people gathered near the image of the Holy Apostolic Father. At that moment, they also sang hymns, thanking Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, for giving an Apostle, in the caliber of His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso.
Why did devotees come to Our Lady of Katunanyake’s Shrine in the midnight, from faraway places to break rest? People love this Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, without any religious differences because this Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, also loves them very much. People respect Him because He blesses them like a beloved FATHER and guide them on the virtuous path.
