Holy Cross National Shrine Marawila, Sri Lanka where Christian and non-Christian devotees gather daily from every part of the country to seek blessings from Jesus who looks down on them from the cross even in agony, reminding us of the great sacrifice made to redeem the world of its sin. This Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in the country, and this one is built within the cemetery close to the sea.
The miraculous Marawila Kurusa Palliya is open throughout the day and night, and some come in for a quiet moment even in the early morning. Men, women, and children who raise their eyes in prayer and pleading to the life-size statue of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross, looking down on them benevolently. While some sit cross-legged or kneel with arms outstretched on the sandy floor in this simple and Spartan Holy Cross National Shrine, others drag themselves on bended knees along the narrow concrete pathway leading to it.
They murmur their prayers silently, make a vow, or light a few candles, and go on their way, for the whispers of “prathihara and haskam” (miracles), which have been coming down the years, have in recent times become a loud call, drawing more and more faithful to the sacred Marawila Church with glimpses of the blue sea over the low wall.
Unlike the opulence of big churches, the simple structure of Marawila Holy Cross National Shrine, which is home to the statue of Christ on the Cross, is surrounded by tombstones. Burials still take place here, as it is the ‘graveyard’ of the Church of Our Lady of Presentation just up the road, about 350 metres away. The church had been consecrated way back on February 1, 1875, and the graveyard was established two years later, on April 15, 1877.
The embodiment of the Living Christ, the simple structure that is home to the statue of Christ, is unlike the grandeur of big churches. The main worshippers are those living in Marawila, which accounts for thousands, and Jesus Christ, who taught his disciples to be fishers of men, shines through their lives. Many people are of the view that miracles have been taking place long before this, and that is why the Chilaw diocese has the privilege of having two national shrines instead of the usual ones: St. Anne’s Church at Talawila and Kurusa Palliya at Marawila.
According to Jewish custom, a convict was sentenced to be crucified on a cross. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God Most High, chose to die on the cross as a ransom for the salvation of mankind. Since then, we have venerated with sacred devotion the Holy Cross as a symbol of the sacrificial love of Jesus for us.
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES – in this sign (the Cross) you will conquer.
Holy Cross National Shrine Marawila Contact number: 0322 254 414
Related Post: Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Mannar, Sri Lanka
History of Holy Cross National Shrine Marawila
The origins of the Kurusa Palliya statue are also surrounded by tales. In 1920, the parish priest of Marawila, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Thiri, decided to place a cross in the cemetery. Fr. Ferdinand Thiri, a Frenchman who was Parish Priest of Marawila from 1909 to 1924, ordered the statue of Christ on the Cross from Bangalore, India, for Rs. 2.50. The money for the statue had been donated by parishioner W.W. Carolina Fernando.
Usually in most crosses, a familiar symbol in churches, the head of Christ drops down in agony and the eyes are closed, but in this case, the eyes look down tenderly and with forgiveness on a world that has betrayed and rejected him, crucifying him.
This statue was to be shipped from Bangalore to the Port of Colombo and then brought by train to Nattandiya, from where Fr. Thiri and a group of devotees would bring it to Marawila. However, to the dismay of all, when the station master opened the crate, the statue had been in pieces, and on his advice, the church had been able to claim its insurance value of Rs. 250. As was customary, the Railway Department auctioned the unclaimed cracked statue; Fr. Thiri had bought it for Rs. 2.50.
On receiving the insurance money, Fr. Thiri got a special badama (plaster) from Germany and glued the pieces of the statue together with much difficulty, but unsure of its stability and fragility, decided to keep it at the Marawila church. The people paid much honour and respect to the Holy Cross. However, the prior decision was to install the cross in the cemetery. When consulted, the parish committee raised objections, but the parish priest, Fr. Thiri, installed the Holy Cross in the cemetery in spite of opposing it. This had been done with the statue being taken in a cart drawn by two bulls.
Fr. Thiri has said that “God’s plans overlook obstacles.” Due to the unexpected stand of the parish committee, Fr. Thiri decided to leave the parish as well as Sri Lanka. He prophesied to the people, saying, “One day you will reap the fruit of my action.” With the balance of the insurance money, a small cadjan hut was erected over the statue.
Miracles of Marawila Kurusa Palliya
The status is miraculous, unlike many others where Christ looks down tenderly with forgiveness on us who have betrayed him and led him to be crucified. In 1947, there was a disease similar to a skin rash spreading along the coastal villages, including Marawila, Mudukatuwa, Katuneriya, and Ulhitiyawa.
It was incurable and was spreading quickly through the skin. One desperate mother, who could not bear to see her child in agony and pain due to the wounds, prostrated herself at the feet of the Holy Cross and prayed fervently for the cure of her child. She was inspired to bring a bucket of water, wash the feet of Our Lord in the Crucifix, and with that water bathe the child. She made the child drink the water too.
With healing taking place overnight, she ran to her neighbours and spread the news of the miraculous cure. One by one, the whole community flocked around the Holy Cross of the Kurusa Palliya and petitioned for the healing of their sick. They put water or oil on the feet of Our Lord and applied it to their bodies, and they experienced healing.
Ever since, the devotees have been strengthened with faith in the Holy Cross. When plagued by incurable disease, the people went to the shrine to plead for a cure. Irrespective of religion, the pilgrims started coming to the shrine to get the blessings of healing. For many, Holy Cross National Shrine is the embodiment of the living Christ.
May all devotees and future generations who come to visit this sacred shrine be blessed with a fountain of graces and receive healing through repentance of their sins and faith in their maker in this hallowed shrine of the Holy Cross.
Feast day of Holy Cross Shrine Marawila
The annual feast of the Holy Cross Shrine, Marawila, is celebrated in the month of September. On the feast day at the National Shrine of the Holy Cross at Marawila, there is no breathing space, even for a pin to drop, and all Christians are waiting impatiently for the holy mass.
How to reach the Holy Cross National Shrine?
Address: Holy Cross Shrine, Marawila (See the map)
Reference(s): Wikipedia | dailynews.lk | sundaytimes.lk
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways…. My thoughts are above your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9) and invites us to place our faith and trust in Him for: “With God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37).
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