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Karkala: Sea of devotees throng St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur for titular feast

  •   Thu, Aug 10 2017 10:17:51 PM

Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (WD/KR)

Karkala, Aug 10: The titular feast of St Lawrence was celebrated with much joy and devotion at St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur here on Thursday August 10.

Fr Pius James D'Souza, episcopal vicar for religious, diocese of Mangaluru presided over the festive Eucharistic celebrations. Fr Gregory D'Souza, rector, St Lawrence Basilica, Fr Jesnil Alva, assistant parish priest, Fr Joswey Fernandes, dean, Karkala deanery, other priests from Udupi and Mangaluru dioceses took part in the celebrations.

In his homily Fr Pius said, "We have gathered here to celebrate the feast of St Lawrence. I wish a happy feast to everyone. St Lawrence calls upon us to be the true witnesses of God. Let us preach and live the Word of God as St Lawrence. We have come here with various pleas, let us keep them in front of God and ask His blessings during this Eucharistic celebration.

"We reflected on various topics over the last nine days of novena, and today we reflect on the importance of being the true witnesses of God like St Lawrence was. The Bible is the Word of God, it is the root of Roman Catholicism, and we come to know about God and His son Jesus Christ, our savior, through the Bible. But we have kept the Bible aside and have relied only on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Many of the Christians are not aware of the Bible and due to this many have joined other faith groups to learn more about the Bible.

"Today let us reflect on three main issues - first, the Bible is the gift of God to us. The Word of God guides us to take the right decision whenever we go wrong. Second is to live according to the Word of God. We get attracted towards worldly pleasures and drift away from God, at this moment, Word of God helps to lead a peaceful life and live according to its tenets. We are ready to point out others' mistakes, but how many of us are ready to forgive others for their mistakes? How many of us are ready to live according to the Word of God? It is not easy to live according to the Word of God but doing so helps us lead a better life. Third, it is not enough to only live the Word of God, one needs to also preach the Word of God. We have to tell others about it and spread the Word of God. By doing all this, we become the true witnesses of God," he said.

Prior to the Eucharist, candles were distributed to the parishioners and to the sponsors of the titular feast.

The 10-day novena at St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur began on August 1 and on the same day the first annual celebration of proclamation and dedication of St Lawrence Basilica were held. During the 9-day novena various priests celebrated the Eucharist and prayed for various intentions.

Fr George D'Souza, rector of the Basilica, thanked each and everyone involved in the arrangements made for the feast.

After the mass, special prayers for the sick were conducted and blessings were invoked for the divine intervention in the lives of pilgrims. The feast concluded with the fellowship meal which was sponsored.

 
  

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Comment on this article

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Aug 11 2017

    A few lines on St. Lawrence - Martyr
    Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, "Father, where are you going without your deacon?" he said. "I am not leaving you, my son," answered the Pope. "in three days you will follow me." Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels to have more to give away.
    The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"
    In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. "Turn me over," he said to the judge. "I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr's reward. Saint Lawrence's feast day is August 10th.
    St. Lawrence - Pray for us ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Augustine Daniel DSouza, Udupi / Mumbai / STATE OF KUWAIT.

    Thu, Aug 10 2017

    Happy Feast of St. Lawrence Basilica, Attur.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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