Nagpur: Thousands of devotees thronged to Lourd Mata Mandir, Seminary-hills on Wednesday to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The working day(no-holiday) and the bad weather in the morning could not deter the devotees to be present in large numbers to venerate thier loving mother.
The devotees emersed in Prayers,Joy and Thanksgiving through out the day. The Holy Mass started from morning 6.30 am. Masses in different regional languages were observed throughout the day. The Eucharistic adoration service was conducted at 3.30 pm. Around 15000 devotees particpated in the Preeti Bhoj which organised from morning 11am to 3pm.
The solemn Feast Day High Mass started at 5.30 pm, Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara was the main celebrant of the Mass.
Arch Bishop Abraham in his sermon said ‘ you have come here to feel the presence of God through Mother Mary. We have come here to express our joy here. We all pray here together in unity , although we may belong to different religion.
Bishop further quoting a Bible verse from book of Jobs, asked the devotees imbibe and pledge in your life that ” I should be eye to those who cannot see, and legs to those who cannot walk. The spirit of living for each other must dwell in us.” he said.
Devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was as ancient as Christianity itself.
This is so because God himself has shown through many signs that Mother Mary, as she is popularly known, is the greatest of all saints ever born. Her apparitions have been most common in the world. Of the most famous of her apparitions was the one at Lourdes, France, in 1858. There she appeared to a little girl named Bernadette several times and gave many messages for her and for the world.
She also cured many sick. Mother Mary is also honoured with great respect at Lourde Mata Mandir, Seminary Hills, Nagpur.
A procession of Mother Mary was taken out in the evening, which was followed by thousands of pilgrims.
The preparation for the annual feast began on Saturday, December 12, 2014 with the solemn celebration. Over the years pilgrims from other near by dioceses come and spend two or three days here.
Special arrangement and facilities are made for them during the feast.
On February 13, 2000, Archbishop Abraham declared the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes as a pilgrim centre and Lourd Mata as a Patroness of Nagpur Archdiocese. Today this place attracts thousands of people of all faiths and beliefs, and so many people receive favours and blessings
