The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Hope for `miracles' lives on

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Hope for `miracles' lives on

Staff Reporter

Devout throng the shrine of Our Lady of Health as the nine-day Novena prayers comes to an end

INVOKING HER BLESSINGS: A man placing his child before the statue of Mother Mary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Health in Khairatabad on Friday. — Photo: AP

HYDERABAD: They believe the lame man who comes here returns walking happily. They say broken hearts become happier than ever after praying here.

It could be this belief in tales of miracles, cures and much more surrounding the 1903-built Shrine of Our Lady of Health in Khairatabad that drew thousands of devotees to the place on Friday.

The nine-day Novena prayers to Mother Mary at the Shrine culminated with special masses including a Pontifical High Mass by Hyderabad Archbishop Reverend Marampudi Joji.

From Italy

The highlight was however a car procession that carried the statue of Mother Mary, brought from Italy by the shrine's founder Fr. Malberti in 1903, through the narrow lanes of AC Guards.

The place was crowded on the occasion with the devout jostling with each other to have a glimpse of the statue, believed to have miraculous healing powers.

The number of devotees, who came from different religions, districts and States, seemed to be larger than ever, as was the case with the number of shops set up on the lanes leading to the shrine.

In deep prayer

People with their limbs in bandages, ailing aged men and women carried by their sons, children suffering from illnesses - there were people of all ages standing, sitting and kneeling in prayers all around the shrine.

The proceedings began with a birthday mass at 4 a.m. by parish priest Father Thumma Solomon, which was followed by masses in various languages, including Telugu, English and Tamil.

A concelebrated High Mass, presided over by Bishop-Emeritus Mathew Cheriakunnel, was held before the Pontifical High Mass.

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