Easter during pandemic —in the name of forgiveness and in memory of the martyrs
"We miss the faithful very much, while we celebrated Easter Mass in the absence of the people. Think of last year, when Easter was marred by terrorist attacks; today we live in isolation, with a sense of fear and fragility." Christians living in Sri Lanka serve as an example to how we can rediscover and strengthen our faith in God.
Agenzia Fides reported the testimony released by Fr. Basil Rohan Fernando, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Sri Lanka.
The National Director told Fides that, on Easter 2020, while the government proclaimed an indefinite “curfew” due to Covid-19, the Catholic faithful in Sri Lanka remembered the innocent killed a year ago:
“We have in fact completed the construction of the new Chapel of the martyrs in Negombo, one of the places of the attacks. The work was carried out thanks to the generous donations collected by the PMS.
The inauguration was scheduled during a commemoration set for the 21st of April, on the first anniversary of the attack, but we do not know whether the celebration will take place”, the Director added.
Another important theme that characterised Easter 2020 in Sri Lanka was forgiveness. In a solemn Easter Mass, in the absence of the faithful, but broadcast live on state television, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, declared that the community of believers in Christ “responded with love to those who tried to destroy us.”
The Cardinal referred to the terrorist attacks that struck three churches and three luxury hotels on the 21st of April 2019, killing 279 victims and injuring over 600 people.
Forgiveness is a gift of the grace of God that allows us to “love, forgive and have compassion for the persecutors,” confirmed the Cardinal, speaking on behalf of the entire Christian community.
Relatives of victims of Easter bombings in Sri Lanka found God thanks to the tragedy
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