Karkala: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, on August 1 declared St Lawrence Shrine at Attur in Karnataka a minor basilica.
More than 25 archbishops and bishops from various parts of India attended the ceremonies in the coastal town of the southern Indian state.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, led the Mass where Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore preached the homily.
As suggested by Pope Francis, in his letter declaring the shrine as a minor basilica, all guests were given various saplings as a token of welcome. The saplings will be planted in the basilica premises later.
The Bangalore archbishop noted that the occasion was a historic event. “This event will be written in the golden annals of the history of the diocese of Udupi,” the prelate added.
The prelate also explained that basilica means a beautiful and royal house. Early Christians used the term basilica for the royal house of the kings where they offered Mass.
Basilica, he added, is a place of divine worship where people from different places come with intentions and witness miracles in their lives.
According to Archbishop Moras, the world now has 1,742 minor basilicas. The 300-year-old shrine in Attur is 22nd minor basilica in India and the second in Karnataka after St Mary’s Basilica in Bengaluru, the state capital.
St Lawrence died in AD 257 and he sacrificed himself showing his love towards God. He spent his life in the service of the poor and the needy, Archbishop Moras said.
Pope elevated the shrine to the status of a minor basilica through the Sacred Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, Vatican, three months ago.
Those present on the occasion included Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore and Fr George D’Souza, rector of the new minor basilica.
Later, Cardinal Cleemis chaired a public function to mark the occasion where Cardinal Gracias was the chief guest.
Cardinals Telesphore P Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, and George Alencherry, archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, also attended.
Karnataka state Minister Pramod Madhwaraj, who also spoke on the occasion, said the declaration of the new minor basilica is “a joyful day” for all people in Karnataka, not just Catholics.
“When miracles take place, people will come in huge numbers. When they get peace, blessings, and prayers are answered, they visit the holy place,” said the minister who claimed his prayers were also answered after praying at the shrine.
He also urged the people follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to bring peace to India, reports daijiworld.com.
Cardinal Cleemis, who heads the Syro-Malankara Church, unveiled the marble plank of the basilica and said the church “will bring thousands and thousands of devotees to this miracle place in the coming days.”
Cardinal Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, noted that St Lawrence is martyr for the poor. “That is why we witness the huge number of devotees. May this place become national sanctuary in the coming days.”
Cardinal Gracias, who heads the Latin rite in India, noted that several places had applied for the basilica status but only Udupi diocese received it. “During the Year of Mercy, the Pope had given the call that the church belonged to the poor,” he added.