By Purushottam Nayak
Raikia: A Hindu woman, who once opposed Christianity, now finds the Rosary a great source of peace, joy and happiness.
“I always spoke ill of Christians and Christianity, not knowing Christian values in my life,” says Sunita Patra, who lives in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, the scene of worst Christian persecution 12 years ago.
However, after her marriage to Sukant Nayak, a Catholic schoolteacher, the 29-year-old woman says she has “slowly and gradually realized the Christian values.”
She now accompanied her husband to pray the Rosary at the Our Lady of Charity shrine, Raikia, a major parish in Kandhamal.
The shrine was demolished in the 2008 anti-Christian violence.
Patra also credits a swarm of bees that lived on a huge tree near the shrine for drawing closer to Christianity and Mother Mary.
“The bees gather during September and October and sting any one passing by the tree and the shrine. Once I stood beside my husband to pray the Rosary and a swarm of bees surrounded us. But I was astonished that not a single bee stung me or my husband. I experienced divine power that led me to embrace Christian faith,” she narrated her conversion.
For the former Hindu woman, Mother Mary is “a true mediator and intercessor” as the coronavirus pandemic rattled world. She says praying the Rosary in October will save the mankind from the pandemic.
Her 35-year-old husband says he is proud that his wife “finally knew true God in Christianity. She is a true devotee to Mother Mary.”
He says her orthodox Hindu wife became a Christian through the power of the Rosary. “She has changed from rudeness to humility, from hatred to love towards Christianity and Christians. She never goes to bed without Holy Rosary.”
Patra’s strong faith has influenced her parents and four other members in the family. Her two sons Subham kumar and Mandeep Kumar Nayak join in the prayers.
The lockdown now prevents them from coming to the shrine, “but we pray in the family. Our hearts and minds are not closed for God” she said.
Father Bhanja Kishore Nayak, a Catholic priest who had suffered during the 2008 anti-Christian violence, says Patra is active in the parish. She encourages other Christian and Hindu neighbors.”
“Her firm faith in Mother Mary and praying Holy Rosary has made her family as noble and exemplary to everyone both Hindus and Christians,” the priest added.