National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu

* The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka.

* With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics.

* The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island and is a well known place of devotion for both Tamil and Sinhalese Catholics.

* The church has been a symbol of unity not just between Tamils and Sinhalese, but also between people of different religions, including Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants.

* Pope Pius XI granted the image of Our Lady of Madhu a Canonical coronation on 2 July 1924.

* Attendance for the August festival at times touched close to a million people before the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

* Situated in the heart of the conflict zone, pilgrimage to this shrine was dramatically affected by the Civil War with the presence of refugee camps around the shrine complex.

* It was shelled a number of times.

* Christianity in Sri Lanka is not well known before the 16th century although some local traditions claim that Saint Thomas the Apostle was active in the island.

* The Portuguese missionaries from India, especially under the authority of Saint Francis Xavier, are known to have brought Roman Catholicism to the Kingdom of Jaffna, which comprised the northern peninsula of Sri Lanka.

* The newly converted Christians were persecuted under both the king of Jaffna and the Dutch.

* During this time the Catholics regrouped to form a church in Manthai, installing a statue of Our Lady of Good Health in a shrine.

* The Dutch invasion and the persecution of the Catholic Church in 1670 led to 20 Catholic families fleeing from Mantai, along with the statue of Mary in that church, to a safer locale of Madhu.

* About the same time another 700 Catholics migrated from Jaffna peninsula into Wanni forests.

* When these two communities met in Madhu they installed a new shrine with the statue.

* With the revival of Catholic faith by missionaries such as Saint Joseph Vaz, Oratorian priests expanded the small shrine in the late 17th century.

* With the arrival of British to the island, the persecution ceased, but the number of Catholics remained small, with just 50,000 members in 1796.

* In spite of such a small community the shrine at Madhu started to attract pilgrims from all over the country.

* The stifling of Jesuit authority which had started in 1773 in the subcontinent led eventually to the suppression of the Society of Jesus in Madhu by 1834.

* The building of the new church was initiated by Bishop Bonjean in 1872 and his successors built a facade, a spacious presbytery, a restful chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

* In 1920 Bishop Brault, who was very devoted to Our Lady of Madhu, obtained the Pope's sanction for the historic solemn Canonical Coronation of the Statue of Our Lady of Madhu.

* Bishop Brault with the clergy and laity had petitioned the Vatican through the Cardinal Willem Marinus van Rossum, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and he personally presented the request to the Pope, who in his audience of April 7,1921, granted the request.

* In 1924 the statue was officially crowned by the Papal Legate who came in the name of Pope Pius XI.

* The Church was consecrated in 1944 during World War II.

* In preparation for the consecration ceremony, a marble altar replaced the old wooden structure and the whole sanctuary was covered with white and blue marble.

* In spite of travel restrictions and difficulties in finding conveyance, more than 30,000 people came to the jungle shrine.

* The statue of Our Lady of Madhu has been taken for procession thrice to the parishes in Sri Lanka, in 1948,1974 and in 2001.

* The latter was as a spiritual effort to encourage Catholics in Sri Lanka to pray for peace and an end to the civil war.

* In the year 1870 the new Bishop arranged an annual festival to be celebrated on July 2nd.

* But in recent years the August 15th festival draws the biggest

To get your mind free, the best place is this. It can't describe with words, have to experience physically.

I love the serenity of this place but needs to have the place detailed. Staff are rude and abrupt. Met a jolly priest who took the time to Bless us and learn about us. Far better than the last time where the priest was rude and rushed

A Holy Sacred place surrounded by thick jungle where most of the Catholics visit each & every year.

The Most Holiest, Scared and Famous church is Madu Church. I felt the power when I stayed there. Kept all my troubles below her feet. She will answer in God's time.

Very sacred place of Catholic people which is situated at a very far away place. Very hot climate, take a lot of water there if travelling. Alcoholic beverages usage is prohibited and please conserve the environment.

Largest catholic marian shrine in sri lanka with over 400years of written history. Madu shrine is the center for pilgrimage and worship for sri lankan catholics. I recommnd to visit this great place as a buddhist.

Catholic devotees believe this church to be miraculous. There are houses around the church if you wish to stay for more than one day, and a rent should be paid. Or else devotees can camp in the camp zone. But the place needs to have better sanitary facilities.

Very famous religious place in sri lanka.
And this is the only place in sri lanka where the Hindus, Muslims, Christian, Buddhist all pray to our lady of madhu.

Very calm and nice place to stay with loved ones. Facilities provided in a small place. Highly recommended for pilgrimages.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a well-respected sacred place Roman Catholic for Catholics in Sri Lanka.

This place has a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage one of the most visited by Sri Lankan Catholics.

The Church is well organized in terms of infrastructure to receive pilgrims both local and foreign, well managed premises.

The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island and is a well-known place of devotion for both Tami land Sinhalese Catholics.

The church has been a symbol of unity not just between Tamils and Sinhalese, but also between people of different religions, including Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants.

National Shrine Of Our Lady Of Madu.

It is a miraculous place one of the biggest Catholic churches in Sri Lanka and this place having a great historic value.

There was a huge wat had in the Sri Lanka and this was carried out by terrorists, but it was not possible for them to perform merciless damages to this miraculous Church. For many years I have come to this holy place and have not lost any of the people who have come here for years.

This HOLY PLACE is located in MANNAR and you can go there by BUS or TRAIN it takes up to 6-8 Hours (Approx.) You can get the ROUTE NO: 04 bus to go MADU JUNCTION and there are many more buses to go to church. Same as with the train you have to get down in MADHU STATION and get the bus directly to the church.

Loved this HOLY PLACE and always try to go there every year. God Bless You.

Thanks,
Regards.

Madu Madtha Temple. Good place to worship but the temple office recycle the candle which used by others many time and re sell it.

Whata amazing place sapecially for catholic people.when we there we feel like we are with mother Marry.peacefull place. Every each one of catholic people should visit there at least once in his life time

Very peaceful and famous cathartic church in manner, Srilanka,
Called, "MADU MATHA"

The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics.

One of Great Sacred Place in Sri Lanka.
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Beautiful church to visit and kept very clean, there are so many charitable helping projects been done by this church.

Famous church for mother merry in manner.people visit there throughout the year mainly in festive season people stay.

Most Auspicious place in Sri Lanka. This very famous among all catholics,
If you visiting off seasons you can worship & get blessed without much disturbance.
Booking house are subject to availability and favoration too.

This is sacred place to all the Catholic community. This ch7rch had a big history and a lot of miracles has happened in this group. So believe in God and enter the premises so your prayers will definitely be heard.