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Those who perished in the attacks are Saints of the Church: Cardinal
View(s):There were somber and emotional scenes at St. Lucia’s Cathedral Kotahena yesterday, as family members of victims of the Easter Day bomb attacks gathered with other devotees for a Memorial Service in remembrance of those killed on the fateful day.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith led the congregation in prayer and later consoled family members who had gathered to remember their loved ones, whose lives were cut short cruelly, as they knelt in prayer to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
The Service began amidst unprecedented security, with heavily armed military personnel stationed outside the church as well as along the road leading to it, with strict checks on everyone entering the Church premises. The statue of St. Anthony, with blood of the victims on it serving as a stark reminder of the tragedy, was brought to St. Lucia’s Cathedral from St. Anthony’s Church, Kotahena, and held up by Cardinal Ranjith to the worshipers, as he called on them not lose to hope, but renew their faith in God.
Cardinal Ranjith, in his address, spoke of the difficulty he has in coming to terms with the barbarity of the attacks on worshippers, and was still trying to make sense of what had happened. He recollected the chain of events of April 21, when he was informed of the attacks.
“I was informed about a bomb explosion at St. Anthony’s Church, Kotahena, by telephone, by a priest from the Church. He told me there was an explosion inside the church and many people were affected. I was in disbelief and immediately made my way to Kotahena. It was only when I got there, I saw the severity of the attack. I was unable to go inside, as there were fears there was another bomb inside Hence, I returned to Archbishop’s House. When I got there, I was informed about another bomb attack at a church in Negombo,” he said.
Cardinal Ranjith said, as a human being, it is difficult to fathom why such incidents took place. “Even if those responsible for these attacks escape punishment in this life, they will not be able to escape punishment by God,” he said.
He also reiterated his criticism of the political leadership of the country, saying, they, too, are responsible for the calamity that took place on Easter Sunday. “They cannot wash their hands of the incidents. It is our responsibility to ensure they too are punished. Those who cannot fulfil their responsibilities are not suitable for leadership of our country,” he said.
Cardinal Ranjith said those who helped the forces who carried out these attacks, including those operating from countries outside Sri Lanka, and those who incited the attackers, too, must be held responsible, and they, too, will have to face the wrath of God, even if they escape punishment in this life.
Cardinal Ranjith said he was unable to attend all the funerals of the victims, due to circumstances following the attacks. “They are after me also, but I am not afraid. I have entrusted my life to you and God,” he said. Cardinal Ranjith said that, those who perished in the attacks are already saints. “They are saints of the church, because they went to church to worship God. They don’t have to be canonized, as they are already saints. You don’t have to pray for them, but to them.”