10 Thursday 15th January, 2009 The Island Religion

poor and strengthening the weak unto taken aback when the former guard martyrdom. He found the twin brothers berated the Emperor for his callous Marcus and Marcellianus in prison and treatment of the Christians. when they were near yielding to the Recovering from his stupor, Emperor St. Sebastian: entreaties of their relatives, encouraged Diocletian gave orders to beat him to them to despise flesh and blood, and to death with cudgels and his body thrown die for Christ. He was also God’s instru- into the common sewer. He crowned ment in conversion and cure of their his labour by the merit of a double mar- crippled father, Tarquillinus. tyrdom in 288. Zoe, the wife of Nicostratus, who lost A pious lady,called Lucina, the use of speech by palsy in her admonished by the martyr in a vision, A Saint with a tongue, fell at his feet and spoke dis- got it privately removed, and buried it tinctly after he made the sign of the in the catacombs at the entrance of the cross on her mouth. She with her hus- cemetery of Calixtus. A church was band Nicostratus, who was afterwards built over his relics by Pope Master of the Rolls, the parents of Damasus, which is one of the ancient Marcus and Marcellianus, the jailer stationary churches at Rome. Claudius, and sixteen other prisoners, Vandelbert, St. Ado, Eginard, Sigebert Healing Touch were converted and Nicostratus, took and other contemporary authors relate the prisoners to his own house, where that, in the reign of Louis Debonnair, By Commodore Shemal Polycarp, a holy priest, instructed and Pope Eugenius II gave the body of St. Fernando, baptized them. Sebastian to Hilduin, Abbot of St. Chromatius, Governor of Rome, Denys, who brought it into France, and RSP, USP,MSc being informed of this, and that it was deposited at St. Medard’s at Tranquillinus, the father of Saints Soissons, on the 8th of December in aint Sebastian is undoubtedly one Marcus and Marcellianus had been 826. A basilica in memory of St. of the most illustrious martyrs cured of the gout by receiving baptism, Sebastian now stands by the Appian Shonoured and venerated by the desired to be instructed in the faith, Way of Rome. Catholic Church. He belongs to the being himself grievously affected with class of Military Martyrs of early the same distemper. Accordingly,hav- SHRINE IN KANDANA Christian Church and his intercession ing sent for Sebastian, he was cured by A Catholic shrine, the object of a pil- is sought by many Sri Lankans. After him, and baptized with his son grimage, is God’s work. Divine ways are the Saints Peter and Paul, St. Sebastian Tiburitius. St. Sebastian by healing the very different from human ways. To do is the third ‘Patron of Rome’. He is also Governor Chromatius of paralysis didst something great, God chooses generally the ‘Patron Saint of Soldiers’ as he turn his heart from his idols and went the weak and the ignorant of this world, entered the Roman Army in order to on to obtain freedom to the slaves of who are apparently unfit. His work defend the confessors and martyrs of Chromatius and the light of faith to all starts in small and insignificant way; his day and for his goodness and brav- his people. the start is full of tears and bitter strug- ery. Further, he is the ‘Patron Saint of God confirmed his words by miracle: gles. When it is on the verge of annihi- Athletes’ due to his physical endurance light shone around him while he spoke; lation He interferes and makes His and energetic ways of spreading and he cured the sick by his prayers; and in mighty arm manifest. And to the mar- defending the Faith. this divine strength he led multitudes to vel! St. Sebastian is the refuge of the faith. He saw his disciples die The beginning of the shrine at Catholics in times of sickness and pesti- before him, and one of them came back Kandana is somewhat obscure. The lences and is considered the saint unto from Heaven to tell him that his own story which had been handed down to whom God has granted power over all end was near. It was in a contest of fer- us by tradition reveals that there exist- diseases. Many countries stricken with vour and charity that St. Sebastian ed a small chapel with a thatched roof plagues and other diseases had been found the occasion of martyrdom. The around 1798 in a place called Uswatte. protected through the intercession of Prefect of Rome, after his conversion, And it is said an unknown person set it St. Sebastian. In the year 680, Rome was retired to his estates in Campania and on fire and destroyed the chapel and freed from a raging pestilence by his took a great number of his fellow-con- escaped. Thereafter, a permanent and patronage. Later, in 1575, Milan and in verts with him to this place of safety. substantial church had been construct- 1599, Lisbon as well as many other It was a contest of zeal, out of a ed. places have experienced the effects of mutual desire of martyrdom, between Some years later whilst discussions his intercession with God on their St. Sebastian and the priest Polycarp, were on regarding identifying a saint behalf in similar calamities. which of them should accompany this for dedication of the church, a business- St. Sebastian is popularly known as troop, to complete their instruction, and man from a distant place had brought a the ‘Most Sweet Flower of Narbonne’ which should remain in the city to statue of a saint for sale. As the vendor and as the ‘Glory of the City of encourage and assist the martyrs, was determined to fetch a good price for Milan’. He lived as a glorious scion of a which latter was the more dangerous the statue, he had delayed the auction to noble house and his exalted pattern province. St. Austin wished to see such the following day and had slept. of Christian virtues earned him many contests of charity amongst the minis- Surprisingly the businessman had laurels. His pure soul was pleasing to ters of the church. Pope Caius, who disappeared by the following morning kings whilst his intrepid valour pleased was appealed to, judged it most proper and only the statue had been there. The God Almighty. His power to grant that Sebastian should stay in Rome as a people of the area had moved this stat- favours and work miracles is a well defender of the church. ue of St. Sebastian to the newly con- known fact all over the world. The A DOUBLE MARTYRDOM structed church and dedicated the name of St. Sebastian is invoked in St. Sebastian ever zealous for the church to St. Sebastian. The miracu- almost every Catholic household with spreading of the faith didst boldly lous image now enshrined pious fervor and great confidence. preach Jesus Christ before the Emperor magnificently in the shrine is said to be tion. He has made elaborate arrange- ter able, without suspicion, to Diocletian. History reveals that when he the identical statue discovered in the FEAST AT KANDANA ments to conduct his maiden feast in a assist the confessors and martyrs in was finally discovered to be a devout manner narrated. In the liturgical calendar of the befitting manner following the rich tra- their sufferings, he went to Rome about Christian in 286, he was handed over to The church that stands today was Catholic Church, the feast of Saint ditions. He has focused the eight nove- the year 283 and entered the Army the Mauritanian archers at the constructed over a hundred years ago Sebastian is celebrated on nas preceding the feast to instill the under the Emperor Carinus. Emperor’s command. He was steadfast under the auspicies of Rev. Fr. Joachin January 20th and our thoughts are par- true values of sacraments amongst the Emperor Diocletian named him in the faith while the body being bound Albaarthu, a missionary from Goa. And ticularly drawn to the hallowed shrine thousands of devout Catholics who will Commander of the Praetorian Guard, to a tree and was pierced with a shower during that era the hamlets of Nagoda, dedicated to St. Sebastian in throng to the historical shrine. The unaware that he had become a of arrows and left to die. But God Ragama, Tudella, Kaleliya, Wawela, Kandana. The devotion of Catholics to Vespers on January 19th will be graced Christian. As an officer in the Roman raised him up again. Irene, the widow Weligampitiya, Midellavita, Batagama, this shrine, down the years has always by the Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. imperial he had secretly done many of St. Castulus, going to bury him, Dehiyagatha and Kanuwana too fell been so fervent, that for generations Dr. Oswald Gomis whilst the Festive acts of love and charity for his found him still alive, and took to her under the heroic missionaries who they have not failed to celebrate the High Mass on January 20th will be brethren in the Faith. His devotion to lodgings, where by care she nursed worked relentlessly for God and the sal- annual feast. This shrine through presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop duty,his courage and his efficiency Sebastian back to health, insisting he vation of souls. which many favours have been received of the Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius earned for him the praise and esteem of remain in hiding to seek safety else- The feast of St. Sebastian should over the years has become one of the Peiris. all including the Emperor himself. St. where. remind every Catholic that St. biggest attractions for the Catholics in SAINT’S EARLY LIFE Sebastian’s prudence merited him the St. Sebastian was very grateful but Sebastian teaches us that Jesus loves us Sri Lanka. St. Sebastian, a Roman was born at rank of Captain in the Roman said that he was not accustomed to hid- individually and as we are. Like St. The new Administrator of the Narbonne in Southern France but his Emperor’s Guard. His zeal and success ing, and on the occasion of a festive Sebastian, we, too, have a gift to give. Shrine, Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunatillake parents were from Milan in Italy and he in the service of the church brought banquet held in the palace he strode Our gift might be to do acts of love and has succeeded in introducing series of was brought up in that city.He was a him the name of Captain in the Army into face the man who had supposed charity for our brethren but the impor- meaningful programmes to uplift the fervent servant of Christ, and though of God. him long since dead. The incredulous tant thing is to give our gift totally,like spiritual needs of the pilgrims as well his natural inclinations gave him an THE MIRACLES Diocletian stood transfixed at the pre- St. Sebastian did to the greater glory of as parishioners to their admira- aversion to a military life, yet to be bet- He was well known for feeding the sumed sight of a dead man and was God. !

Professor A. D.V.De. S. Indraratna ... From page 6

Later, as a member of the Universities, such as the 1999, ‘Globalization’: Its Good and University of Colombo, in recog- Policy Consultative Committee of ic policies’ (Dr. Stanley, Kalpage, Council and Chairman of the Universities of Keio of Tokyo, of the Bad and the Role of the nition of his pioneering and sus- the Central Bank. Chairman, UGC in Felicitation Audit Committee of the Sierra Leone of West Africa and Public Sector’, 2001, ‘Human tained contribution to the intel- To conclude, Professor Volume) and ‘has had a seminal Sabaragamuwa University of Sri of Western Sydney, Australia. In Development in a Knowledge lectual life of Sri Lanka in gener- Indraratna’s attainments and influence on the evolution of Lanka, Professor Indraratna has Sierra Leone, in addition to his Based Society’: Sri Lankan al and to the study of and dis- contribution to higher education economic thinking in the rendered yeoman service to the University assignment, he also Scene, 2004, Public-Private Sector semination of Economics in par- and national development cannot country and its progress …’(H University, amidst which was his served as advisor to the Minister partnership in Economic ticular. In 2004, for his distin- be evaluated in a short citation B Dissanayaka, a past Governor predominant role in initiating of Planning and Development Development: A Case for Sri guished standing, Professor such of this kind. In a nutshell, of the Central Bank in reforms in the administration as there at the time (1979-1982). Lanka (2005), Global Free Trade Indraratna was conferred with he must be acclaimed as the pio- Felicitation Volume). Above all, well as action in Corporate Professor Indraratna has trav- versus Trade Agreements: Case an honourary appointment to the neer in the teaching of he is not only a great teacher, Planning. elled widely, visiting a large num- of Sri Lanka (2006), and in Research Board of Advisors of Economics in Sinhala at univer- but also a patriot of the highest Professor Indraratna has more ber of foreign institutions of December 2007 Inequity Poverty the American Biographical sity level, in that he not only integrity, and a humanitarian of than 40 years of teaching and higher learning in Asia, North and Development (Edited), and Institute. started teaching of Economics in utmost modesty and greatest sim- research experience at America, Australia and in the Mila Niyaya (Price Theory) New Professor Indraratna is the Sinhala when others were in plicity, and a role model for our University level in his areas of United Kingdom, at many of Edition. Writings and research current President of the Sri trepidation to do it, but also pub- academics and professionals. specialization, during which which he was also Guest of Professor Indraratna are so Lanka Economics Association, lished the first text book in Prof Indraratna will be long period he has taught more than Lecturer. massive and influential that, to comprising more than 500 Economic Theory in Sinhala; and remembered for the innovative 20,000 students, another unique He has published extensively, quote Rev. Maduluwawe Sobitha Economists/Social Scientists of also as the pioneer in the intro- and unique contribution he has achievement by any standard, more than 25 books or chapters Nayaka Thero (at his Sri Lanka, and has also been its duction of Commerce into made to the shaping of economic and turned out many postgradu- in books, more than 35 periodi- Felicitation), Professor President for the last five years, University curriculum in that he thinking of our country. For he ates and examined several cal/journal articles, 6 encyclope- Indraratna can be put in the cate- elected every year unanimously. instituted the first B. Com. always pronounced that the west- Master’s and Doctoral theses. To dia articles (including one in the gory of writers like Martin He has also been elected uncon- course at the University of ern models of development are of quote Mr. W.A Wijewardena, American Encyclopedia on Wickremasinghe. tested as the President of the Ceylon, Peradeniya, in 1960, and little relevance to the Sri Lankan Deputy Governor of the Central Higher Education) and more On account of his contribu- Organisation of Professional valuation studies and demo- economy, and advocated instead, Bank (at Professor Indraratna’s than 30 seminar and country tion towards advancement of Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka graphic studies, in the early 70s, that the development of the rural Felicitation) ‘Professor papers. His recent works include development through Economics for the year 2009/10. At present, at the University of Colombo. ‘He agrarian economy is vital and Indraratna can be considered a Fifty Years of Sri Lanka’s and Higher Education, he was he serves as a Member of the has served the university sys- prerequisite to the overall nation- legend of Economics teaching Independence’: A Socio awarded the Sarvodaya Trust National Economic Council tem with distinction, loyalty al development. Such paradigm and research in Sri Lanka’. Economic Review (edited) 1998, Fund National Award 1995, and chaired by His Excellency the and commitment,’ ‘his views is now evident in the develop- Professor Indraratna has held ‘Globalization and South Asia’: in 1996 he was conferred the President of Sri Lanka and is the have contributed to the fash- ment strategy of Mahinda Visiting Professorships at several Retrospect and Prospect’ (edited) Degree of Letters (D.Litt) by the Chairman of the Monetary ioning of Sri Lanka’s econom- Chintana. Concluded