18th January 1998

The steadfast faith of a healing saint

By Commander Shemal Fernando, SLN

Saint Sebastian - the faithful follower of Jesus Christ, is one of those popular saints whose intercession is sought by many. There is hardly a Catholic church without his image and a Catholic home without even a picture of him. The name of St. Sebastian is invoked in almost every Catholic household with pious fervor and great confidence. His power to grant favours and work miracles is a well known fact in every part of the world. In Sri Lanka, several churches and chapels have been erected in his honour.

In the liturgical calendar of the church, the feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated on January 20th and our thoughts are particularly drawn to a hallowed shrine that nestles just a kilometer away from the hustle and bustle of Kandana town. And this church which daily attracts people of every caste, colour and creed may be perhaps the most popular church dedicated to St. Sebastian in Sri Lanka.

The devotion of Catholics to this shrine of St. Sebastian, down the years has always been so fervent, that for generations they have not failed to celebrate the annual feast. And once more Kandana - a Catholic stronghold will go gay on 20th January when Catholics from all parts of the island flock in their thousands in the precincts of the church to celebrate the 125/130 Jubilee of the church.

The saint

St. Sebastian, a Roman martyr was born at Narbonne. He had come to Rome about the year 284 and entered the lists against the powers of evil. He is popularly known as the "Most sweet flower of Narbonne" and as the "Glory of the city of Milan". He lived as a glorious scion of a noble house and his exalted pattern of Christian virtues earned him many laurels. His pure soul was pleasing to kings whilst his intrepid valour pleased the God Almighty. St. Sebastian was an officer in the Roman imperial army and had secretly done many acts of love and charity for his brethren in the Faith.

A double martyrdom !

St. Sebastian ever zealous for the spreading of the faith boldly preached of Jesus Christ before the Emperor Diocletian. History reveals that when he was finally discovered to be a Christian, in 286, he was handed over to the Mauretanian archers at the Emperor's command. He was steadfast in the faith while his body was bound to a tree and was pierced with a shower of arrows.

But God raised him up again, and of his own accord he went before the Emperor and conjured him to stay the persecution of the church after his quick recovery. Again sentenced, he was at last beaten to death by clubs, and crowned his labour by the merit of a double martyrdom. His martyred body was rescued from a noisome place and from the vengeance of the tyrant and received a glorious burial. In the "Depositio martyrdom" of the chronologer of 354 it is mentioned that St. Sebastian was buried on the Via Appia.

Protector from diseases

St. Sebastian is the refuge of Catholics in times of sickness and pestilence and is considered the Saint unto whom God has granted power over all diseases. Many countries stricken with plagues and other diseases had been protected through the intercession of St. Sebastian. Celebrated answers to prayer for his protection against the plague are related of Rome in 680, Milan in 1575, Lisbon in 1599. The beginning of the church at Kandana is somewhat obscure. The story which had been handed down to us by tradition reveals that there existed a small chapel with a thatched roof around 1798 in a place called Uswatte. And it is said an unknown person set it on fire and destroyed the chapel and escaped.

Miraculous statue

Thereafter, a permanent and substantial church had been constructed. Some years later whilst discussions were on regarding identifying a saint for dedication of the church, a vendor from a distant place had brought a statue of a saint about 18 inches in height for sale. As the vendor was determined to fetch a good price for the statue, he had delayed the auction to the following day and had slept. Surprisingly the businessman had disappeared by the following morning and only the statue had been there. The people of the area had moved this statue of St. Sebastian to the newly constructed church and dedicated the church to St. Sebastian. The small image now enshrined in the church is said to be the identical statue discovered in the manner narrated above.

The church that stands today was constructed under the auspices of Rev. Fr. Joachim Albaarthu, a missionarian from Goa. And during that era the hamlets of Nagoda, Ragama, Tudella, Kaleliya, Wawela, Weligampitiya, Midellavita, Batagama, Dehiyagatha and Kanuwana too fell under the heroic missionaries who worked relentlessly for God and the salvation of souls, although it often ended in the ruin of their health.

As years roll by, it is envisaged that this shrine through which many favours have been received will be one of the biggest attractions for the Catholic population of Sri Lanka.

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