A Contract for a Miracle!

THE Kreupasanam Marian Shrine was teeming with devotees, a sea of faces marked by grief, desperation and faith. In the crowded hall, a line of people eagerly awaited their turn to give their testimonials, sharing stories of 'miracles' that had changed their lives. Their voices, sometimes cracking with emotion, filled the air with tales of miraculous healings, unexpected financial blessings and deliverance from addiction. As they spoke, the crowd listened intently, tears streaming down many faces, moved by the power of the 'divine interventions'. On the other side, a solemn procession formed a queue before a priest, who was carrying a vessel of holy water. One by one, he blessed each devotee, pouring the 'sacred water' on to their heads, murmuring prayers for healing and relief. The mood was hysteric and the atmosphere was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of sobs, as people brought their problems-grief, diseases, debt, and addictions-before the altar, seeking solace and redemption.
Forty-six-year-old Ramya Mohan, while standing on the dais in the shrine, weeps as she testifies about the miracles the Kreupasanam Marian Shrine has bestowed in her life. A few years ago, she lost her three-year-old son in an accident and she too was severely injured. Being a devotee of Kreupasanam Shrine, she often asked Mother Mary why she had been given such a curse in her life. She was told that her child was sent to a better place where he is more secure and safe. Later, her health gradually improved. She received the answer from the 'divine force' that every bad thing in life is a test by the Almighty. Ramya said she was a Hindu by birth and finds peace of mind every time she comes to the church for serving the 'covenant prayer'.
Esta historia es de la edición August 01, 2024 de Outlook.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 01, 2024 de Outlook.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Art of Leaving
Saying goodbye to the public arena is no easy call to make

Mortar Memory
Along the quiet stretches near the border and the Line of Control in Jammu, a fragile calm once held sway, until the sudden thunder of heavy mortar shells since May 7 shattered it

Borders on the Boil
Whether it is Pakistan, China, Bangladesh or Myanmar, the unfinished business of history haunts the region every day

Neighbourhood 'Frisk' Policy
India needs to relook at Bangladesh as it partners with China to rebuild World War II air bases

Fields of Nowhere
MYAJLAR is one of the last towns on the Jaisalmer border, which, at 464 km, is one of the longest that India shares with Pakistan.

Brittle, Bitter Borders
In the marshlands of the Rann of Kutch, where the border is invisible yet hotly contested, belongingness becomes tentative

Red Fade
Since the regime change, something has been changing in Chhattisgarh. With top Maoist leaders killed, the remaining are insisting on a ceasefire or peace talks. The state must make the most of the situation

Sir Creek and Adam's Bridge
With the recent military standoff between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people, the Indo-Pak border region with its long history of tensions is once again in the limelight.

Lines Drawn in Blood
In villages caught between two nations, memory and fear shape everyday life. The land is under floodlights, children are sent away in silence, and home is a place one must keep returning to

Maps and Minds
Maps have divided transnational ethnic groups Nagas, Zos, Bhutias, Bengalis and Nepalis, among others, but the Naga or the Zo mind does not accept the boundaries on government maps