Tallest Statue of Jesus in India to be
blessed in Sagar ( M.P.)
On 30th September
2013, George Cardinal Alencherry, Head of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church,
will bless India’s tallest statue of Jesus in Sagar (M.P.), in the presence of
over 20 bishops, and pilgrims coming from USA, Canada, France, Germany and
Italy and thousands of Indian Christians and non-Christians – all devotees of
Divine Mercy.
The 43 feet tall statue of
Divine Mercy of Jesus is a monument to proclaim that the Lord is ever merciful to
all those who seek him. Local people call Him “Dayasagar” (Ocean of Mercy).
Devotion to Divine Mercy was made popular through St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.
The statue stands along the North – South Corridor, NH 26, 15 Km west of Sagar
city in the village called Khajuria Guru. The statue which weighs 1.5 ton is
placed at the height of 45 feet on a 100 feet concrete structure to protect it
from violent storms and earthquakes. It is made in thermoset and is 16 feet wide, 3 feet depth, 3 inches
thick. The rays from the heart of Jesus representing are 21 feet long.
The idea of the monumental
statue first came to the mind of Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar, who on 5
October 2007, while on a visit to San Francisco (USA), saw in a vision a shrine of Divine Mercy.
He heard an interior message ordering him to build a shrine in Sagar dedicated
to Divine Mercy. In his vision he saw thousands of people of all faiths
flocking to the feet of Jesus and getting manifold blessings. Though he did not
take this message seriously at first, on the following days he came to know
that two other persons had exactly similar visions on 5 October. These
two persons were strangers to Bishop and they lived in continents apart.
The Rector of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge (USA)
hearing the intention of the Bishop gifted him a sacred image of Divine Mercy on
canvass which he enshrined in the chapel of the Renewal Centre at Khajuria Guru.
On 9 November 2007 in
the presence of all the priests of the diocese, 40 sisters and 20 lay persons
the Bishop blessed the Divine Mercy picture, consecrated his diocese to Divine
Mercy and declared it an diocesan Shrine. He told the congregation that
henceforth it will be called Dayasagar (Ocean
of Mercy).
On 30 March 2008 the Feast of Divine Mercy was
celebrated at Dayasagar for the first time. Outdoor arrangements were made to
accommodate about a thousand pilgrims. There were spiritual conferences,
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, healing service and solemn Mass. At least
eight pilgrims testified that they had received physical healing during the
healing service. That day Bishop Chirayath himself was healed miraculously from
an incurable disease. There were also several non-Christians among the
participants.
On 31 October 2008 the Bishop installed
solemnly in the chapel of Divine Mercy the holy relic of St. Maria Faustina,
which was donated to the shrine by the Superior General of the Congregation of
Sisters of Merciful Jesus in Poland. On 1 May 2011 Bishop Chirayath laid the foundation
stone for the new monumental shrine. The original idea was to install an eight
feet statue, but the artist whom the work was entrusted proposed a statue of 40
feet which was later modified into 43 feet.
Attached to the shrine, there is a Renewal Centre
which can comfortably accommodate 50 people for prayer and meditation. A
community of Adoration Sisters spends their time in Adoration. People come here
for spiritual nourishment. Spiritual Retreats are organized here. Monthly
healing services are held. Those who
wish to participate may contact the Rector.
For further information please contact: Rector,
Dayasagar, Khajuria Guru, Sagar District, M. P.
Postal address: PB No. 31, Sagar Cantt:, M.P.,
India 470001
Email address: dayasagarkhajuriaguru@gmail.com
, Mobile Nos. +917697543243; +918223882211
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