St. Lawrence Shrine – A silver line of hope and courage

Attur/Karkal, 30 Jan 2013: St. Lawrence Shrine or Attur Church is in existence since 1759, is said to have a history of miracles. Its yearly feast held in the last week of January is called as Attur Jatre / Attur Fest or Attur santmari. It known as the beacon of miracles, which have been produced over the years. St.Lawrence is known as the miracle worker among His devotees worldwide.

 

The western ghats on the East side, the blue and purple sky above dotted with small jungles, Karkala got its name from "Kari kal’ meaning black granite, which you can find all over. Abundant in the heritage past occupants of this little town has left behind; to the discerning eye, Karkala reflects its rich history. Karkala is situated about 38kms from Udupi, the district headquarters of Karkala Taluk and about 54kms from northeast of Mangalore.

 

St.Lawrence shrine is situated at the foothill of ’Parpale Hill’, in a little village called Attur, which is about 5kms west of Karkala bus stand. Karkala is full of black granite stones spread throughout the place. These granite stones are called ’Karikallu’ in the local language.

 

It is said that the name of Karkala is a derivation from this name ’Karikallu’.

 

LIFE HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE:

It is believed that St. Lawrence was a native of Spain, born and lived in 3rd century. The fame of the great virtues he possessed reached St.Xystus, the then Arch-Deacon of Rome.

 

He took Saint Lawrence under his care and gave him the knowledge of the sacred scripture and Christian perfection. In the year 257 A.D, when St.Xystus was elected Pope, he ordained Lawrence as Deacon. Though young in age, he was appointed the chief among the seven Deacons working in the Church of Rome. He was the Arch-Deacon of the Pope; a post given to the one fully relied on. The treasures and the riches of the church were under his care.

 

He had the duty to distribute to the needy and the poor the income of the church. In the year 257 A.D, under the instigation of one Marcian, Emperor Valerian promulgated an order against the church. He boasted that he would destroy the church. According to his order all the bishops, priests and deacons were to be killed. The year Pope Xystus was arrested. In the meantime, the Pope told Lawrence to distribute immediately all the riches of the church to the poor. The Government Prefect in Rome heard about the distribution of the church money and thought that the church was in possession of great riches. He wanted to grab them and so ordered Lawrence to show him all the hidden riches. Lawrence asked for a few days time to gather together all the riches.

 

Lawrence went about the streets and lanes of the city in search of the poor and the destitute, looked after by the church. On the third day, he lined up in front of the church all these people. Lawrence then told the City Prefect that that those people were the real riches of the church.

 

On hearing this, the Prefect felt insulted and ordered that Lawrence be tortured and killed by frying him on a frying pan made of iron bars, with fire burning underneath. As Lawrence was thus tortured, his face was emitting an extraordinary light and it was full of peace. Having offered himself as a sacrifice to God, with his sight turned towards heaven, he breathed his last.

-The Hindu