Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith invites children not to estimate the noble life gifted from God with Social standards

The 75th Children’s Day of the Colombo Archdiocese was held at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta last Saturday 10th under the patronage of the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

This year’s Children’s Day was organized under the theme “Children, You are a gift from the Lord” and as well as the Mass was held to bless the children and the opportunities given to showcase the children’s abilities and talents also consisted of Sinhala, Tamil and English languages.

Thousands of children and teachers from all the Sunday schools in the Colombo Archdiocese attended this “75th Anniversary of the Children’s Day” in the world-famous Tewatta Basilica.

Ararchbishop Malcolm Ranjith delivering the sermon at the Children’s Day celebration Mass said that God loves small children very much and every child has a unique plan in Him.

“Therefore don’t evaluate the noble life that God has gifted to you with standards that exist at the social level.” he requested the children.

“God creates every child with a special purpose and a goal. It is recorded in the Holy Bible and the entire church doctrine that God prepares everyone living in the world from childhood with His purpose.”

“We are all the same in God’s love. But we are all called not to the same calling, not to go on the same journey. We walk on different paths with different callings. Therefore, look at the unique life you have received in the love of God.  Don’t limit your precious lives to the standards of society.” Cardinal Ranjith emphasized to the children.

“The more we are open to this particular journey, the more we allow God to make His dream come true in our lives. So you should never look at your friend and underestimate yourself because you can’t do anything. That your life does not matter.”

Cardinal Ranjith also explained the life stories of St. Tharsisius, who thought that fulfilling God’s will was more important than anything else and sacrificed his life for the love he had for God at an early age, St. Dominic Savio, who lived a life built around the Holy Eucharist, and declared that death is better than doing sin, St.  Theresa of Lisieux the little flower of Jesus whose entire family was canonized and the very young St. Carlo Akoutis the recent past canonized who was born in London on May 3, 1991, who showed infinite love and respect to the Blessed Sacrament from his childhood and said children that it is not necessary for everyone to be ordained as a priest or a nun and that there is the blessing or the call of making saints through lay life.

At the invitation of the Archbishop, a Priest, and a Nun spoke in front of the children about how they received God’s call to their religious lives and how they accepted it and served until now.

After blessing the children with the statue of Our Lady of Lanka, had a cultural show which included the talents of the students.

END.