Buddhist devotee embraces Catholicism after healing 'miracle'

As dawn breaks, 46-year-old R. Mudiyanselage Ramyalatha begins her day with Marian devotion by lighting an oil lamp, marking the start of her sacrificial ritual.

- R. MUDIYANSELAGE RAMYALATHA By QUINTUS COLOMBO (UCAN)

She says the flickering flame symbolizes more than just light; it represents hope, peace, and her deep connection to the divine.

The cherished practice has grown even more meaningful to her after her miraculous recovery from a possibly fatal kidney disease.

Ramyalatha places fresh flowers in front of the statue of Mother Mary, nestled in a small grotto just outside her home.

She had been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a rare genetic disease, in November 2022. Her recovery from, she believes, is nothing short of divine intervention.

Several of Ramyalatha’s relatives also suffer from the same genetic disease, which often leads to kidney failure.

The doctors recommended surgery to remove her failing left kidney, a daunting prospect. Her faith, initially rooted in Buddhism, shifted unexpectedly during this critical time.

Some friends and a Catholic nun also urged her to pray to Mother Mary and Jesus, hoping for a miracle.