BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS
THE OLDEST SHRINE WE HAVE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE IS OUR LADY OF SORROWS AT JAHANUMA HYDERABAD. THE HISTORY OF THE SHRINE GOES BACK TO 16th, 17th CENTURY WHEN NIZAM HAD HIS PALACE IN THE G- OLD CITY THE CATHOLIC OFFICERS WERE PORTUGUESE AND FRENCH. THEY ALL HELPED HIM IN DIFFERENT FIELDS OF THE GOVERN OF THE KINGDOM. SOME OF THE FOREIGN OFFICIALS WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS AND AGRICULTURE. NO WONDER GOVERNING CLASS HAD A GREAT REGARD AND RESPECT TO THE CHRISTIANS AND DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS FOR MORE THAN 400 YEARS. THERE IS ALSO A MIRACLOUS STORY HOW THIS SHRINE CAME INTO EXISTENCE. THE INHABITANTS OF THIS AREA AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT SEEMS THERE WAS A FRENCH MISSIONARY PRIEST WHO LIVED IN A CAVE ON THE TOP OF ONE OF THE HILLS OF JAHANUMA. HE WAS A VERY DEVOTED PRIEST WHO SPENT HIS TIME IN PRAYER, PENANCE AND FASTING. ALL THE PEOPLE CAME TO KNOW ABOUT HIS WONDERFUL LIFE. THERE WAS A DROUGHT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM OF NIZAM, WHO BECAME HELPLESS IN THAT WORST SITUATION. HE CAME TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY PRIEST'S LIFE PERFORMING THE MIRACLES. HE FOR HIM AND ASKED HIM TO PRAY FOR RAIN. THE PRIEST ACCEPTED TO PRAY FOR RAIN ON THE CONDITION THAT SOME PLACES SHOULD BEGIVEN TO HIM TO BUILD THE CHURCH IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. NIZAM AGREED TO HIS CONDITION. THE PRIEST FASTED AND PRAYED WHOLE DAY AND NIGHT AND THERE WAS A HEAVY RAIN THAT SURPRISED EVERYBODY, THE NIZAM KEPT UP HIS WORD AND GAVE THE PRIEST THIS PIECE OF LAND TO BUILD THE SHRINE. THIS WAS THE FIRST IN THIS CHURCH PART OF INDIA. A MONUMENT IS ERECTED NEAR THE SHRINE IN MEMORY OF MR. JOANES JOSEPHUS IN THE 18th CENTURY.
