Notre-Dame de Vailankanni
L'immense sanctuaire de Vailankanni
(1580)
Notre Dame de la Bonne Santé
Notre Dame de Velankanni
Comme il est de coutume depuis quelques années désormais à Notre Dame de France et ce à chaque rentrée, le dimanche 17 septembre dernier s’est tenue la traditionnelle célébration liturgique faisant hommage à Notre Dame de Velankanni.
Cette Vierge connue également sous le nom de Notre
Dame de la Bonne Santé et qui est célébrée le 7 septembre, est un titre
catholique célébré de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie qui serait apparu dans le
village de Velankanni (Inde) vers 1580.
A Notre Dame de France, cette fête a été introduite il
y a 3 ans à peine sur proposition de la communauté tamoule présente sur la
paroisse. Et le don par un couple de fidèles d’une statue de Notre Dame de
Velankanni à Notre Dame de France a marqué le début de ces solennités sur la
paroisse. Aussi à l’occasion de cette messe l’église est particulièrement ornée
de fleurs comme il est de tradition en Inde. De plus une commémoration est
faite à l’occasion, de tous les bienfaits obtenus par le biais de Notre Dame de
la Santé et une procession mariale conclut la célébration. A la fin de la
procession, une distribution de fleurs est faite à l’ensemble de la communauté.
Un peu d’histoire: Le berger endormi
C’est vers 15801 que la Vierge apparaît pour la
première fois à un berger assoupi sur les bords d’un étang et au pied d’un
bananier.
Cet enfant, qui devait se rendre à Nagapattinam pour
apporter du lait à son maître, est réveillé par la luminosité éclairant une
belle dame tenant un enfant dans ses bras. Cette femme demande s’il peut lui
donner le lait qu’il transportait pour nourrir son enfant, le berger ne pouvant
refuser tend le pot à la dame et repart avec ce qu’il lui reste.
Arrivé à la demeure de son maître, l’enfant s’excuse
du peu de lait amené et raconte sa mésaventure. Le maître sceptique, se laisse
cependant convaincre, ouvre le pot et constate que le récipient est plein à ras
bord. S’écriant au miracle, le berger et le maître partent pour l’étang et se
prosternent au sol pour vénérer la Vierge.
C’est ainsi que d’après la tradition, le pèlerinage
commença et que l’histoire du miracle se répandit dans toute la région.
L’enfant boiteux
Quelques années plus tard, vivait à Velankanni une
pauvre veuve et son fils boiteux. La mère envoyait tous les jours son fils sur un
monticule situé près d’une route et d’un bananier, afin de vendre le babeurre
qu’elle produisait.
Un jour, l’enfant était là comme d’habitude. Mais les
clients étaient rares et la journée était particulièrement chaude, le boiteux
inquiété par le peu de vente réalisé, vit apparaître une dame et un nourrisson
entourée d’une lumière éclatante. La belle femme demanda au pauvre garçon s’il
pouvait bien lui donner une tasse. Le boiteux content de servir une cliente si
ravissante, lui offrit une grande tasse à boire.
La Vierge prise de pitié et de tristesse face à la
souffrance de cet enfant, eut un tendre regard maternel qui le guérit.
L’infirme ne se rendit pas compte du miracle, jusqu’au moment où la dame lui
demande d’aller à Nagapattinam pour demander à un catholique fortuné de bâtir
une chapelle en son nom. L’enfant répondit que son handicap ne lui permet pas
de se déplacer aisément, Marie lui demanda de se lever et l’infirme se mit à
marcher sans problème.
Il se mit à courir jusqu’à la ville, où il rencontra
un bienfaiteur qui n’eut pas de difficulté à croire l’enfant, car le riche
homme lui-même ayant eu une vision de la Vierge la nuit dernière. Ils partirent
tous les deux à Velankanni, et y bâtirent avec l’aide de la population une
première petite chapelle.
Rapidement, le lieu devient un sanctuaire visité par
de nombreux pèlerins de toutes croyances confondues. C’est à partir de cette
période du XVIe siècle que la Vierge Marie prit le nom de Notre-Dame de la
Bonne Santé (தூய ஆரோக்கிய அன்னை en
tamoul).
Les marins portugais
Au XVIIe siècle, un navire marchand portugais
partit de Macao pour Colombo fut pris dans une violente tempête au large de la
côte orientale de l’Inde. Les marins qui s’y trouvaient à bord prièrent la
Vierge Marie pour les sauver de l’inévitable perte. Ils parvinrent à Velankanni
en toute sécurité et bâtirent une église en bord de mer. Au fil du temps la
ville devient un lieu de passage important pour de nombreuses flottes et le
sanctuaire construit par les miraculés est à mainte reprise agrandie par les
portugais.
Prière à Notre Dame de Velankanni
Vierge Marie, Notre-Dame de Vailankanni, c’est avec
confiance que je tourne vers Vous mon regard.
Je sais et je crois que Vous m’accompagnez dans ma
maladie et dans mes épreuves, comme Vous l’avez fait pour Jésus, Votre Fils,
sur le chemin du Calvaire.
Quand ma croix sera trop lourde, aidez-moi à la porter
et à ne pas perdre courage.
Vierge Marie, Notre Mère, priez pour moi ainsi que
pour tous ceux qui me manifestent leur affection.
Que par Votre intercession, Jésus Votre Fils, nous
comble tous de Sa Paix et nous garde dans l’Espérance !
Serge.
SOURCE : http://paroisse-juvisy.catholique.fr/newsite/2017/09/17/notre-dame-de-velankanni/#comment-4
Velankanni, le Lourdes de l’Orient
Thérèse
Puppinck - Publié le 14/05/21
Quelque 20 millions de pèlerins se rendent chaque
année au sanctuaire de Velankanni, au sud-est de l’Inde. Ce lieu d’apparition
mariale est ainsi l’un des plus fréquentés au monde. La Vierge de Velankanni
porte le nom de Arockya Mâtâ, qui signifie Mère de la Santé. Elle est tout
spécialement priée pour obtenir des guérisons physiques, psychologiques et
spirituelles. Retour sur l’histoire d’un sanctuaire méconnu en France.
Nous sommes à la fin du XVIe siècle. Un jeune
garçon se rend à pied du village de Velankanni à Nâgappattinam, distant de dix
kilomètres, apporter à son maître un pot de lait. Le soleil est torride,
l’enfant marche pieds nus, il est très fatigué. Il s’arrête près d’un lac pour
se désaltérer et se reposer un peu. Lui apparaît alors une très belle dame,
auréolée d’un halo lumineux, qui le regarde avec bonté et lui demande un peu de
lait pour l’enfant qu’elle porte dans ses bras.
Le petit berger hésite à donner du lait qui ne lui
appartient pas, mais, incapable de refuser à cette dame si gracieuse et si
aimable, il offre volontiers ce qu’on lui demande. Le sourire reconnaissant de
l’enfant l’émeut profondément. Le jeune garçon repart. Craignant de se faire
gronder, car il ne lui reste pas beaucoup de lait, il raconte toute l’histoire
à son maître. Qu’elle n’est pas sa surprise, en ouvrant le pot de lait, de
découvrir qu’il est plein à ras bord.
Une intercession constante
Quelques années plus tard, toujours à Velankanni, la
Vierge et l’Enfant Jésus apparaissent cette fois-ci à un jeune paralytique qui
vend du babeurre sur le bord du chemin pour désaltérer les passants.
S’approchant du jeune Indien, La Vierge Marie, avec une infinie douceur, lui
demande encore une fois un peu de boisson pour désaltérer son petit. Il lui
donne volontiers une grande coupe, que l’enfant boit.
Lire aussi :« Marathon de prière » : depuis Velankanni, à
l’intention des scientifiques et des chercheurs
Puis Marie lui enjoint de se rendre à Nâgappattinam et
d’informer les catholiques du village qu’elle souhaite la construction d’une
église. L’infirme va lui répondre qu’il ne peut se déplacer, mais une force le
pousse à se lever, et il constate avec stupéfaction sa guérison complète. On
édifie alors une chapelle dans laquelle est installée une statue en bois de la
Vierge à l’Enfant.
Rapidement, les pèlerins affluent, chrétiens ou non, et obtiennent de très nombreuses guérisons. Un siècle plus tard, la Vierge de Velankanni sauve de la tempête un navire portugais qui se rendait au Sri Lanka. En remerciement, les marins construisent une église plus grande en matériau plus durable.
Tourné vers la mer, le sanctuaire est aujourd’hui un
vaste ensemble de bâtiments. Une magnifique église de style gothique, à la
blancheur éclatante, a été élevée au rang de basilique mineure par saint Jean
XXIII. En bois polychrome, la statue de la Vierge est vêtue d’un sari aux
couleurs chatoyantes qui est régulièrement changé. Elle porte l’Enfant Jésus
sur son bras gauche et tient un sceptre dans sa main droite.
Une neuvaine en tamoul traduite en français
Les catholiques indiens ont une grande dévotion à
Notre-Dame de la Santé, notamment par l’intermédiaire d’une très belle
neuvaine. Jusqu’alors inconnue en Occident, car rédigée en tamoul, cette
neuvaine vient d’être traduite en français par un Père des Missions Étrangères
de Paris. Pour la première fois, on peut découvrir ces textes d’une profonde
spiritualité et qui représente un magnifique condensé de mariologie. Ô
Notre-Dame de la Santé ! Vous dont l’intercession céleste rétablie la
quiétude dans nos cœurs tourmentés par les difficultés, priez pour nous.
Adoration center at Veilankanni
Vailankanni : La Mère de la santé
Vailankanni se situe près de Nagapattinam dans l’état
de Tamil Nadu, au Sud de l'Inde. Le sanctuaire est connu sous le nom de
« Mère de la santé ».
Les origines
Plusieurs faits sont rapportés par la tradition.
Le premier événement est l’apparition à
des marins portugais menacés de naufrage, ils invoquèrent Marie et furent tous
sains et saufs.
Voici d'autres événements, vers 1580.
Un jeune Indien portait du lait à la maison de son
maître, dans la ville voisine de Nagapattinam. Il était fatigué et assoiffé. Il
étanche donc sa soif à un bassin proche de l'étang, se couche à l'ombre d'un
bananier pour réparer ses forces et tombe vite dans un profond sommeil. Soudain
il est saisi par la lumineuse vision d'une belle dame.
Elle est là, devant lui, tenant un enfant dans ses
bras. Il est fasciné par sa beauté. Jamais il n'a rien vu de tel. C'est une
beauté du ciel.
La figure de l'enfant est lumineuse comme le soleil couchant. La tête de la
femme et celle de l'enfant sont entourées d'un halo lumineux.
Le jeune berger, profondément ému, est saisi
d'une crainte révérencielle.
En toute innocence,
il bat des mains en inclinant la tête avec respect. La dame lui adresse un
sourire maternel et lui demande:
- Donne-moi du lait pour mon enfant.
Comment sait-elle que je transporte du lait, se
demande-t-il, et comment puis-je disposer de ce lait qui appartient à mon
maître ? Il ne trouve point de réponse à ces questions mais son bon coeur
est le plus fort: il ne peut refuser. Il donne, du lait à cette femme et se
dit: - Je trouverai bien une
excuse auprès de mon maître.
Et c'est joyeusement qu'il tend son récipient. Il
reprend sa route vers Nagapattinam avec ce qui lui reste (lui semble-t-il) de
son pot de lait.
Il rapporte l'étrange aventure à son maître, avec les
raisons de son retard, et l'implore:
- Excusez-moi pour le lait manquant.
Là-dessus, ils ouvrent le pot de lait: celui-ci est
rempli jusqu'au bord.
- Mon maître ne va pas me croire, se dit le jeune
berger, et il réitère avec véhémence son récit pour le convaincre. Oui, il
a bien vu
cette dame avec son enfant et il lui a donné du lait.
Le maître, perplexe, se laisse convaincre. Bien plus,
il se rend avec le jeune serviteur à Velankanni, près de l'étang. Et tous deux
se prosternent sur le sol avec respect, au lieu indiqué par l'enfant. Ce fut le
tout premier pèlerinage.(1)
Le développement du pèlerinage
L'événement se répandit à la "vitesse du
feu", selon la tradition de Nagapattinam et des environs. - C'est la Vierge avec
l'Enfant Jésus affirma-t-on très vite, avec joie et
révérence. Notre Mère a daigné nous visiter ! Depuis lors, ce lieu est
connu sous le nom de Matha Kulam : l'étang de Notre Dame.
Quelques années après, mais encore à la fin du XVIe
siècle, vivait, dans le même village de Vailankanni, une pauvre veuve. Son fils
était boiteux. Elle l'envoyait sur un monticule, près de la route, à l'ombre du
bananier géant dont les branches se déployaient au lieu-dit Nadu Thittu. Les
voyageurs fatigués qui passaient achetaient du babeurre (butter milk) au jeune
boiteux. Un jour il est là, comme d'habitude, mais les clients se font rares.
Il fait trop chaud et il n'y a personne sur
la route.
Comme il s'en inquiétait, voici que se présente devant
lui une dame d'une incomparable beauté. Elle porte un merveilleux enfant. Elle
approche en souriant et demande au jeune boiteux une tasse pleine de babeurre.
Il est tout heureux de servir une si merveilleuse cliente et lui donne une
grande tasse à boire.
Et voici qu'elle le regarde avec pitié, d'un tendre
regard maternel qui le guérit. Il est tellement heureux de la voir qu'il ne se
rend même pas compte du changement - Va donc à Nagapattinam lui dit-elle. Il y
a là un catholique fortuné.
Demande-lui de bâtir ici une chapelle en mon nom, à Vailankanni. Tout confus,
le garçon réplique: -Mais aller à la ville c'est impossible, je suis trop
infirme si l'on ne m'aide pas pour marcher. Elle l'invite à se lever, et c'est
alors qu'il constate sa guérison. Il se met à courir à toutes jambes vers
Nagapattinam.
Il rencontre le bienfaiteur catholique et
lui révèle le message de Notre Dame. Ce dernier ne fait aucune difficulté pour
le croire, car il eu de son côté une vision analogue de Notre Dame, la nuit
précédente, durant son sommeil. Il avait déjà l'idée de bâtir une petite
chapelle à Vailankanni en son honneur. Il accompagne le jeune garçon au lieu de
l'apparition et,
avec une large coopération populaire, une première petite chapelle est édifiée.
On y amène une belle statue de la Vierge à
l'Enfant et on la place sur l'autel.
Très vite, chrétiens et non-chrétiens affluent. Il se
produit d'autres guérisons si bien qu'elle
est invoquée jusqu'à ce jour sous le nom de Notre Dame de la Bonne Santé.
Beaucoup guérissent. (1)
Fête
Fête patronale : 8 septembre, précédé par une
neuvaine.
On y vient de Tamil Nadu et plus de deux millions de
personnes participent à la fête.
Cf. René Laurentin - C hrétiens Magazine n°145
décembre 2001.
Savez-vous comment la Vierge Marie prend soin de vous
au quotidien ?
Edifa - Publié le 13/05/20
Modèle pour toutes et tous, la Vierge Marie est notre
mère. Elle nous éduque et nous guide tout au long de notre vie. Voici comment
elle agit dans notre quotidien pour ouvrir notre âme à l’action de l’Esprit
Saint et nous conduire sur les chemins de la prière.
La Mère de Dieu a toujours vécu dans l’intimité du
Seigneur. Dès le premier instant de son existence, il y eut en elle un
mouvement éperdu et plein, sans cesse croissant, qui l’emporta dans le cœur de
Dieu, qui la tint liée, plongée en Lui, dans toutes ses vues et ses vouloirs,
dans toutes ses pensées et ses sentiments. Elle est constamment en présence de
Dieu parce qu’elle est entièrement livrée à lui, sans aucun retour sur
elle-même.
Or, ce mouvement d’amour qui fut le sien, elle veut,
de toute la puissance de son être, qu’il devienne le nôtre. Car elle est mère,
la mère de la vie, et la vie, c’est son fils. Ne lui refusons pas la joie de
faire passer en nous cette Vie, en plein et en tout, en tout ce que nous sommes
et faisons, sans arrêt, sans retard.
La Vierge Marie nous apprend le silence
La Mère de Dieu nous enseigne le silence, mais pas
n’importe lequel. Il s’agit du silence intérieur sans lequel il n’y a pas de
prière possible. Ce silence qui nous est si difficile parce que nous sommes
bavards, dispersés, distraits par mille soucis sans importance. La Mère de
Dieu, elle, est profondément silencieuse, parce qu’elle est simple. Elle est
attachée à Dieu seul et ne cherche que sa volonté. Elle nous dévoile le secret
du silence. Il n’est pas au terme d’une lutte et d’une violence : nous avons
assez expérimenté que nos efforts, trop souvent, créaient une tension,
elle-même destructrice du silence. En face du mystère de Marie, nous comprenons
que le silence est plutôt le fruit d’un consentement, d’une dépossession, qui
établit l’âme dans la paix. Il suffit de se livrer, avec toute la confiance
d’un enfant.
La Vierge Marie intercède pour nous
Dans le chapelet, nous répétons sans cesse :
« Priez pour nous, pauvres pécheurs ». Cette prière humblement ressassée,
qui jaillit du fond de notre pauvreté, creuse en nous la soif du salut. Si nous
supplions vraiment – pas de manière formaliste ou, pire, pour en tirer gloire
(du genre : moi, je récite le rosaire tous les jours) –, ce cri va peu à peu
nous briser le cœur et l’ouvrir à la lumière de l’Esprit saint. La Vierge
Marie nous apprend aussi à nous abandonner à la miséricorde. Elle est la
première des créatures à avoir le cœur brisé, sans avoir péché, pour la raison
très simple qu’elle sait ce qu’est le péché, pour avoir vu son Fils mourir en
croix à cause du péché. Elle est la première créature pardonnée puisqu’elle a
été préservée, ce qui est le comble du pardon.
La Vierge Marie est un « pare-feu »
Dieu est tout proche de nous, mais il est aussi le
tout-autre et son amour est un feu dévorant. Plus nous désirons cet amour, et
plus nous avons besoin de l’humilité de Marie pour y entrer. L’amour de Dieu
est trop grand pour nous, il a quelque chose d’insoutenable – sauf si nous
consentons à être tout petits, comme Marie et avec elle. Où l’amour de Dieu se
manifeste-t-il avec le plus de force ? À la croix. Et c’est justement là qu’il
nous donne sa mère afin qu’en elle, nous redevenions des petits enfants,
capables d’entrer dans le mystère de l’amour trinitaire.
La Vierge Marie nous conduit à Jésus et Jésus nous
conduit à elle
Soyons clairs : le but, c’est Jésus. Même lorsqu’elle
s’adresse à Marie, aux saints et aux anges, notre prière est, fondamentalement,
pour Dieu seul. Quand nous apprenons à prier aux enfants, il est important de
ne pas mettre Jésus et Marie sur le même plan. Mais il n’y a pas concurrence
entre Jésus et Marie, comme si en priant l’une, on risquait de négliger
l’autre. Marie ne garde rien pour elle : sans cesse, elle nous tourne vers son
fils. En même temps, plus nous mettons la prière au cœur de notre vie, plus
nous sentons le besoin de nous appuyer sur la supplication de la Sainte Vierge.
L’amour brûlant de la Trinité nous conduit dans les bras de Marie, qui sont
comme un refuge pour nous, ses enfants.
Christine Ponsard
Without a shadow of a doubt it is the choice of Our Blessed Mother to make her apparitions in Vailankanni, that has transformed this place into a Marian Shrine of international repute, is popularly known as the 'Lourdes of the East'.
It is an indisputable fact that God has always been eager to intervene in human history, especially during turbulent times, in a motherly way and so He comes to us through Mary. Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus, she is the Mother of all us, and it is the distinctive mark of a mother to be solicitous for the wellbeing of her children. Even in her glory in heaven, she is still profoundly concerned about the welfare of her children, and that is why she leaves her eternal throne to come down to man to alert him to the dangers to which he is rushing headlong.
Our Lady’s Vision to a Shepherd Boy
Approximately 400 years ago, there was a small pond and on its bank was a huge banyan tree. A shepherd boy from Vailankanni used to carry milk everyday to a rich man in Nagapattinam which is ten kilometers away. On an unusually hot summer day, the boy, after quenching his thirst with the water from the pond, rested for a while in the shade of the banyan tree which stood beside the pond. Soon the boy fell into a deep slumber.
Suddenly he was startled by the vision of a Lady of celestial beauty holding a lovely child in her arms. The boy could not take his eyes off the Lady of unmatched beauty, so spell bound was he by this heavenly vision. The Lady greeted him with a motherly smile and condescended to ask him for some milk for her child. He joyfully gave her some milk for her child and seeing a bewitching smile spread over the face of the heavenly baby, the boy experienced deep satisfaction.
When he reached the home of the rich man he begged to be excused for his unusual delay and for the shortage of milk. But, when the lid of the milk pot was lifted, lo and behold!, the pot was brimming over with milk. The boy narrated to the rich man about the apparition he had of a Lady of uncommon beauty with a cherubic child and how he had given a portion of the milk he was carrying, to the child at the Lady’s request. He said that he had the unique pleasure of seeing that supernatural Lady feed the baby with the milk he had given. The master was fascinated by the extraordinary phenomenon witnessed by the boy and he hastened to the spot where the Lady had appeared with her child. With great reverence, the gentleman prostrated himself on the holy ground where the Lady had appeared to the boy.
The story of the apparition of the Lady and Child and the miraculous brimming over of the milk, spread like wild fire throughout the neighbourhood. The Christians in Nagapattinam were convinced that the vision was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Their hearts overflowed with joy at the thought of Our Blessed Mother deigning to choose such an unobtrusive place as Vailankanni to make her apparition. From that day onwards the tank has come to be known as ‘Matha Kulam’ (Our Lady’s Tank). Innumerable miracles are taking place even today by applying it on diseased persons. A chapel now stands at the place where Mary appeared to the shepherd boy.
Apparition of Our Lady to the Buttermilk Vendor
A few years after her apparition to the Shepherd boy, Vailankanni was privileged to be blessed with another apparition of the Blessed Mother, and this time, to a poor lame boy of the village. At the close of the 16th century, there was a poor widow in the village of Vailankanni with a son who was congenitally lame. In order to eke out their existence the lame boy would sell buttermilk at a place known as ‘Nadu Thittu’. It was a slightly elevated spot where there was a huge banyan tree with outstretched branches. The widow would carry the lame boy and leave at Nadu Thittu with a pot of buttermilk. The boy sold the butter milk to weary way-farers who would take shelter from the sweltering heat under the tree. On an extremely hot day the boy was waiting for his customers, but as no one turned up, he was a little disappointed.
But his disappointment turned into joy when, in the twinkling of an eye, he saw a Lady of stunning beauty standing before him, holding a baby of dazzling beauty in her arms. The Mother and Child were attired in impeccable white garments. The Lady looked at the boy with a charming smile and asked him for a cup of buttermilk for the child. Without a moment’s hesitation the lad gave her a cup of buttermilk as he considered it a great honour and privilege to render a little hospitality to his seemingly ethereal visitors. With a sense of deep satisfaction the boy saw the Lady feeding her child with the buttermilk he had offered her. The Lady then cast a benevolent look at the lame boy and turned towards her Divine Child in her arms as if entreating him to heal the crippled lad. The Mother’s silent request was instantaneously answered. Without the boy realizing it, a miracle had been wrought on him, but he kept on gazing at his distinguished visitors as though entranced.
The Lady gratefully acknowledged the youth’s generosity and requested another favour of him. The lad was to go to Nagapattinam and apprise a certain rich Catholic gentleman of the Lady’s appearance to him and to inform him of her desire to have a chapel built at Vailankanni in her honour. While he was eager to carry out the mission entrusted to him, his physical impairment rendered him incapable of carrying out the mission. The boy told the Lady so. But the Lady bade him get up and walk as he was no longer a cripple. Immediately, the lad leaped to his feet. His joy knew no bounds when he realized he could walk. He ran as fast as his leg could carry him, all the 10 kilometers to Nagapattinam. On the way he would pause a while to make sure that the miracle that had taken place in him was not a figment of his mind but a reality.
On reaching Nagapattinam the boy, narrated to the gentleman of the apparition. He informed the gentleman that she had sent him as her emissary to ask him to build a chapel in her honour in Vailankanni. The gentleman had little doubt in believing the lad as he himself had a similar vision of Our Lady in his sleep the previous night, bidding him build a chapel in her honour. With the willing cooperation of the people of that locality whose enthusiasm had been kindled by the miraculous healing of the widow’s crippled son, the Catholic gentleman of Nagapattinam soon put up a small thatched chapel at Vailankanni. An altar was erected in the chapel and a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni holding the Infant Jesus in her arms, was placed on the altar. That marked the humble beginning of the Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni.
So many cures were taking place to those who prayed at the miraculous Mother with her Divine Infant came to be known as Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni (Vailankanni Arokia Matha). A chapel has been recently built at Nadu Thittu where Our Lady appeared to the lame butter milk vendor.
The Portuguese Ship caught in a Storm
The 16th century in particular was known for the atimagests made by European merchants to establish trading centres in India. The Portuguese were devout Catholics with a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother Mary, the ‘Star of the Sea’. In the 17th century a Portuguese merchant vessel was sailing to Colombo. While it was cruising towards the west to reach the Bay of Bengal, it was caught in a violent storm. The gale grew furious and the waves rose high and lashed violently at the ship and the fate of the vessel, with everyone on board was all but sealed. The helpless sailors instinctively fell on their knees and with all the fervour, their sinking souls could muster, besought Mary’s help. They vowed to build a church in her honour wherever she helped them land safely. Their earnest petition was instantly heard, for all on a sudden, there was a miraculous lull in the winds; the waves subsided and the sea became calm. Soon the battered ship was pushed to safety to the shores of Vailankanni. On landing, the first thing the sailors did was to fall on their knees and thank God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for having saved their lives. They set about immediately to remodel the thatched chapel.
Remarkably, all these extraordinary events took place on September 8, the feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.velankannichurch.in/shrine-miracles.php#
Our Lady of Health, Velankanni, India
By William ThomasPublished:
Sunday, 2nd August 2009
The Republic of India is one of the most extraordinary
countries in the world today. In fact it is a sub-continent located in South
Asia, and it has a population of over 1.5 billion people. India is the second
most populous country in the world, after China, and geographically, it is the
7th largest country in the world. It diversity and culture differs
exceedingly, according to which area of India one visits, and it is as
different again according to the major different languages spoken
here. There are four major world religions in India namely Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Although Christianity is confined to certain
areas, it is most prevalent in Kerela in the South West of India, having being
brought there by Saint Thomas the Apostle who is buried in Orissa. Judaism, Islam and Zoroastrianism eventually came to
India around the first millennium and contribute yet again to the extraordinary
diverse cultures and beliefs.
Gradually annexed by the British East India
Company from the early eighteenth century and colonised by the United Kingdom
from the mid-nineteenth century, India became an independent nation in 1947
after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread nonviolent
resistance. I have no doubt that Mahatma Gandhi was central to this and that
history must record how he saved millions of lives by this peaceful transition,
thereby preventing civil war. India is a Republic consisting of 28 states
and seven Union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy. It
has the world's twelfth largest economy at market exchange rates, and the
fourth largest in purchasing power. Economic reforms since 1991 have transformed it into one of the fastest
growing economies; however, it still suffers from high levels of poverty,
illiteracy, and malnutrition.
Christianity in India, as stated already, was
introduced by SaintThomas the Apostle in 52 AD. These Saint Thomas
Christians were known as Nasrani Christians which means, believers in Jesus the
Nazarene. These early
communities however were governed by the Orthodox Bishops from Persia and
Babylonia.
In the South East of India, there is a small town
called Velankanni, which means “Town of Miracles,” and this town has the
biggest and most important Marian shrine in all of India. Valenkanni is to be found in the State of Tamil Nadu
and has a population of 15,000 residents, and like Lourdes, swells to over 3
million, as pilgrims decend on the town throughout the year to this Shrine,
dedicated to “Our Lady of Health.”
Velankanni is in fact, fondly known as the “Lourdes of
the East” as many come here in great expectations looking for graces, cures,
and other miracles, or they come to represent others who cannot come
personally. The pilgrims are
not only Catholic, but diverse Christian, Jews, Muslims, and Hindu’s. Our Lady
is the focus of this shrine, and the first noticible, great miracle here is the
peace and harmoney among all the pilgrims.
The history of
this amazing, and most beautiful shrine begins in the 16th century and
which is founded on three main miraculous events.
The first and foremost of these is the apparition of
Our Lady and the child Jesus, which occurred in May of 1570. A young shepherd
boy was delivering milk to nearby houses in order to support his family.
He was from a nearby town called Nagapattinam but was walking toward
Velankanni, when he was overcome with tiredness, and the heat of the day. He
had stopped by the water pond to place the milk in, to keep it cool, to refresh
himself, and to take a rest. He fell asleep only to be awakened by the smell of
a beautiful perfume, which was everywhere. Once wide awake he beheld “A most
beautiful Woman,” and holding in her arms a child of exquisit beauty of “Divine
appearance,” as he later describes the apparition. The boy stood in amazement,
but the Lady and child smiled at him and asked him in a very soft, friendly and
polite way “ can I please have some of your milk for my Son?” to which the boy,
whose name was Sandi, said yes, “you can have it all.” Sandi was a Hindu and
had never heard of Christianity nor of Our Lady. He really did know who was engaging him in
conversation, but was altogether delighted and wished to continue to speak and
to listen, but alas the beautiful Lady and Child, vanished before his eyes.
The time had passed quickly and Sandi soon realised
that he was late with his delivery of what remained of the milk. When he
finally arrived at the customers house, he began to apologise and he tried to
explain why he was late. He also had to explain what the order quota of milk
was not there, in fact there was so little milk left when he last looked into
the jug, that he was embarrased. He explained that the reason why
there was just a little milk left, was because he had given it to “ a beautiful
Woman and Child that he had met at the pool up the road. The customer wanted to
see exactly how much milk there was, and opened the milk jug. He was very
surprised not only was it full of very fresh milk but it was very cool also. The customer, who was also a Hindu asked again where
Sandi had seen the apparition, and if it were
possible,could they go together to see the exact place. so they left together,
one talking faster then the other and finally found themselves on the exact
spot of the apparition.
They had no sooner arrived when in a flash, Our Lady
and Child, appeared again and both the man and Sandi were overcome with joy,
and delighted at what they saw. Immediately afterwards they went to the the
local village, it was here that the local Catholic community lived. They
recounted the story in exacting details amid a barrage of questions. This then
left no-one in doubt as to what the two had seen. A small shrine was built
there to commerate the event and this attracted some local interest. The exact place they called, Matha Kulam, which means
Our Lady’s Pool.
The second
apparition happened in 1597, also in Velankanni, and next to where the Catholic
villagers had built the shrine, the Matha Kulam.
In this town a very poor widow, who has lost her
husband early in her marriage, was left alone to look after her disabled boy,
who was badly lame from birth. This boy tried to help his mother as much as he
could, but he was unable to walk and had to drag himself here and there. One of
the ways of getting some money to buy food was by selling butter milk near
their house. He would go and sit under the tree nearby, in the cool shade of
the day and cry out to anyone who was passing “fresh buttermilk, fresh
buttermilk.” One day to his great surprise a “beautiful Lady” appeared to him
in the midst of a very bright light and in Her arms was a “Divine Child”. The
boy was asked for a cup of buttermilk which he willing poured out and gave to
the beautiful Lady who smiled at him in thanks. The beautiful Lady then asked
the boy if he would do her a favor, to which he immediately agreed. She asked that he visit a certain Catholic gentleman
who lives a few miles away in Nagapattinam (about 5 miles away) and there, to
ask this gentleman to build a chapel in Her honour on this site in Velankanni.
Without hesitation the boy rose up and went as he was
directed. As he was running on this Divine errand, it suddenly struck him that
he was no longer crippled, but that his two legs were normal. Naturally he was
delighted, and he ran screaming with joy and thanking the beautiful Lady as he
went along. All who saw him and knew him were totally amazed. When he arrived
in Nagapattinam the Catholic man was also delighted to see him and to hear his
story.The Catholic man then related to him, that he too, had just had a visit
from the Queen of Heaven, and that the Lady in question was the Mother of God
and of all humanity. He further stated that She had asked him to build a shrine
in her honour, but She didn’t tell him where.They then went together
both running, back to where the boy, had been selling the buttermilk and
placed a stake in the ground to indicate to higher authorities where the Shrine
should be built. The shrine of Velankanni now stands on this exact spot today.
The boy then ran home to his mother and related all that had happened, and how
he had met the Queen of Heaven, who had cured him. The mother and child were
both in tears of joy. Both went that same day and asked the priest if they
could be baptised into the Catholic Church. They had expressed an eternal gratitude to God and His
Mother and stated that they wanted to thank Her eternally, for what she had
done.
Within a week a small thatched chapel was built and it
was called Shrine of Our Lady of Health which is called in Tamil “Arokia
Matha.” This shrine is now the major centre of devotion to Our Lady in
Velankanni and throughout the entire region. Already by the 1600’s many had already come from all
over the south east of India and here they experienced the love, and
intercession of a caring Mother.
The third
important miracle happened a few years later, when a Portuguese sailing ship
was caught in a violent storm in the middle of the Bay of Bengal.
This ship was sailing from Macao in China, to Colombo
in Sri Lanka. The storm was equivalent to a storm force 12, and it tossed the
ship from side to side. It main sails ripping in two and its other sails
tearing while the storm ended up breaking the main mast. The captain called his
men together to pray, and they entrusted themselves to Our Lady “Star of the
Sea” asking Her to help save them. Almost immediately the storm subsided and the ship eventually entered
the port of Velankanni, it was September 8th, the Feast of the birthday of Our
Lady.
With some 150 men on board along with their cargo of
building materials, they decided to do something in thanksgiving for having
been saved. The captain had promised Our Lady that if She would save them, then
the crew would build a Church in Her honour. Now the time for them to be
faithful to their promises had arrived, and they set off to find the already
existing shrine and to enhance it. They built a most beautiful new shrine to
Our Lady. In fact is was on
the same site as that as Our Lady of Health, where She had asked the Catholic
man to build one earlier, and where She had cured the little lame boy, Stephan.
Every time that this ship sailed, either to China, and
or to Colombo, the crew stopped and added more parts to the Shrine. They
brought porcelain plates and tiles from Portugal, which illustrate biblical
themes, and which even today can be seen behind the main altar of the shrine. Eventually over the next 10 years or so, they
completed the shrine, and it stands today as a confirmation to that love and
devotion that both the local Indian population had for Our Lady, and also the
Portuguese.
A great Marian devotion is the pride of India’s some
20 million Catholics, which amount for only 2% of the population but it is the
largest Christian community in all of India. Despite that even the rites of these
Catholics vary for example one can say that there are 157 ecclesiastical units
in India. These are
made up of 29 Archdiocese, and 128 Diocese of which 127 of these are Latin
rite, 25 Syro-Malabar and 5 Syro-Malankara Rite.
Catholic charitable efforts, also in India have been
extensive. In Portuguese India, for instance, Saint Francis Xavier and his
fellow missionaries were especially careful to help the local charitable
institutions by tending to the sick, both spiritually and physically, and
performing other works of mercy. The Jesuits' educational institutions,
although never succeeding in missionary activities, had left a prestigious
impact through their education institutions. Education has become the major
priority for the Church here in recent years with nearly 60% of the Catholic
schools situated in rural areas. Even in the early part of the 19th
century, Catholic schools had left its emphasis on poor relief and welfare.
The Catholic Church provides an estimated
22 percent of all health-care services, throughout India, operating 5,000
facilities, and which employs 33 percent of Indian health-care workers,
including 40,000 Catholic nurses.
The apparitions of Velankanni are extremely important
for the Catholic Church in India. The Shrine and its popularity provides an
inspiring impetus for all who seek the help of Our Lady, Catholic and
non-Catholic, and as a pilgrim centre for all of India. Here in a special way
the Indian Catholic can feel at home in this beautiful shrine, and where he
will have all the sacraments available to him. Here too he will stand side
by side with Muslims, Hindu’s and Jews, and others, despite the tensions
elsewhere in India, where Catholic’s are being killed. This standing together
in peace is a miracle in itself. On the Feast of Our Lady of Velankanni, which
is September 8th, there are upward of 2 million pilgrims from all over the
world, who converge on this shrine and to watch, and to walk, and to pray, in
procession. Many find time to wash in the newly found spring water, which has
begun to gush from the ground and from where there no apparent source. Many too
wish to document a list of graces, blessings and miracles. These notifications are listed in a special book and
which numbers now exceed one million entries.
India has produced a great number of Saints, some of
those need no introduction like Blessed Teresa of Kolkata (Calcutta). She was a great devotee of Our Lady of Health of
Velankanni and who went to visit this shrine on numerous occasions.
Other saints include, Saint Gonsalo Garcia, who was
already canonised in 1629. Saint John De Brito, canonised in 1947. Blessed
Joseph Vaz, beatified by Pope John Paul II, the Great. Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, who was
also beatified by Pope John Paul II but who was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI
on the 12th of October 2008.
There are many other causes underway in India but one
thing is sure that all were devoted to Our Lady and sought her guidance and
intercession on all matters.
Today in India the celebration of this Feast is
an annual festival and which lasts for 9 days drawing some 2 million pilgrims
for these 9 days alone. It is said that this shrine of Velankanni attracts more
pilgrims than any other sacred shrine in all of India. Not only do multitudes of Catholics travel there but
all others, believers and unbeliever’s alike visit at least once in their
lives.
This shrine is now
growing in popularity since the spring water began to flow.
The nearest airport is about 154 kms from Velankanni
in the city called Tiruchy. There are many hotels close to the shrine, along
with religious houses, and boarding houses. The website of the shrine is www.vailankannichurch.org/about-vailankanni.htm
Basilique durant le festival annuel où un drapeau est
levé en l'honneur de la Vierge.
