Has the Vatican Conveyed The Right Message On Vailankanni?

ML Satyan –

The Vatican’s recent approval of devotion at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, has sparked renewed interest in this remarkable Marian Shrine. This sanctuary has a rich history dating back to the 16th century, marked by reported apparitions of the Mother Mary and numerous miracles.

The Apparitions and Miracles:

The first Marian apparition is said to have occurred in May 1570, when a local shepherd boy was on his way to deliver milk to a local landlord. Along the way, he met a beautiful woman holding a child, who asked for some milk for the child. After giving her some milk, he reached the landlord’s house. The boy was surprised to note that the milk pot was still full of fresh milk. A small shrine was built near the site where the boy encountered the woman.

The second Marian apparition is said to have happened in 1597. A beautiful woman with a child in her arms appeared to a lame boy selling buttermilk. The woman asked for a drink of buttermilk for the child. After the child drank it, the woman told the boy to visit a gentleman in the next town and ask him to build a chapel in her honour at that location. As the boy started scrawling, he realised he had been healed and was no longer lame.

The third notable incident occurred when a Portuguese ship sailing from Macao to Ceylon was caught in extreme weather in the Bay of Bengal. The terrified sailors invoked the aid of Mother Mary. The raging storm suddenly subsided and the entire crew of 150 on board the ship was saved from capsizing. This happened on 8 September, the feast day of the Nativity of Mary. In thanksgiving the sailors rebuilt the shrine.

Present status:

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health has become a symbol of interfaith harmony, attracting millions of pilgrims from diverse religious backgrounds. In his letter approving devotion at the shrine, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Vatican’s Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, acknowledged the presence of non-Christian pilgrims seeking solace and healing.

Many non-Christians have reported experiencing miracles and finding peace at the shrine. The letter emphasizes that the tenderness and closeness of Mary, as the mother of all, are manifested here. It also states that those who cannot receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church are not denied the consolation of Mother Mary.

Over the centuries, the modest chapel built by the Portuguese has evolved into the magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. In 1962, Pope John XXIII elevated the shrine to the status of a minor basilica, recognizing its significance as a place of pilgrimage and devotion.

The basilica is known for its unique architectural style, blending Gothic elements with traditional Indian motifs. One of the most striking features is the iconic depiction of the Madonna, which portrays Mary wearing an Indian sari.

This shrine, often referred to as the “Lourdes of the East,” continues to be a beacon of hope and healing for millions of pilgrims from around the world. As the faithful gather at Vailankanni, they are reminded of the boundless love and compassion of Mother Mary, who embraces all people regardless of their religious affiliation or background.

However, Cardinal Victor Manuel’s letter (dated August 01, 2024) addressed to Bishop Sagayaraj Thamburaj of Thanjavur diocese, in my view, has two contradictions. Let me explain:

Statement-1: “How can we fail to remember the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004 whose destructive waters did not damage the church?”

The church building at Vailankanni is made of bricks and stones. It is just a place where the pilgrims gather to pray, praise and pay respect to Mother Mary. In the letter, the Prefect of DDF expresses a sort of ‘happiness’ since the tsunami did not cause any damage to the church building. Also, he seems to consider the tsunami as a ‘miracle’ since the church building escaped its wrath. Unfortunately, the letter does not make any mention of the destruction caused to the lives, livestock and livelihood of millions of people at Vailankanni. Children, men and women who lost their lives were innocent pilgrims. The horrific scenes of the scattered dead bodies around the church are still vivid in the minds of people who happen to be eye witnesses or watched them on television. Just visualize the ‘unaffected church building’ on the one side and the ‘tattered human bodies’ on the other side.

What does the Bible say about the human body? “Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Interestingly, the Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine (DDF) of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” dated 08.04.2024 speaks about human dignity in the following words:

• “Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter. This principle, which is fully recognizable even by reason alone, underlies the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights. In the light of Revelation, the Church resolutely reiterates and confirms the ontological dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in Jesus Christ.”
• “From the start of his pontificate, Pope Francis has invited the Church to believe in a Father who loves all men and women with an infinite love, realizing that God thereby confers upon them an infinite dignity. He has strongly emphasized that such immense dignity is an original datum (something given) that is to be acknowledged faithfully and welcomed with gratitude.”
• “Based on this recognition and acceptance of human dignity, a new coexistence among people can be established that develops social relationships in the context of authentic fraternity. Indeed, only by acknowledging the dignity of each human person can we contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity.”

On the one side, DDF speaks about the human dignity, meaning the human body and mind. On the other side, DDF considers the church building at Vailankanni, that survived the tsunami, as a miracle. Now, my question is: Is a church building more important than a human body? What is the stand of the Catholic Church?

Statement-2:

(a) “Many non-Christian pilgrims who come seeking solace echo similar experiences. Some of them are healed of their illnesses and many find peace and hope. Without a doubt, the Holy Spirit is also at work in them, responding to Mary’s intercession. Thus, the tenderness and closeness of Mary, whom Jesus desired to bequeath us as the mother of all, is manifested.”

(b) “Those who cannot receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church are not denied the consolation of the mother of Jesus.”

The first part of the statement (a) mentions the non-Christian pilgrims who are healed and find peace and hope. The letter further acknowledges that the tenderness and closeness of Mary are for everyone since she is the mother of all people. This has conveyed the right message.

The second part of the statement (b) reiterates that those who cannot receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church are not denied the grace of Mother Mary. By this statement, the DDF divides the pilgrims into two categories – those who have received the sacraments and those who have not received.

The fact is that Mother Mary’s apparitions at Vailankanni in the 16^th century involved non-Christians. Even after the apparitions, most miracles have been happening in the lives of non-Christians. The evidences are showcased at the Church Museum. Take a look at the gifts and thanksgiving letters kept there. More than 75 percent of them are offerings by non-Christians. Why? Only they have experienced miracles in their lives.

Having acknowledged Mother Mary as the mother of all, why should DDF make a ’categorization’? This could have been avoided. The Prefect and other clergy must remember that all those who have received the sacraments are not holy and saints. Likewise, all those who have not received the sacraments are not unholy and sinners. Mother Mary at Vailankanni church welcomes everyone with a loving heart, blesses, heals and protects. It is always the simple faith of the ordinary people that is pleasing to this ‘Mother of ALL’.