By Jacqueline Kelly –
No woman has been painted, sculptured, drawn, written about like THIS WOMAN. To no woman have more monuments been built than to THIS WOMAN. No woman’s name, with so many variations, have been taken oftener than THIS WOMAN’S. No woman is more likely to be the world’s most honored than THIS WOMAN. THIS MARY OF GALILEE. She achieved this place in world history by doing just one simple thing: By being MARY OF GALILEE all through her life. She touched only one point in life: LOVE.
Also Read: Part II: Churches of Nativity of Mother Mary in India
All over the country Catholics have erected shrines that have taken on national importance.
Our Lady of Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu
Tradition recounts that Mother Mary appeared with Infant Jesus at the end of the 16th or in the early 17th century at Vailankanni, a village 350 kilometers away from Chennai, seven miles from Nagapattinam on the South by the side of a river and on the seashore in Thanjavur district, India. Ever since,Vailankanni has become one of the most important Marian Shrines of India. Millions of pilgrims visit this shrine throughout the year, praying to Our Lady for various needs and thanking Her for the favours received through Her intercession.
The Shrine of “Our Lady of Vailankanni” also known as the “Lourdes of the East” is one of the most frequented religious sites in India.The iconic depiction of the Madonna is unique in that it is one of two only icons where Mary is portrayed wearing an Indian sari.The feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni is celebrated on 8th September.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health erected by the Portuguese and Indians stands at the site where the buttermilk seller saw Mary and Jesus.A small shrine was built for Her near the pond where She appeared.The pond was named Mother’s Pool or Our Lady’s Pool.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Health, Puducherry [formerly known as Pondicherry]
The Church of Our Lady of Good Health, Puducherry has a French influence. It is situated at Ariyankuppam, 4 kilometers South of Puducherry.
Under the leadership of Bishop Adda Simon this Shrine was built by Armenians in 1690 and it was known as the Church of Our Lady of Conception. Around 1700, the Church went under the authority of the Jesuits of the Carnatic Missions and was renamed the Church of Our Lady of Good Health.
It is one of the major pilgrimage centers in Puducherry. This Shrine is sacred to Mother Mary and the feast is celebrated on 8th September. The Church is one of the oldest surviving Roman Catholic Churches in Puducherry.
St. Mary’s Basilica, Bengaluru [formerly known as Bangalore]
It is the most prominent Shrine in the city. During the 17th Century, few Christians came from Gingee, Tamil Nadu, found that the land was fertile to sow white rice and began to settle down and built a small village. In order to practice their religion built a thatched hut and named it as the “Chapel of Kanikkai Madha”.
The Italian Jesuits of the Malabar Mission were the founders of the Mysore Mission in the 17th Century, who were succeeded by the French Jesuits from Madura and Carnatic Missions in the 18th Century. St. Mary’s Basilica is a spacious church, designed by a French architect and built in the form of a Cross. A beautiful statue of Mother Mary holding Child Jesus in her arms is the chief object of veneration and source of inspiration for the people. Since, she cured the people from the dreadful disease of plague and gave them good health, She was also called as “Annai Arokiammarie” which translates as Our Lady of Good Health.
It is interesting to note that all the other Parishes of Bengaluru were born out of this ancient parish of St.Mary’s Church. St. Mary’s Church was elevated to the title of “Annai Arokiammarie Basilica” on 26th September,1973 which was officially announced and celebrated on 26th January, 1974. Since then, every year this day stands as a remarkable significance of God’s grace. The main feast is celebrated on 8th September every year. The feast is considered by the people, not only as the Feast of the Parish, but also for the whole of the Archdiocese and State of Karnataka.
Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health, Harihar, Karnataka
Harihar is a town situated in Devangere district of Karnataka. In the beginning of
1847, the celebration of devotion to Harihar Mathe and dedication to Mother Mary, recounts a history of over 200 years in the humble surroundings of the river Thungabhadra.
September 8, was chosen to celebrate Our Lady’s Feast that being Her Nativity. The Shrine can surely be called the “Vailankanni of Karnataka”.
In Mumbai too, the Nativity of Our Lady of Vailankanni is celebrated with great zeal.
Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount more commonly known as Mount Mary Church is located in Bandra, Mumbai. Built by the Jesuit priests from Portugal in 1640, the Church is perched on the top of a hill near Lands End, Bandra overlooking the Arabin Sea.
The church is a beautiful edifice in stone, then known as Nossa Senhora de Monte Chapel, was destroyed in a fire in 1738. It is said that six months later the famous life-sized statue of the Virgin Mary, crafted in an ornamented wood,was recovered from the sea by a fisherman. The statue was first kept in St. Andrew’s Church, Bandra. It was finally shifted to the Mount Mary Church when it was rebuilt in 1761. The Church was rebuilt again in 1908.
Local residents referred to the Churchas “Maulicha Dongar” or the Hill of the Mother as they considered the Virgin to be a Mother Goddess. This statue named “Mot Mauli” by the Kolis literally means “The Pearl Mother” and is now restored and enjoys a place of honour in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount. During the Novena days prior to the feast of Mother Mary [8th September] and during the octave week of the feast, thousands of devotees come to venerate, pray and place their various needs.
Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Irla, Mumbai
Irla, situated between Vile Parle and Andheri is a well-known landmark, thanks to the Shrine of Our Lady of Health of Velankanni. It was in October,1967 that the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions touched base in Irla. At the midnight mass on December 25, 1968, late Rev. Fr. Bruno Venturin announced that he would build a Chapel for the people of Irla and the Chapel now named the Prayer Hall was officially inaugurated on 14th April,1968. [Easter Sunday].
The first novena devotion in honour of Our Lady of Velankanni at Irla commenced on August 30,1968 which was followed by official declaration of the Shrine as a quasi-parish on September 8,1968, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. Foundation was laid for a new church building in January 1975 and the quasi parish status was upgraded to a full-fledged parish on September 10,1978. Year 2017 marked the 50th Annual Novena to Our Lady of Velankanni in Irla. [1968-2018].
“Irla Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Health”. The feast of the Nativity of Our Lady is a grand celebration of the faith of the devotees in our Lady of Health of Velankanni. Two major highlights of the devotion to Our Lady of Health of Velankanni at Irla are the “Healing and Blessing of the Sick” and the “Solemn Procession” that are held on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively during the annual novena.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Health,Velankanni, Bhate Bunder, Uttan, Mumbai
Uttan is a coastal town just north of Mumbai in Thane district of Maharashtra. The Church of Our Lady of Good Health on the hillock by the seashore is located in the scenic beauty of nature facing the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.
The Church is popularly known as Bhate Bunder Mathe Velankanni Teerth Mandir and was built by Monsieur Francis Correa nearly 30 years ago. According to locals, during his routine visit to Bhate Bunder coast, Monsieur Francis was inspired to create the Church when he was standing besides the Cross of Brother Herman, a missionary who tutored local children of this area more than 150 years ago.
To cater to the huge crowd, the church was remodeled to a new and spacious one in the year 2000. The feast is celebrated on September 8 and the church is known as “The Lourdes of Mumbai”
For the last two thousand years, Mary has played her mediatorial role with distinction showing her motherly care and concern for her children as they journey on their way to salvation. That is why throughout history, the faithful with grateful hearts have acknowledged her motherly role and paid their highest tribute by honouring her under different titles locally and universally. He who is mighty had done great things for her, and she, in turn, continues to do great things for those who recognize her as the Mother of God and the Help of Christians.