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Located at the small town of Velankanni in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, Object named The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health was The Roman Catholic Basilica . Adoring Lady of Good Health of Velankanni can be traced to the center of-16th century and is meaning to three miracles: the apparition of Mary and the Child (Jesus) to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a violent sea storm.[1] Although all three apparitions ultimately resulted in the erection of a shrine to our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that was the proximate cause of a permanent edifice being built at Velankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the , the day safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni, also known as the Lourdes of the East,"[2] is one of the most frequented religious sites in India. HistoryThough there are no historical documents or records about the Apparitions of Mary at Vailankanni, the oral tradition substantiates the two apparitions of the Blessed Mother of Vailankanni in the 16th century and the saving of the Portuguese sailors from a tempest in the Bay of Bengal in the later 17th century.[3] ApparitionsThe first of the apparitions in Vailankanni is claimed to be to an Hindu boy during the mid sixteenth century. It is said that Mary appeared to him and requested milk for her Son to which the boy readily agreed. Later, upon reaching the home of the customer the boy had intended to deliver the milk to, he apologized for his lateness and the reduced amount of milk by relating the incident that occurred on his way. However, upon inspection of his order, the customer found the milk pot to be full and was convinced that something miraculous had happened. Together the man, also a Hindu, and the boy returned to the place where the apparition had occurred. When they reached the pond, Our Lady appeared once again. On learning that it was Our Lady who appeared to the boy, the residents of the local Catholic community became ecstatic and promptly renamed the pond Matha Kulam or, Our Lady's Pond. The first apparition is not known to have lead to the construction of a chappel of Church. That is attributed to the second apparition. This time, it is said, that Mary appeared to a crippled boy (and also a son of a widow) in a place called Nadu Thittu. The boy is claimed to have offered her buttermilk and then be cured of his illness. The Catholics in the nearby town of Nagapattinam are said to have built the first Shrine after being informed of the incident.
Portuguese sailorsIn the 17th century, a Portuguese merchant vessel, sailing from Macao in South China to Colombo was caught in a tempest in the Bay of Bengal. The sailors, then at the point of desolation, vowed to build a chapel in the name of the Virgin Mary wherever they could reach safe. The legends claim that the stormy sea became quiet and their ship reached the shore of Vailankanni on the 8th of September the birthday of Mary. Fulfilling their vow, the Portuguese sailors put up a chapel at Vailankanni by transforming the earlier thatched chapel. On their next visit, the Portuguese decorated the altar with porcelain plates illustrating Biblical themes.
From Shrine to BasilicaThe Shrine that started as a thatched chappel in the mid sixteenth century became a Parish Church in when Catholics in India were under persecution from the Dutch. Later in 1962 it was granted as a Special status of a Minor Basilica by Pope John XXIII
ArchitectureLayout of the Basilica complex. 1.Basilica, 2.Nadu Thittu shrine-site of second apparition, 3. Adoration & Reconciliation chapel, 4.Our Lady's Pond-site of first apparition, 5.Stations of the cross, 6.Stations of the Rosary, 7.Stations of the Sacraments The Basilica is built in Gothic style of architecture.[7] The southern side was extended in 1928 and northern in 1933. The Shrine Basilica contains three chapels, Our Lady's Tank, Church Museum, Priests' Residence, Offering Center, Stations of the Cross, Stations of the Rosary, Shrine Mega Mahal and Vailankanni Beach.[9] The building is totally painted in white color, except for the roof that is made of tiles of striking red color.[10]
Sourthern SideEarly part of 20th century marked rivalry between Jesuits and Franciscans on influcence on the missionary in Velankanni. In 1928 a solution was found to this problem. The church of Immaculate Heart of Mary (managed by the Jesuits) was demolished and the statues were brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health, eventually in 1933 the Shrine expanded with two new wings , to the right and to the left of the 'Main Altar', meeting the nave at right angles.[11]
Northern SideA spacious vestry was also provided immediately behind the Altar. Thus the entire sacred edifice began to assume the shape of a Latin Cross. Right over the center of the ancient main altar was the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Health.[11]
Shrine AltarA new arch point for welcome was blessed and opened by Bishop Sundaram at 1956,. The illuminated arch stood to show the way to the eager pilgrims, who sought the protection of Mary. In January 1961, a new central altar, delicately executed in spotless white marble, was erected replacing the former one made of cement concrete.[8]
Extension Basilica-AltarIn 1974-75, an extension of the Basilica was built behind the existing central altar to accommodate the multilingual pilgrims. The extention included a two storied church with 93 feet high dome and 82 feet high gothic spirals.[11] The extension was designed to resemble the Basilica in Lourdes, France. [12]
Velakanni town is one victim of the tsunami on Boxing day of 2004 causing heavy lose of life but no damage to the Church.[18] Aftermath of the tsunami found slowing down of pilgrims for a year.[19] LinkSong Dynasty Architecture Part Two, Masters of our own fate Part Three, The prelude Kim Dae Jung politician struggle oppression
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