Our Lady of Vailankanni

Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni

The history begins in the 16th century when the first apparition of Our Lady was to a shepherd Hindu boy, carrying milk and was on his way from Vailankanni to a customer in Nagapattinam. The little boy rested near a waterpond when he saw suddenly a graceful Lady of exquisite beauty, holding in her hands a sweet child. Both wore halo´s around their heads. Our Lady asked the boy for some milk for her child and the boy gave it to her willingly. Our Lady and the Child then smiled to the boy. When he reached the customer and told the story he didn´t believe the boy. Then suddenly the milk started to surge over the pot and flowout. The place then was called "Our Lady's Tank".

The second appariton took some years later with a poor widow and her son near Vailankanni. The boy was lame by birth and every day he sat under a banyan tree at a place called Nadu Thittu and sold buttermilk to the people who passed by and were thirsty. Then on one day he saw a very bright light in front of him and a beautiful Lady with a divine Child in her arms asked the boy for a cup of buttermilk. After that She asked him that he would go to a Catholic gentleman at Nagapattinam to put up a chapel in her name, at the place she appeared. Then the boy realised he was not lame anymore and could walk so ran to the Catholic gentleman at Nagapattinam and they both returned to the site that Our Lady had appeared and she appeared again to them both.The man built a Chapel at "Nadu Thittu' where now still the Shrine Basilica is.The Lady then was called "Our Lady of Good Health".

The third time Our Lady appeared was in the 17th century when a Portuguese merchant vessel was sailing from Macao to Colombo in a terrible storm. They prayed and begged Mary the star of the Sea to save them. And they promised to build a church if they would land safely. The sea then became calm and the ship landed near the shore of Vailankanni on September 8th, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. They gave thanks and tribute to Our Lady and they improved the little thatched chapel that the Catholic gentleman build and made a beautiful stone built Chapel. On their next visit they decorated the Altar with porcelain plates of biblical illustrations to thank Our Lady.

The celebration of this feast is an annual festival which lasts for 9 days and attracts over one and a half million pilgrims every year. Not only Catholics but also non-Christians. Hundreds of miraculous cures are reported every year.

Historical Data of Vailankanni Shrine

1. The history of Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni, dawned in the 16th century
2. In September 1771, Vailankanni which had been a substation of Nagapattinam Parish, was raised to the status of a Parish.
3. The majestic Shrine facing the East, was renovated twice in 1920 and 1933.
4. His Holiness Pope John the XXIII, raised the Shrine to the status of 'Basilica' on the 3rd November 1962. The apparitions of Our Lady, the Miraculous statue of Our Lady, the countless miracles, the magnificent architecture and beauty of the Shrine, were the motives for this Shrine to become a Basilica.
5. The storeyed extension Basilica was blessed and opened in 1975.
6. In 1985,the little Chapel at Our Lady's Tank, was built a new and blessed.

Our Lady of Pellevoisin

Visionary Estelle Faguette

The years after the French revolution were to be decisive and also tumultuous ones for France, as the need for a Monarchy was replaced with the more acceptable Republic. These were difficult years for the people of France as it recovered from the Prussian invasion as different reigns disappeared overnight to be replaced with a Republic and new forms of government. And with these decisions France was to see different leaders came and go, which left the people with feelings of instability, at a time when many people were struggling with poverty and disease.

But it was during the year 1876 that once again France was given a great favour from Heaven, with a visit from our Lady to the visionary Estelle Faguette. This was at a time when many thought Estelle was going to die including herself, as she was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis an incurable disease, and was suffering much pain.

It was during the night of 10th February that Estelle came perilously close to death as the doctor affirmed. But Estelle survived that night and it was on the night of 14th-15th of February that Estelle first saw a vision of our Lady and upon her appearance a demon that was trying to torment poor Estelle vanished!

Our Lady was to appear several times to this visionary and also our Lady promised Estelle that she would be cured within the week and it was on 19th of February 1876 upon receiving the Eucharist, that Estelle proclaimed herself cured!

Her doctors were astounded as none had any hope at all for Estelle and were simply waiting for this dreaded disease to ravage her body. This not only astounded the doctors but also all those who heard Estelle say that through our Lady she would be cured and she was!

Estelle came from a poor family where her Mother was deeply devout whilst her Father, remained indifferent towards religion as he concentrated on providing for his family, as in all families times were difficult. It was through her Mother that Estelle developed a deep love and reverence for our Holy Mother and prayed to her often.

Our Lady was to repay Estelle's love for her in a miraculous way in that Estelle was to be totally healed of tuberculosis, but though our Lady relieved Estelle of this disease she also confided to her beloved child that her sufferings would now be spiritual. She also warned Estelle that many would think her mad and that some of her friends would abandon her. But Our Lady offered this consolation in her words, "pay no attention to all that. I will help you."

On 16 of February Estelle was tormented again by Satan, but once again his demonic appearance ended once Our Lady came to Estelle’s aid. Her words of loving comfort were, "I am merciful and Mistress of My Son. The few good works and the intense prayers, which you offered me, have touched My Motherly heart...". Our lady was to reiterate this later when she said. "I am merciful and hold sway with my Son"...Have courage, patience and resignation; you will suffer and will not be free of troubles; try to be faithful and make known my glory".

Our Lady emphasised love and devotion to her Son and most especially in receiving the Eucharist in a worthy manner, she also emphasised the importance of prayer and exhorted Estelle and others to pray much for the forgiveness of sins, and to offer sacrifices for the repentance of others.

Estelle was also told of the tribulations that France would have to endure but she then added, "One can be saved in every state. Where you are, you can do a great deal of good, and you can publish my glory."

During these appearances our Lady also requested that a Scapular be made and with these words said to Estelle, "You will yourself go to the Prelate and you will show him the pattern you have made. Ask him to help you as much as is in his power, and tell him nothing would please me more than to see this worn by every one of my children, and for them all to endeavour to atone for the outrages my Son receives in the sacrament of His love. See the graces I shower upon those who will wear it with confidence and will help you to propagate it."

The Scapular has a picture of The Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other side it has an image of Our Lady showering all those who wear it with Graces from Heaven. This Scapular gained the approval of the Catholic Church on April 4th, 1900.

Estelle Faguette died in 1929.

I would encourage all to learn more about Our Lady of Pellevoisin.

Peace of Christ to you ALL.

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.