Though many Catholics are familiar with the celebration of the Nativity of Mary, not everyone knows that it has a special connection to the devotion of Our Lady of Vailankanni. It was on this feast day in the 16th century that a group of Portuguese sailors miraculously arrived on land after surviving a menacing storm on the seas. In the years that followed, they built a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Vailankanni on the site, and now, millions of pilgrims visit it every year.
As we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary this week, we invite you to learn more about the devotion to Our Lady of Good Health and virtually tour the oratory where it is honored at the Basilica.
History of the Devotion of Our Lady of Good Health
The devotion to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni, originated in the mid-16th century following the occurrence of three miracles. First, there was the apparition of Mary and the Christ Child to a slumbering shepherd boy. Then, a lame buttermilk vendor was miraculously healed. And finally, after a group of Portuguese sailors were saved from a violent storm at sea, they were inspired to build a shrine to Our Lady at Vailankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary, the day of their safe landing.
Now, half a millennium later, nearly two million pilgrims flock to the site every year for the nine-day festival and celebration. Also known as the “Lourdes of the East,” the Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni is the most-visited holy site in India.
Honoring Our Lady of Good Health at the Basilica
The Basilica’s Our Lady of Vailankanni Oratory features a gilded statue that is a replica of the original and was crowned and consecrated in Vailankanni before coming to Washington, D.C. Gifted by the Indian-American Catholic Association of Washington, D.C., the oratory is designed in an Indian motif, with carved cherrywood pews, a vaulted brass ceiling, and a multi-colored marble floor patterned after an Indian carpet, featuring the design of the flag of India in the center. Through Carrara marble bas-relief sculpture, the stories of the three miracles are depicted. The oratory also includes two bronze plaques engraved with the history of Vailankanni and the Ave Maria in the major languages of the Indian subcontinent.
Virtually Tour the Our Lady of Vailankanni Oratory
We invite you to virtually explore the Our Lady Vailankanni Oratory – take the tour below!
Source:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.