Our Lady of Lourde Novena Day 2
Traditions and history record the apparitions of mother Mary in India in a remote village. In south India, in a coastal plain, situated a humble village named Vellankanni. Mother Mary appeared many times in this shrine to the poor Hindu farmers. Among those apparitions there are two vivid apparitions captured in the vellankanni church history. I would like to place them here to appreciate the everlasting apostolic mission of Blessed Virgin Mary. In penning few words about this shrine, I reflect upon many blessings we received through the intercession of Mother through this shrine. When we were in India, we used to visit this shrine every summer for 3 - 5days some years even 1 week. The fascinating truth about this shrine is that it attracts all the people who belong to various religions who are not Christians, such as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc............ Majority of the people who visit here come with the gratitude heart having received some intended favors from Mother Mary's intercession. In a ordinary day, minimum of 10,000 people visit this shrine. During weekends, these visits double or triple in number. One can palpate the faith of the people when standing in their midst. Multitudes of people devote their visit in sincere prayerful moments. You can see people come with tears and return with joy. One can see people come with confusions and return with clarity of mind. One can witness thousands of people come with various thanksgiving offering, which is displayed in the museum. people crawl on kneels from the main church to the old church, where the apparitions took place centuries ago, which is about half a mile, in prayers of novena and rosary. Night and day people and families keep come in and go out of the village makes this place a vibrant and jubilant atmosphere through out the year.
This shrine is known as church of Our Lady of Vellankanni, it has been elevated to the Basilica status. Along with many earthly blessings, people receive peace of mind, conversions of souls, and deep spiritual refreshments, while they visit here. Holy masses are being offered continuously in this shrine in many languages including all the Indian languages and in English. Evening mass precedes with recital of rosary and processions followed by the blessings of sick through blessed Sacrament Eucharistic adoration and benedictions.Continuous confessions are offered in all the languages during day time and a separate chapel has been dedicated for this purpose. In addition, there is a beautiful, majestic, perpetual adoration chapel is open for silent prayers. There are many many spiritual reflection opportunities are available within this shrine. Every year we as a family visit this shrine and had experience of attending a well organized spiritual retreat for the whole year. It is our practice we attend three masses daily and do the family confession during our stay. One can experience total refreshment as though they have visited their own mother's place. No one reruns with empty hand or heart every one is filled with joy, peace, and serenity, when they return home, which can be visually seen in every face in returning from the shrine. This shrine is called as lourde of the east. Recent years when the visits to India is not frequently possible, when I pray rosary, I place myself in a disposition as though I stand inside this church, which I do in prayer very often for few churches including my birth place church ( Our Lady of Immaculate heart), Our Lady of Poondi,Our Lady of Vellankanni, and St. Thomas mount. Among all these churches, I frequently place myself while I pray inside this church in a prayerful disposition of the soul. Every time when I do that, I experience the same blessing I would receive having gone there physically. My husband treat this shrine as his mother's place ever since he converted to catholic faith of 25 years. He loves her immensely he recites rosary minimum of two per day.He has a special devotion and affection to blessed virgin Mary. My family loves her, and we say together in gratitude Ave Maria!
DAY TWO
Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest yourself shining with light, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child Saint Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception!" O Mary Immaculate, inflame our hearts with one ray of the burning love of your pure heart Let them be consumed with love for Jesus and for you, in order that we may merit one day to enjoy your glorious eternity. O dispenser of His graces here below, take into your keeping and present to your Divine Son the petition for which we are making this novena.
(make your request)
O Brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm#ixzz1MhstkvDm
This shrine is known as church of Our Lady of Vellankanni, it has been elevated to the Basilica status. Along with many earthly blessings, people receive peace of mind, conversions of souls, and deep spiritual refreshments, while they visit here. Holy masses are being offered continuously in this shrine in many languages including all the Indian languages and in English. Evening mass precedes with recital of rosary and processions followed by the blessings of sick through blessed Sacrament Eucharistic adoration and benedictions.Continuous confessions are offered in all the languages during day time and a separate chapel has been dedicated for this purpose. In addition, there is a beautiful, majestic, perpetual adoration chapel is open for silent prayers. There are many many spiritual reflection opportunities are available within this shrine. Every year we as a family visit this shrine and had experience of attending a well organized spiritual retreat for the whole year. It is our practice we attend three masses daily and do the family confession during our stay. One can experience total refreshment as though they have visited their own mother's place. No one reruns with empty hand or heart every one is filled with joy, peace, and serenity, when they return home, which can be visually seen in every face in returning from the shrine. This shrine is called as lourde of the east. Recent years when the visits to India is not frequently possible, when I pray rosary, I place myself in a disposition as though I stand inside this church, which I do in prayer very often for few churches including my birth place church ( Our Lady of Immaculate heart), Our Lady of Poondi,Our Lady of Vellankanni, and St. Thomas mount. Among all these churches, I frequently place myself while I pray inside this church in a prayerful disposition of the soul. Every time when I do that, I experience the same blessing I would receive having gone there physically. My husband treat this shrine as his mother's place ever since he converted to catholic faith of 25 years. He loves her immensely he recites rosary minimum of two per day.He has a special devotion and affection to blessed virgin Mary. My family loves her, and we say together in gratitude Ave Maria!
DAY TWO
Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest yourself shining with light, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child Saint Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception!" O Mary Immaculate, inflame our hearts with one ray of the burning love of your pure heart Let them be consumed with love for Jesus and for you, in order that we may merit one day to enjoy your glorious eternity. O dispenser of His graces here below, take into your keeping and present to your Divine Son the petition for which we are making this novena.
(make your request)
O Brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm#ixzz1MhstkvDm
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