The Shrine of Our Lady of Health at Vailankanni in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is one of the most famous Marian shrines in Asia. Here in the 16th century Our Lady appeared to a Hindu boy. The shrine, which attracts more than 1.5 million visitors every year, including many non Christians, is called the Lourdes of the East because of the miracles reported here. To meet the needs of the many pilgrims Masses are said and confessions are heard in English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada.
“India is a land of unity in great diversity. It is accentuated by its religious pluralism and multiculturality. It is challenged by common predicament and menace of terrorism, communalism and fundamentalism, its shocking economic disparities and caste exploitations and discriminations. The politicization of religion and religionalization of politics, threaten its stability and democracy; the failure of globalization and the spread of aids obstruct its progress. Mary is presented as model for the Christians in the above-mentioned context of India. Pope Paul VI says, “The Virgin Mary has always been proposed to the faithful by the Church as an example to be imitated…She is held up as an example to the faithful rather for the way in which, in her own particular life, she fully and responsibly accepted the will of God… charity and a spirit of service were the driving force of her action… All of this has permanent and universal exemplary value”( Marialis Cultus:35). At Calvary, Jesus gave his mother as our mother (John 19:26-27). Mary is our mother (LG.53, 56) and so she is perfect example for us. She is the woman worth imitating for all people of all times. She is model - for Perfect Christian response to the Word of God,(LG53), for solidarity with those in need, for prayer and contemplation, for liberation of the oppressed and the model for love and service.
Even today we find Mary committed to promote peace and harmony in the world by appearing to so many people in so many countries around the globe. Wherever there is a need or a crisis or big calamity or destruction, there comes Mary. She offers her help to the people irrespective of their nations, cultures, languages etc. She even adapts herself to the local situations, as she did in Guadalupe in Mexico, by appearing in their native attire. She chooses, in imitation of God choosing her, the ordinary poor people to communicate her message: the little children at Fatima, a poor man in Mexico, a lame boy in Vailankanni, India.
Mary wants us to bring peace and harmony in the world. She has shown us how to be true disciples of Jesus. At the dawn of the third millennium Pope John Paul II recommends us to contemplate the face of Christ with Mary as he said in the Ecclesia De Eucharistia document. She is the disciple of Christ that calls us to bring liberation to the oppressed and love to each individual who is in need. So, let us imitate Mother Mary who is perfect model for the Christians in India and the whole world."

Fr. P. Xavier,
Rector Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni