The many miracles of Our Lady of Vallarpadam in India

At the end of the 15th century, with the arrival of Portuguese missionaries, mass conversions began in India. They built beautiful new churches, but in Vallarpadam (1) the existing church was only rebuilt, since it was in a poor shape. An altar was dedicated to Our Lady of Redemption, with a portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy brought from Portugal. It was at Pentecost 1524 that the local Christians were accepted by the local population.

In 1676, a heavy flood destroyed Vallarpadam's church. The portrait of the Virgin (2), spotted on the flooded river, was recovered by the Divan (prime minister of the King of Cochin): the image was not wet! He went to Vallarpadam and offered a large plot of land to build a new church dedicated to the holy image.

On May 23, 1752, a woman named Meenakshi-Amma and her son were on their way to the family temple by boat when a storm broke out. The mother implored Our Lady to save them and swore that they would be her “slaves” for the rest of their lives. The boat capsized, mother and son disappeared into the water, but were miraculously found on the third day and rescued by the locals who had cast nets across the river!

Mother and child kept their promise, sweeping the church and the entire courtyard morning and night. Church authorities allowed the photo of Meenakshi and her son to be added to the shrine's Portuguese painting.

The fruits are still abundant today: conversions, large numbers of pilgrims from various religions, expressions of gratitude for the graces obtained, including hundreds of couples for happy marriages, consecrations as servants of the Virgin, prayers for a child granted to parents through Mary's intercession, etc. 

Etienne Vanderbreucq - Ellezelles - Belgium

Notes: Vallarpadam is an island in southwest India, accessible only by ferry until 2004. The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Vallarpadam is known as the Lourdes of Kerala.

In 2024, with the permission of the Rector of Vallarpadam, two images of Our Lady of Vallarpadam were enlarged, blessed and sent to Ellezelles, Belgium, and Boma,  Democratic Republic of Congo.