Father Nathan St Gabriel | September 08, 2019
A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people who are close to my heart.
The Birthday of the Blessed Mother Mary
Birthdays bring joy to our heart, hence we all love to celebrate birthdays. Today is the birthday of our dear Blessed Mother. Sunday liturgy always supersedes all celebrations, if not our holy mother church could have celebrated today September 8th as the birthday of our Blessed Mother. What a delight and joy to celebrate any mother’s birthday especially Our Blessed Mother, the Mother of all.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Vailankanni
Back home, there is a place called Vailankanni. The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Vailankanni, is a Marian shrine located at the small town of Vailankanni in Tamil Nadu, South India where I come from. It can be traced back to the mid-16th century and attributed to three separate miracles at the sites surrounding the Basilica.
The apparition of Blessed Mary and the Christ Child to a slumbering shepherd boy, the healing of a handicapped buttermilk vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a deadly storm. These accounts are mere oral lore with no written record or attested sources to support them. The Holy See has not approved the alleged apparition and supernatural phenomena yet the cult of the Lady of Vailankanni persists.
Initially, only a simple and modest chapel was built by the Portuguese sailors who washed ashore safely. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni is also known as “the Lourdes of the East” because it is one of the most frequented pilgrimage centers in India. Today thousands and thousands of people will be gathered there celebrating the birthday of our Blessed Mother.
Celebrating her birthday is a way of celebrating her personhood. We celebrate her simply for being herself. We do not necessarily focus in on any of the unique, beautiful and profound aspects of her life today, however, we simply celebrate our Blessed Mother because she was created and brought into this world by God and that alone is worth celebrating…
We honor her simply because we love her and we celebrate her birthday as we could celebrate the birthday of anyone we love and care for.
Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is fruit your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Blessed Mother, we ask that you wrap all of your St. Gabriel children under your mantle. Lead all of us closer to your son Jesus Christ. Show us the ways and means to go to your Son.
Happy birthday, Blessed Mother! We love you dearly!
With lots of love and ever at your service
Fr. Sahayanthan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | October 13, 2024
Father Nathan is hosting his annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Sunday, October 20t at 5:00 p.m. in the parish hall.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | October 06, 2024
On October 7, Catholics around the world honor the contemplative prayer of the Rosary by celebrating the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 29, 2024
On October 1, Catholics around the world honor the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux on her feast day. St. Thérèse was born January 2, 1873 in Alençon, France to pious parents, both of whom are scheduled to be canonized in October 2016. Her mother died when she was four, leaving her father and elder sisters to raise her.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 22, 2024
St. Vincent dePaul, (April 24, 1581 – September 27, 1660) was a French priest who dedicated his life to helping the poor and is considered one of the most important figures in history of charity. He was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1737 and declared the patron saint of all charitable works.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 08, 2024
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Velankanniis a Christian shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary located in India.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 1, 2024
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