Day 72-74, Oct. 21-23


The day began with me in a rectory half way between Mysore and Bangalore. The three of us returned to the latter. No sooner did we get back to St. Anthony’s than I had to start packing for another trip that night. I was to take the night train to Vailankanni.
Vailankanni is a pilgrimage city. It houses the site o apparitions of Our Lady in 1550. The number of people there rival the European shrines. Soon after the Portuguese arrived in India Mary appeared to buttermilk salesman and a rash of miracles ensued. It seems, from the many testimonies, they still do. People come looking for cures and wellness and babies.
The church tried hard but unsuccessfully t limit commercialism. For that reason they established a series of hotels with one main reservation shed. We waited our turn and, finally, obtained the keys to a room. It was large and marble, had a twin and a double bed and a lot of ants as well as flying insects. I didn’t like it. Devukumar didn’t either. He had thought he had a key to a better hotel. We would do our best. Then we went out to get me oriented and aware of the importance of the place. In the center is a large, Fatima-like church. Out from the main lines were the locations of visions and a Eucharistic chapel. With French gothic spires, the place is impressive.
Devukumar told me there was a priests’ residence; but it was dirty and wouldn’t be good. In the vicinity of the hostel, I went to see for myself if it were worse than what we had. In fact it was far superior. True, it was small; but it was very clean. It was also next to the main church. I took it instantly.
I concelebrated the 10:00 Mass with an Indian priest. It turned out well. However, the highlight cm eater Mass when hundreds of people come to the priest to ask a blessing. I ate it up. The Faith of those people seemed to enter me the more I blessed them.
We had lunch, roamed the commercial area, went to the beach where I body surfed for a minute or two, prayed, had supper, bought snacks and relaxed in the larger room or the evening. I returned to my room, prayed and fell asleep.