Sunday with Mary and Meenakshi Amma

The rain was raging all through the week. Fortunately, on Sunday, at noon, the sky cleared for a long while and I could join those who visited Vallarpadam. There were quite a few though the church continued to remain closed. Meanwhile in the parish church behind the Basilica a local sweethearts were getting married and the whole event in the Corona safety settings became so novel an idea in its simplicity. 

Sometimes, I wonder, what is that make me go to Vallarapadam Basilica on every Sunday and whenever possible. Is it the service or the miracles or the grandeur of the church itself...

I guess its an emotion I feel, the carefree, happy, secured, peaceful...

A happy family who brought their newborn to Mary along with the grandparents were gratefully offering their gratitude for the blessing and the sight of them earnestly thanking God was very inspirational. The young mother beamed a hearty smile at me which warmed my heart and made me wish that all those childless couples who seek Mary's help would one day soon get an opportunity to visit here smiling with the happiness of their wish being fulfilled.  

On the way back rode quickly to the Lady of Hope at Vypeen before it started raining again just to have a look around. The pandemic has wrecked the small town of Vypeen just like any other town of the Pandemic hit world and as I rode back all I could think was when will this tragedy end and folks can go back to their work and means of bread, normally 

Sunday

We had one low pressure in the Arabian sea in the previous week which did not bother us in Kochi that much but the low pressure in Bay of Bengal did brought a lot of rain to our town. During a short break in the rain on Sunday I rode to Vallarpadam. Inspite of the rain there were few visitors to the church, some of them were the parents of students who came from far away towns to attempt the under graduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. 

One such parent gave me the opportunity to explain the life of Meenakshi Amma at Vallarpadam. A pleasant experience to recollect Meenakshi Amma and her graceful life. 

I felt lucky that I could go to Vallarpadam and spent my "Quiet Time" today inspite of the Pandemic and the rain and remembered all those who wanted to but couldn't. 

while I was about to finish my time it rained again and I waited for a hour for the rain to stop. Though I could use the time well in the quiet solitude outside the closed church, I couldn't help thinking about the disastrous effect the pandemic is having on all our lives; if the people couldn't come for worship, especially those of us who need that spiritual refuelling every week, what purpose all these precautions will serve, as our minds and thoughts are gradually degrading and lead us to disaster eventually. 

A sunny Day

The cyclone Vayu took our monsoon away. Ever since the cyclone retreated our rain has stopped.

The day was very warm and bright at Vallarpadam.

The parish church was decorated beautifully to celebrate someone's dream coming true :)

First Rain 2019

I was at Vallarpadam when the first rain of the monsoon came pouring down.

The summer heat had become unbearable and the thrashing rain was a welcome change. 

To watch the rain from the Marian Tower was a wonderful experience. The wall after wall of raindrops stretching all the way to the Arabian sea across the vastness of the back water. 

The church looked majestic and lonely in the rain. 

8th day of the Feast

I couldn't, due to my work, come to the church on the feast day. As usual, the church was crowded on the feast day and the week preceding and following it. Pilgrims & devotees from far and wide and all religious background continued to visit the church on these days. As we all know, Lady of Ransom has a special place in the hearts of those who work in the sea. Such communities make their annual pilgrimage to Vallarpadam on these days. This year too, many of them were there on the day I went to the church. 

The procession after the 11.30 am mass. It went around the Rosary Park and returned to the church. 

Though it looks like ants on the church during day time, the lights were beautiful at night. 

My blessing this year was to know more about the Saint Peter Nolasco. An year earlier I had a dream in which I saw Saint Peter Nolasco standing at the altar of the church. I didn't know the saint then, on enquiry the church staff had told me that we have a statue of the saint in the church. On this feast day, I found the statue beautifully decorated and his name written in bold letters at the bottom. More about the saint in a later post. 

The best drink to have at any time of the day. Sugar Cane Juice are nutritious and very organic, unless the vendor contaminates it. The latest machine and technology make the juice maker's job easy and the waiting less for the thirsty. 

The feast of Our Lady falls in the month of "Kanni" which is called the best month in our Malayalam Calendar. Neither rainy nor summer, just the mild weather of Kerala. 

The Unmistakeable icons of the feast, the status quo accompaniments of the Church and the feast.

One more year, My Lord, I have come to the feast with my grand mother, that is the first visit I could remember and to all the feasts after that when I was home and here in Kerala. 

My Lord and My God, I pray bless all those who seek you with the grace and knowledge to live by You and live in your peace and Joy. 

Amen. 

Meenakshi Amma's Story

An inspiring story. I often think about her as my Meenakshi Amma.

Meenakshi Amma

A replica of the original Portuguese image of Mary which was lost in the flood and retrieved by the then Prime Minister to the King, Paliathachan.

A history of the church is available at book store at Church.

I hope and pray Meenakshi Amma will not be forgotten. Without her story, Vallarpadam church is just another of the many church in the Cochin area.