Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni an excellent model of all the virtues: Pope
February 02, 2013: Christians living in India venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary under
the title of "Our Lady of Good Health." She is an excellent model of all the virtues
of heavenly graces and a perennial Protector, said Pope Benedict XVI in a letter to
Cardinal Fernando Filoni, on Saturday. The Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for
the Evangelization of Peoples, is Special Envoy of the Holy Father to the celebrations
of the 50th anniversary of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni,
India, and the 25th anniversary of the Episcopal Conference (CCBI), scheduled
from 9 to 11 February 2013.
The papal envoy will be accompanied by an Ecclesiastical
Mission consists of Michael Arockisamy, rector of the Basilica of the Shrine Vailankanni,
and Vadakumthala Alex Joseph, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Verapoly.
Not
without reason have Indians developed the confidence in the intercession of the Mother
of God at the sanctuary in the city commonly called Vailankani, said the Pope, adding
that in the month of February, it will be the 50th anniversary of this
basilica in Vailankani, and it is also the 25th anniversary of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India.
The Pontiff hoped that on this year of faith
dedicated to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, these two events may lead to ardent prayers
and open our eyes to deeper understanding of divine revelation. Pope offers his apostolic
blessing to all those who are going to be present on the occasion – bishops, priests,
religious men and women and lay faithful.