Virgin Mary's Birthday
Mary was born to be the mother of the Savior of the world, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God's creatures. Because of her Son's infinite merits, she was conceived and born immaculate and full of grace. Through her, Queen of heaven and of earth, all grace is given to men. Through her, by the will of the Trinity, the unbelieving receive the gift of faith; the afflicted are tendered the works of mercy; and the members of Christ grow in likeness of their Head. In Mary all human nature is exalted. We rejoice in her birthday, as the Church has done from the earliest times. This is one of the three birthdays in the Church Calendar — the Birth of Jesus (December 25), the Birth of John the Baptist (June 24) and the Birthday of Mary. All three were born without original sin, although Mary and Jesus were conceived without sin, and St. John was cleansed of original sin while in the womb at the Visitation of Mary.
Birth of Mary
On Our Lady's birthday the Church celebrates the first dawning of redemption with the appearance in the world of the Savior's mother, Mary. The Blessed Virgin occupies a unique place in the history of salvation, and she has the highest mission ever commended to any creature. We rejoice that the Mother of God is our Mother, too. Let us often call upon the
Blessed Virgin as "Cause of our joy", one of the most beautiful
Annai Velankanni Matha’ festival 2017
NAGAPATTINAM: The 11-day annual feast festival of ‘Our Lady of Health’, popularly called ‘Annai Velankanni Matha’ festival begins on Wednesday evening with a flag procession and hoisting of the holy flag.
The district administration and the Velankanni Church authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims to attend the festival.
The Collector, Tenkasi S. Jawahar, said that all security arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the festival.
He said that steps had been taken to provide medical facility and supply protected drinking water to the devotees.
About 15 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country were expected to attend the festival.
Rev.Fr.P.Xavier, Rector of Velankanni Church, said that Most Rev. Dr. M. Devadass Ambrose, Bishop of Thanjavur, would hoist the holy flag at the Shrine’s Basilica at Velankanni, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, about 10 km south of Nagapattinam.
A large number of pilgrims and devotees are expected to attend the first day litany and benediction and holy mass in Tamil.
Holy mass, blessing of the sick with the statue of Our Lady of Health will be conducted at the main shrine. High mass in Tamil, Marathi, English, Konkani, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi will be conducted in the Basilica from morning till evening and Holy Mass in Tamil at Our Lady’s Tank at 6 a.m. during the festival days.
The festival concludes on September 8 with the celebration of the birthday of the Blessed Mother Shrine Velankanni.
The main illuminated chariot procession carrying the statue of the Holy Mother will be taken out on Velankanni Basilica campus on September 7.
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