The Shrine - Places to Visit
Madha Church (Shrine)
The famous chapel dedicated to the Annai Vailankanni Our Lady of Good Health, Besant Nagar. This was originally built in 1972. The upper portion of the walls is covered with paintings on the Apparitions of Our Lady of good Health. This was expanded in September 2000.
Hundreds of devotees visit this Shrine daily. Visitors queue up in prayers to touch the feet of the Holy Mothers statue. Devotees offer flowers, candles and garlands as a respect to the Holy Mother. Many miracles take place and are still continuing today.
Church
The big Church is where regular Sunday Mass, Marriage services and 1st friday & 1st saturday services are conducted.
Mother Mary’s Square
Mother Mary’s Square was constructed in the year 2003 with the intention of visually presenting the four apparitions of Blessed Virgin Mary recognized by the Catholic Church. They are as follows:
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531)
- Our Lady of La Salette (1846)
- Our Lady of Lourdes (1858)
- Our Lady of Fatima (1917)
People come here to recollect the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and pay homage in the devotion to Our Mother
Adoration Chapel
Opened in September 2001, this air-conditioned chapel creates and provides a serene atmosphere for people who come here to pray to the Eucharistic Lord. It is open to the faithful from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on all days. Every Thursday special Adoration service take place in the evening from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During the rest of the day the chapel is open for personal prayer, meditation and reflection.
The Grotto
The Grotto was constructed in the year 2002. A banyan tree is the base under which are depicted the 3 Apparitions of Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankanni. Devotees offer sarees in thanksgiving to Annai Vailankanni, which are draped around the statue of Mother Mary.
Niches of the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
The niche of the mysteries of the Holy Rosary was constructed in the year 2000. It gives a conducive atmosphere for the devotees to meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
Museum
The Museum has been renovated and reopened on September 6, 2008. It is a manifestation of the miracles endowed by the powerful intercession of Mother Mary. The various articles that are kept in the museum are the offerings made by the devotees to show their gratitude to Mother Mary. The articles are the replicas of the various favours received. The museum exists for the past 25 years, manifesting the faith in Mother Mary’s powerful intercession.
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Working Hours
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Saturday
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4 : 00 p.m. to 7 : 00 p.m.
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Sunday
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11 : 00 a.m. to 12 : 00 noon & 4 : 00 p.m. to 7 : 00 p.m.
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Holidays
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4 : 00 p.m. to 7 : 00 p.m.
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Religious Article Store
The Religious Article Store has a collection of prayer books, stickers, rosary, medals, calendars, statues, etc.
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Working Hours
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All Days
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9 : 00 a.m. to 1 : 00 p.m. & 4 : 00 p.m. to 9 : 00 p.m. on all days
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1st Saturday & All Sundays
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7 : 30 a.m. to 1 : 00 p.m. & 4 : 00 p.m. to 9 : 00 p.m.
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First Saturday Devotions
The First Saturdays Devotion is a Roman Catholic practice which, according to the visionaries, has been recommended by the Virgin Mary in several visitations, notably Our Lady of Fatima.Catholics honour the Virgin on Saturdays because they believe that as the Mother of Jesus Christ she must have suffered a great deal and had much faith on Holy Saturday, before the Resurrection on Easter. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins of the world.
On the first Saturday of five successive months, one goes to confession, attends Saturday Mass and takes Holy Communion. Then the Rosary is recited. One remains in the church for at least fifteen minutes afterwards, meditating on the Rosary’s mysteries. During this time one is considered to be visiting Jesus Christ, who, according to the doctrine of Transubstantiation, is physically present in the Eucharist.
Here in this Shrine, the first Saturday evening Mass is celebrated in a solemn way. Rosary, Novena prayers, the Mass, Blessing of the sick during a 10 minute adoration to the Blessed Sacrament followed by Jesus walk and last of all a grand car procession. Also there is an all night vigil with the Blessed Sacrament from 10:00 p.m. and it concludes with the Holy Mass at 4:00 a.m. Many pilgrims stay overnight and receive the graces showered by Our Mother.