Poondi Matha Basilica
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi, is a Catholic pilgrimage centre located in Tamil Nadu
, South India. Poondi is a small village located in Thiruvaiyaru
Taluk (also spelled as Taluka), about 35-km away from Thanjavur. It is considered as one of the Roman Catholic Pilgrim centre similar to Velankanni, which houses the famous Poondi Madha Shrine that attracts pilgrims from all over India.
, popularly known as Veeramamunivar, built a church and named it as the church of "Mary Queen of Immaculate Conception".
Rev. Fr. Lourdes Xavier, Parish Priest of the church in 1955 noticed the bad shape of the roof and consulted an engineer who told that except for the central roof, the rest of the structure was quite strong. He recommended that it was enough to demolish only the roof.
After a while on one rainy night, the roof of the church collapsed, leaving everything else intact, thus saving the cost of demolishing. Shortly after this, the number of pilgrims to the Shrine was on the rise and kept increasing as accounts of miracles and cures started to spread. And people gave Her the name Poondi Matha. Matha means Mother in Tamil
. Then onwards, the shrine was popularly known as Poondi Matha shrine.
Poondi Madha Shrine has been raised to the level of Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II
on 3 August 1999.
and also one of Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi on the facade, above the portico. Most importantly it got a relic
of the True Cross
, believed to be the one on which Christ
was crucified.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, South India. Poondi is a small village located in Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru
-External links:**...
Taluk (also spelled as Taluka), about 35-km away from Thanjavur. It is considered as one of the Roman Catholic Pilgrim centre similar to Velankanni, which houses the famous Poondi Madha Shrine that attracts pilgrims from all over India.
History
In the beginning of the eighteenth century (1714–1718) a great Italian Jesuit missionary named Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi S.J.Constanzo Beschi
Constanzo Beschi, also known under his Tamil name of Vīramāmunivar or Constantine Joseph Beschi was an Italian Jesuit priest, Missionary in South India, and renowned poet in the Tamil language.-Early years and formation:Born in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Mantova, Italy, a place very close to...
, popularly known as Veeramamunivar, built a church and named it as the church of "Mary Queen of Immaculate Conception".
Rev. Fr. Lourdes Xavier, Parish Priest of the church in 1955 noticed the bad shape of the roof and consulted an engineer who told that except for the central roof, the rest of the structure was quite strong. He recommended that it was enough to demolish only the roof.
After a while on one rainy night, the roof of the church collapsed, leaving everything else intact, thus saving the cost of demolishing. Shortly after this, the number of pilgrims to the Shrine was on the rise and kept increasing as accounts of miracles and cures started to spread. And people gave Her the name Poondi Matha. Matha means Mother in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. Then onwards, the shrine was popularly known as Poondi Matha shrine.
Poondi Madha Shrine has been raised to the level of Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on 3 August 1999.
Shrine
The present structure of the shrine represents a mixture of Gothic and French architecture. The highlight of the structure is the row of statues of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, saints like St. Francis XavierFrancis Xavier
Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
and also one of Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi on the facade, above the portico. Most importantly it got a relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
of the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
, believed to be the one on which Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
was crucified.
See also
- Basilica of Our Lady of Good HealthBasilica of Our Lady of Good HealthThe Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located at the small town of Velankanni in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The Roman Catholic Basilica is devoted to Our Lady of Good Health...
, VelankanniVelankanni TownVelankanni , officially spelled as Vailankanni , also spelled as "Velanganni" , is a Parish under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese and a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
, Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(ஆரோக்கிய மாதா திருத்தலம்) - Our Lady of Snows BasilicaOur Lady of Snows BasilicaOur Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica is located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Virgin Mary.-History:...
, Tuticorin, Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(பனிமலை மாதா திருத்தலம்) - ElakurichiElakurichiElakurichi a tiny village in Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, South India, is a Catholic pilgrimage center dedicated to Virgin Mary. It is 65 km from Perambalur...
(Adaikala Matha Church), Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(அடைக்கல மாதா திருத்தலம்) - KamanayakkanpattiKamanayakkanpattiKamanayakkanpatti is a small village in Kovilpatti Taluk in Thoothukudi District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- Demographics : India census, Kamanayakkanpatti had a population of 2426. Males constitute 50.05% of the population and females 49.05%. Kamanayakkanpatti has an average literacy...
Church of Our Lady of Assumption (பரலோக மாதா திருத்தலம்) - St. Antony's Church, Kamarajapuram. (Tamil Nadu) , (India),
- Our Lady of Snow KallikulamOur Lady of Snow KallikulamThe Church of Our Lady of Snow is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Kallikulam, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In recent times it became popular because of vision and apparition of Mother Mary....
(Our Lady of Snow Church, Kallikulam), Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - The Perianayagi Madha ShrineThe Perianayagi Madha ShrinePeriyanayagi Madha shrine is a famous Roman Catholic Church in Konankuppam, Tamil Nadu constructed by Fr. Constantine Beschi also called as Veeramamunivar. It is a 8 km drive from Ulundhurpet....
, Konankuppam. Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
,(பெரிய நாயகி மாதா திருத்தலம்)