Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

Poondi Madha, the little Lourdes of Tamil Nadu

Poondi (India) (1714-1971)

In Poondi, in the Thanjavur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, stands the Basilica of Poondi Madha, "the Mother of Poondi," dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Its origins are documented: the sanctuary began as a simple parish church in the 18th century, attributed to the Jesuit missionary Constantine Joseph Beschi, known as Veeramamunivar, famous for his mastery of the Tamil language and poetry, who is believed to have built the first church around 1714-1718.

Over time, that humble church grew in devotion. It was elevated to a Marian shrine by the Bishop of Thanjavur around the 1950s, although the exact chronology varies according to different sources, and on August 3, 1971, Pope Paul VI elevated it to a minor basilica at the bishop's request. The image follows the typical Lourdes model, depicting the Virgin Mary with the Rosary in her hand.

Here shines a beautiful and well-documented feature: interfaith coexistence. Not only Catholics, but also Hindus and Muslims come to Poondi to pray and make vows to the "Mother of Poondi," whom they consider their protector. The sanctuary is famous for the favors and healings that the faithful attribute to the Virgin, and it is covered with votive offerings, wax candles shaped like organs, photographs, and letters. It should be noted that the influx of people from other faiths is a documented sociological fact, while the accounts of miracles are devotional tradition: there is no canonically recognized list of prodigies.

The Rosary is very much present in the life of the sanctuary. Rosaries and novenas are organized in honor of Poondi Madha, and processions with its recitation take place on major Marian feast days. The use of the Rosary as the main prayer in pilgrimages and novenas is a documented practice; however, there is no record of a specific promise or message from the Virgin Mary regarding the Rosary specific to this place.