The Vatican continues to make progress in wading through its backlog of requests for rulings on alleged Marian apparitions and other spiritual phenomena.
At the beginning of August, the Vatican issued two more rulings, approving devotion at the very popular Marian shrine of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, India, while offering a clear word of caution on devotion surrounding a Puerto Rican laywoman named Elenita de Jesús.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) published a letter to Bishop-elect Sagayaraj Thamburaj of Tanjore Diocese in India issuing a nulla osta to devotion at the Vailankanni Marian shrine, which is Asia’s biggest Marian shrine and is visited by millions of pilgrims annually.
Tradition holds that apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Vailankanni date to the 16th century, when Mary allegedly appeared to a man carrying milk to a customer, asking the man to give the milk to the child she was holding.
The man agreed and gave her the milk, but later discovered upon reaching his customer that the milk was still in the jar.
A shrine to Our Lady of Health was later established in Vailankanni and every 8 September large crowds come for the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Health.
In their letter, signed by Argentinian Cardinal Victor Fernandéz, the DDF noted that the shrine has also become a popular destination for non-Christians who seek spiritual graces.
“The many spiritual fruits that are produced at this Shrine make us recognise the constant action of the Holy Spirit in this place,” the letter said, noting that many non-Christian pilgrims who come obtain special graces and even what they believe are miracles.
“Some of them are healed of their illnesses and many find peace and hope. Without doubt, the Holy Spirit is also at work in them, responding by Mary’s intercession,” the letter said, saying the inter-religious presence at the shrine “should not be considered as a form of syncretism or mixing of religions”.
“The Sanctuary is a place where the closeness of Mary, who welcomes everyone and demonstrates the love of the Lord to those who reflect on it, is manifested. Those who cannot receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church are not denied the consolation of the Mother of Jesus,” the letter said.
Regarding the issue of Elenita de Jesús, in a letter addressed to Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Caguas, Fernandéz clarified that while the Marian spirituality and devotion de Jesús spread was legitimate, the belief among some that she was the Virgin Mary is false.
A Puerto Rican missionary and catechist who lived in the late 1800s to early 1900s, de Jesús established the Marian Sanctuary of the Holy Mountain in the southern diocese of Caguas, and was known for promoting Marian spirituality and devotion, and for her work with the poor.
“It cannot be denied that the figure of Elenita de Jesús is of great value for the Church in Puerto Rico and should be considered as a stimulus to total dedication to the Kingdom of God,” Fernandéz said in the letter.
However, he also cautioned that those devoted to her must see her “as a motivation to give themselves to God alone and avoid directing toward her the gestures of devotion that correspond to the Mother of Jesus Christ. It is better not to damage this treasure by distorting its original meaning.”
To this end, Fernandéz gave a firm constat de non supernaturalitate, or “not supernatural” ruling, to the belief that de Jesús was the Virgin Mary.
“Any identification of Elenita with Our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer, or with the Virgin Mary, first cooperator in the work of her Son, must be totally avoided,” he said, adding: “Elenita de Jesús is not the Virgin Mary”.
De Jesús was, however, a holy woman who “lived under the influence of the Holy Spirit, in charity and in proclaiming the Gospel, inspired by a deep love for our Heavenly Mother, the Virgin Mary,” the letter said, highlighting that de Jesús’s life “speaks to us of love for Jesus Christ and Mary, of the dignity of women, of generous dedication, commitment, austerity”, and of the care and defence of the poor.
Fernandéz had special news for the pilgrims who will attend the 8 September celebrations in Vailankanni this year. He notes that Pope Francis has a special affiliation for popular piety and for the Vailankanni shrine, and that for this reason, the Pope has offered a special blessing to all pilgrims who attend this year’s celebrations at Vailankanni.
He also recalled that Pope John Paul II in 2002 chose the shrine for the Church’s celebration of the World Day of the Sick, saying, “the same Virgin Mary who manifested herself at Lourdes also manifested herself in India as the Mother of Health”.
“It is not merely a matter of bodily health…but also one that touches the soul,” Fernandéz said. “Contemplating the image of Mary we can all recognise the love of Jesus Christ that can heal our sadness, our anguish and our fears.”
He concluded: “If we pause before Mary, even in a brief moment of faith and love, her maternal gaze restores peace to us.”