Our Lady of Vailankanni has appeared thrice 

 

First

Where : At Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, India

When : May 1570

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History :

A local shepherd boy,  was selling milk when he came across a beautiful lady carrying a small child in her arms. The lady asked for some milk for the little one. After giving the milk, he continued on his way. He happened to notice that his jug was now full of cool, refreshing milk.  A  shrine was built at the location and the place was called 'Matha Kulam' which means, Our Lady's pool.

 

Second 

Where :  At Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, India (not far from Matha Kulam)

When : 1597

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History :

A beautiful lady carrying a young child appeared to a  crippled boy selling buttermilk. The young boy asked for buttermilk and after drinking it, Our lady told him to go and tell a gentleman in the village to build a shrine here in her honor. As he went, the boy realized that he was no longer crippled. A shrine was immediately built on the location and the location was named in Tamil as 'Arokai Matha'

 

 

Third

Where : Bay of Bengal, India

(The third one , although not an apparition, is  a miracle associated with the apparitions of Our Lady Of Vaillankanni)

         

History :

A ship of Portuguese sailors sailing from Macao to Sri Lanka, was caught In a storm. They prayed to Our Lady giving her the title 'Star  Of  The Sea'. The storm quickly subsided and all 150 men on board were saved. This was on 8th September, the feast of the nativity of Mary. In  thanks to our lady, They rebuilt the shrine of Vailankanni and continued to enhance it whenever their voyages took them to that place.

 

The thatched chapel built in the mid-sixteenth century , transformed into a parish church in 1771 it was granted special status of a minor basilica in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

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It merged with the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome 3rd November 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

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