St. Mary's Basilica

History

The formation of the city of Bangalore and the formation

of St. Mary’s Church are found to be interlinked with the

history of Karnataka. During the 17^th Century, few

Christians came from Ginjee, of Tamil Nadu, found that

the land was fertile to sow white rice and began to

settle down and built a small village. This village took

the name ‘Bili akki palli’ because it is said that the rice they cultivated

was white and also because a number of white birds were found in

those rice fields. The people in order to practice their religion built a

thatched hut and named it as ‘CHAPEL OF KANIKKAI MADHA’.

The Italian Jesuits of the Malabar Mission, were the founders of the

Mysore Mission in the 17^th Century, who were succeeded by the French

Jesuits from Madura and Carnatic Missions in the 18^th Century.

In 1799, Fr. Jean Dubois came in lay dress with the English troops at

the siege of Seringapatam and only when he said the Mass in the

Church, people did recognize him as a Catholic Priest. When the

Cantonment was established in Bangalore, the Christians, both

Europeans and Indians attended the Mass said by Fr. Jean Dubois. In

1811, he built a small chapel with a residence for priests. Later on,

Rev. Fr. Andreas an Indian priest from Pondicherry succeeded him and

he expanded the Church building in the shape of Cross, with a hall

facing East and West and with two aisles North and South.

In 1832, due to some communal riots, the church was pulled and

pillaged. Fr. Beauchaton, the Parish Priest, narrowly escaped death by

the tactful handling of the situation by the Christian people. Troops

arrived to restore peace and the government had the Church guarded

first by the European soldiers and later by Indian sepoys for many

months. After some years great plague had spread through out the

Blackpalli and people sought the intercession of Mother Mary to relieve

them from the clutches of disastrous death. Mother Mary interceded

the victims’ prayers and the plague vanished from the vicinity. Since

she cured the people from the dreadful disease and gave them good

health, she was also called as ‘Annai Arokiamarie’ (Our Lady of Good

Health).

In June 1875, the construction of the present Church began. It was

during the time of then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. E.L.

Kleiner, who later became the Bishop of Mysore. In view

of the historic importance of St. Mary’s Church, the then

British authorities from Delhi paid a grant for the

maintenance of the Church, every year till 1948.

The present Church of St. Mary’s built by

Rev. Fr. Kleiner was solemnly consecrated on

8^th September 1882 by Msgr. Joannes Maria Y.

Coadou, Vicar Apostolic of Mysore, in the presence

of 35 priests and about 4000 Catholics of Bangalore.

It is interesting to note that, all the other parishes of

Bangalore were born out of this ancient parish of St. Mary’s Church.

It was during the tenure of Most. Rev. Dr. P. Arokiaswamy, the then

Archbishop of Bangalore and Rev. Fr. Paul Kinatukara, then Parish

Priest of St. Mary’s Church, with the strenuous efforts of the

Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. D.S. Lourdusamy, the

then Secretary General for the Sacred

Congregations for Evangelization of Peoples at

Rome, Holy Father Pope Paul VI, elevated St.

Mary’s Church to the title of ‘ANNAI

AROCKIAMARIE BASILICA’ (St. Mary’s Basilica)

on 26^th September 1973, which was officially

announced and celebrated on 26^th January 1974.

Since then, every year this day stands as a remarkable significance of

God’s grace. For several years, a grand car procession carrying the

Eucharist was held and the Archbishop administered solemn blessing

of the Blessed Sacrament.

Due to an increase in the population, and more devotees flooding to

visit the Shrine of Our Lady, the space that was available for the

devotees to stand and pray was found to be very congested. At this

juncture, the then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. T. Jabamalai, successor of

Rev. Fr. Paul Kinatukara constructed a hall like structure facing east

and placed the statue of Our Lady in a prominent place. This enabled

thousands of devotees to see her without any hindrance and pray to

her more devotedly. The statue of Infant Jesus was placed where the

Our Lady’s statue remained originally. During the

year 2004, a new exquisite altar with tabernacle

was erected by Msgr. T. Jabamalai, Parish Priest,

who was also then Vicar General of the Bangalore

Archdiocese. During the year 2005 – 2007, the

church was completely renovated by him and was

rededicated on 29^th August 2006 by the present

Archbishop of Bangalore. In the year 2007 (1882 -

2007) St. Mary’s Basilica celebrated the 125^th year

of its consecration. During the month of June

2007, the Church and Shrine was bifurcated and

His Grace the Archbishop of Bangalore appointed

Rev. Fr. A.S. Anthony Swamy as the Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. L.

Arulappa as the Rector of the Shrine. On 8^th of September 2007,

Annual feast day and birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary, His Grace the

Archbishop officially declared and honoured this Basilica as the

Diocesan Shrine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH

St. Mary’s Basilica is a spacious gothic Church,

form of a Cross. It is 172 feet long and 50 feet

broad. The imposing and magnificent tower

forming the façade of the Church is 160 feet

high. A beautiful statue of Mother Mary holding

Child Jesus in her arms, 6 feet in height, set up

in an attractive shrine just outside the Church

building, is the chief object of veneration and

source of inspiration for the people. Every day,

Our Mother Mary is draped in a ‘Saree’ the

typical dress of the Indian lady. It is said that

in 1875 when the new Church was built, people

tried to remove this statue in order to install it

on a prominent altar inside the Church, but

they failed in their effort since the statue

remained immovable. This strange happening is considered even

today as a sign of Our Lady’s miraculous power.

MIRACULOUS STATUE OF OUR LADY

At the main entrance of the Shrine you will find another Statue of Our

Lady, a smaller one, which has a story behind it.

It is believed to have happened in the year 1832,

when the Church was attacked by some

miscreants and every thing was destroyed except

this small statue. It is also said that when they

attempted to pull it down, they were struck blind.

Soon police and military contingents arrived on

the scene and restored just when the mob had

set fire to the Church. The statue thus

miraculously saved, is the one that is placed in an

imposing, flower decked, illuminated palanquin

taken in procession during the important days of

Marian devotion. It is true that for several years

even Muslims were in the habit of taking out in

solemn procession, the same statue of Our Lady.

THE ANNUAL FEAST

The Main feast is celebrated with all grandeur on the 8^th of September,

the Feast day of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, every year. This

feast is considered by the people, not only as the Feast of the Parish,

but also for the whole of the Archdiocese and State of Karnataka.

In preparation to the Feast, nine days novena is observed, wherein

Holy Masses are celebrated through out the day, in which thousands of

people participate with ardent devotion. Throughout the Feast the

devotees are found to be dressed in ‘Saffron’ clothing. Archbishop

blesses the flag and joins the Chief Guests in hoisting the flag. This

hoisting of the flag symbolizes that our hearts too are to be raised

towards the Almighty God with the perpetual help of Our Lady.

Thousands of people gathered around the flag post, join in singing the

praise of Mary Our Mother – ‘Ave Maria’ (Praise to Mary) and the song

fills the air. As per tradition, the flag is hoisted everyday, beginning

from the Flag Hoisting day till the ninth day of Novena.

On the Feast day, September 8^th people gather in Lakhs, without any

distinction of caste, creed or religion, not only from all parts of

Bangalore, but also from all over India to pay their homage to Our

Lady. The whole city embraces the festive mood on that day. Through

out the day people flock in with lighted candles and flowers to pray

and thank Mother Mary. In the evening, around 5.00 p.m., a grand car

procession – a chariot carrying the 6 feet statue of Mother Mary,

draped in a wonderful silk saree, with spectacular illuminations and

decorations, is carried on the streets of Shivajinagar.

Mary, Mother of God is the mother of all generations, and she

embraces everyone, without any discrimination of caste, creed,

religion and language. While we approach her, all that we need to

possess, is true faith and selfless love in her and her son Jesus. She is

not the end of our lives, rather she is the one who will lead us safe,

just like a mother who will lead her child by holding its little hands, to

the eternal kingdom of God.

GLORY TO GOD AND PRAISES TO MOTHER MARY.

www.stmarysbasilica.in

2009