| There are various traditions
in vogue regarding the origin of the beautiful wooden statue
of Our Lady of Snows in the Basilica. According to one such
tradition the statue of Our Lady of Snows was kept in a Chapel
in a Convent of the Augustinian Sisters in Manila, Philippines.
St. Francis Xavier, on his way to china had to spend a few days
in Manila. he was very much attracted by the Beauty of the Statue.
In the heart of hearts, he wished that the statue be sent
to the newly converted Paravars of Pearl Fishery Coast as his
gift for he had noticed that great attachment of those Paravars
towards the Hindu Goddesses, such as Madurai Meenakshi and Kanyakumari
Bhagavathi Amman. He thought this beautiful statue of Our Lady
of Snows would be the best substitute for them.
But when he expressed his wish to the sisters, they first
turned down his request, Later, when they came to know of the
death of St. Francis Xavier on Sancian Island in 1552, they
remembered his request and immediately sent the statue to Thoothukudi
by a ship named SANTALENA and the ship arrived on 9th June 1555.
It was received by Very Rev. Fr. Michael Vaz, the Vicar General
of the Diocese of Goa and was solemnly installed in the Jesuit
church of San Paul at Keracope Street, Thoothukudi.
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