Vilakkannoor: In a landmark declaration that stirred waves of spiritual joy, the Vatican officially affirmed the authenticity of the Divine Mercy miracle that took place in Vilakkannoor, where the Holy Face of Jesus reportedly manifested on the Sacred Host during Holy Mass. The long-awaited proclamation was delivered at 2:30 PM on Saturday at Christ the King Church, marking an extraordinary chapter in the annals of the Syro-Malabar Church and the devotional life of thousands.
After over eleven years of rigorous theological discernment and scientific scrutiny, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a decree acknowledging the miraculous nature of the event that occurred on November 15, 2011. The proclamation was solemnly made by Archbishop Dr. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and the Vatican’s chief envoy in the country.
The eventful day began at 1:45 PM when the revered Eucharist, believed to bear the image of Christ, was ceremoniously received at Oduvallithattil. A motorcade carried the Holy Eucharist through jubilant crowds to Vilakkannoor, where thousands of faithful welcomed it with hymns, garlands, and heartfelt devotion. The Eucharist was then carried in a solemn procession to a specially adorned pandal near the church.
Present at the declaration ceremony were several prominent ecclesiastical leaders: Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani, Kannur Bishop Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala, Auxiliary Bishops Dr. Dennis Kuruppassery and Mar Alex Taramangalam, Archbishop Emeritus Mar George Njaralakkatt, and Mar George Valiyamattom. The Holy Eucharist was then enshrined on a dedicated pedestal as a symbol of its divine significance.
The Latin decree issued by the Holy See was translated into Malayalam and read aloud by Rev. Dr. Biju Muttathukunnel, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Thalassery, making the Vatican’s declaration accessible to the local faithful.
Following the announcement, a solemn Eucharistic Adoration was led by Fr. Mathew Vengakunnel, offering prayers of thanksgiving and spiritual contemplation on the miracle. At 3:15 PM, a grand concelebrated Holy Mass took place with the participation of all priests from the Thalassery Archdiocese, symbolizing unity and reverence for the miraculous sign.
Approximately 10,000 worshippers gathered at Christ the King Church, bearing witness to a moment that had transformed from a localized phenomenon to a globally acknowledged act of divine grace. The Vilakkannoor miracle, once whispered among believers, had now been enshrined with the Church's highest recognition.
What began as a mysterious image during a humble Mass in 2011 had become a touchstone of faith. The Vatican’s acknowledgment elevated the event into the rare ranks of officially recognized Catholic miracles, marking a milestone not just for Vilakkannoor, but for the spiritual legacy of India.
As church bells pealed and incense lifted into the sky, the faithful of Kerala rejoiced in a powerful affirmation of their devotion—an enduring sign that, for them, the divine presence in the Eucharist was not only real but unmistakably revealed.