Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Idaikattur

 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Idaikattur

An Historical Architectural Edifice Radiating Divine Blessings

Every church will have an historical connect with the past deeply linked with its establishment and existence. But what you will find at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Idaikattur, Sivagangai District is something that is spectacular with significance standing out with legendary connect of history, culture, heritage and divine faith with blessings.

Constructed in pristine design of the Gothic Architecture, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is an iconic church that transcends time. Located along the banks of river Vaigai, it is a never to be missed catholic church with intricate and innate detailing that is very unique.

Historical Connect of Across the Seas:
This unique church of the sacred heart of Jesus was built in 1894 AD by a French missionary Fr. Ferdinand Celle SJ has an interesting history, steeped in legendary connectivity, this is a replica of the Rheims Cathedral in France.

A French Anglican lady by name Mary Anne was suffering from severe heart ailment. She met three Roman Catholic ladies who advised Mary Anne to have Novena prayer for the sacred heart of Jesus for nine days. When doctors abandon a patient, God's grace is the only source for curing if the patient completely believes in him. With this conviction and confidence, she had novena prayer to the sacred heart of Jesus. After five days of prayer, she got completely cured. Immediately to show her gratitude to the sacred heart of Jesus Mary Anne wanted to build a church.

When Mary Anne came to know about the arrival of Fr. Ferdinand Celle SJ in France, she requested him to build a church to the sacred heart of Jesus in his parish Idaikattur in south India with a donation of 2000 francs. This is to express her gratitude to the sacred heart of Jesus and it should be exactly like the Rheims cathedral in France. Father accepted her request with great joy and agreed to build a church in Idaikattur.

Architecture
Idaikattur Church is an architectural marvel decorated with distinctive French style of Gothic architecture.  The church is constructed with high vaulted roof supported by columns with cantilevers. The windows are adorned with small brick pillars with hollow flower bricks and stained glass which illustrate the events of the way of the cross vividly and skillfully.

The stucco figures and the statues of saint, angels and the sacred heart of Jesus, his foster father St. Joseph and the Holy family statue with golden gilt and the mother of sorrows are of great beauty and symbol of ancient French artwork.

The Main Altar:
The main altar of the church is more beautiful with gigantic Gothic facade of 45 feet high with stucco figures of God the father holding his only crucified son Jesus by his hands and the holy spirit proceeding from his chest surrounded by angels in clouds and in the glittering gold rays of the sun around the whole work are relief from the wall.

This main altar depicts the doctrine of the Christianity i.e., the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in one and the same clearly shown to all people who look at it. The Gothic arches are decorated with rows of beads, flowers, garlands.

Another unusual feature of the church is the statue of Sacred Heart Jesus Christ. Paintings and statues of Christ usually show his heart at the center of the chest. At Idaikattur, the statue shows the heart on the left side of the chest. The Christ is highly embellished with golden crown and silk robes.
 

Epitome of Miracles & Blessings:
The Sacred Heart Church stands out as an epitome of faith and blessings to the people, blending grace and peace with miraculous power of healing over more than 140 years.

There is a miraculous anecdote connected with the construction of the church, as the work of divine destiny, there were showers of blessings upon the church and the construction activities. When the spirits of Fr. Ferdinand were really down, there was an unbelievable occurrence that was taking place in his mind. As a dream, he visualized that angels were actually lending their graceful gesture to support the construction work, by shouldering the responsibility of working with the construction materials layer by layer. He saw the church rising with the support and intervention of the angels from above.

There is a popular saying in Tamil “Intha Alayam Sammanasukalal Kattapatathu”, which translates English to “this Church was built by the angels”, which is true when you see the sculptures within the Church.
 

- Nicholas Francis

Author of the Coffee Table Book

"Marvel of Miracles"

www.nicholasfrancis.in