Minor Basilica in Mokama becomes a Catholic Landmark in Bihar

Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace, Mokama Elevated as Basilica

Bangalore, November 8, 2024 (CCBI): Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace, Mokama in the Archdiocese of Patna, Bihar has been elevated as a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis on April 5, 2024. This new Minor Basilica stands majestically about 90 kilometers away from Patna on the southern bank of the Ganges River. Mother Mary of this shrine is affectionately known as Mokama Mata (Mother of Mokama) here.

The CCBI voted approved the request of Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura of Patna in its 35th Plenary Assembly held in January 2024, Bangalore and forwarded the request to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. Mokama becomes the second Basilica in north India after the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces in Sardhana, Meerut diocese in Uttar Pradesh, which was elevated to the status of a Basilica on December 13, 1961, by Pope John XXIII.

The Mokama shrine is a prominent pilgrimage site in northern India, attracting not just Catholics but devotees from other communities as well. Annually, it draws tens of thousands of pilgrims from far-flung places across India and the Hindu heartland of northern India. A captivating legend surrounds the origin of this shrine - the tale of a princess who wished to marry a Prince, but the prince tragically died in a hunting accident. The princess remained unmarried, dedicating her life to serving the poor and needy in an ashram. Thus, the place came to be revered as the "Home of the Mother."

The centuries-old legacy of Christianity in Bihar found firm ground when Pope Benedict XV established the Patna diocese on September 10, 1919. Two years later, five American Jesuit priests arrived in Bihar, carrying a special devotion for Mary. These missionaries touched the lives of marginalized communities with Christian love and compassion, leading many locals to embrace Catholicism.

Fr Marion Batson, S.J., was drawn to the name Mokama. He shared his vision of establishing a shrine there with Mr. Thomas Leslie Martin, the chairman and managing director of Martin Burn Co. Ltd. of Calcutta. Initially hesitant, Mr. Martin eventually wholeheartedly supported making Father Batson's dream a reality after reportedly experiencing a dream of Our Lady on a lotus flower amidst a beautiful rose garden. Thus, the two visionaries collaborated to transform the ancient legend into a glorious living reality - the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Grace, Mokama. The shrine was dedicated on November 4, 1947, by His Grace, Dr. Ferdinand Perrier of the Calcutta Mission.

The architectural style of the shrine is a seamless blend of Hindu-Arabesque and Indo-Romanesque elements, embodying the harmony of Eastern and Western art forms. Its unmatched beauty is exquisite, with every detail meticulously designed to create a true ornament.

Father Batson and Mr. Martin envisioned a statue of Our Lady of Divine Grace that would be distinct from all known depictions of the Holy Mother. They sought an artwork that would transcend mere beauty, capturing the essence of the Mokama legend itself. An American-Russian artist, Mr. Derujinski, carved the statue from a single block of wood, portraying the quintessential Indian motherhood - Our Lady adorned in Indian attire, holding her Divine Son and offering Him to all humanity.

Devotion to Mary swiftly spread among the faithful in and around Mokama. Many received special graces, such as the gift of progeny, health, and well-being, after visiting and praying at the Shrine. Over the years, this sanctuary has become a refuge for the distressed and dejected. The Shrine attracts over two hundred thousand devotees and pilgrims during the annual feast held on the First Sunday of February each year, with a steady flow of visitors throughout the year. It is a revered site and a much sought-after shrine for Christians in Bihar and other states of India.

Currently, there are 34 Minor Basilicas in India, of which 29 belong to the Latin Church, 5 belong to Syro Malabar, and one belongs to the Syro Malankara Church.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara