A group of both Hindu and Catholic schoolchildren in India say they saw Our Lady standing under the altar in their church, accompanied by the scent of jasmine, the gift of contrition, and the miraculous healing of a girl’s ear problem.

CNA/EWTN News is reporting on the phenomenon that allegedly occurred in St. Ambrose Church and Lower Primary School in Edavankakkad in the southwestern state of Kerala. The parish and school where the Marian apparitions are said to have occurred on at least two separate dates, are in the Archdiocese of Verapoly.

According to Matters India the alleged apparition occurred on September 28 when a Hindu girl named Krishnaveda went into the church to pray for her ear problem. She said that she put some holy water on her ear and it instantly felt better. Later, she told her fellow students about the healing and when they left the school to go to the church to thank God for healing Krishnaveda’s ear, they saw a vision in the sky of Christ being scourged. The children said the name of Jesus and then continued into the church.

The only Catholic girl among the group, Ambrosiya, volunteered to lead the Rosary but did not know the Luminous Mysteries which are recited on Thursdays. A teacher was brought in to help them and during the recitation of the Rosary, a girl named Anusree told the teacher that the Blessed Mother was standing under the altar. They all reported the scent of jasmine flowers. Our Lady supposedly told the children to come closer.

After the rosary, as the teacher was leading the children out of the church, the girls said the apparition was following them and pleading with them not to leave.

The teacher went to tell other teachers while some of the children went to their assistant pastor, Father Merton D’Silva.

Father D’Silva took the children back into the church where they continued to claim that they saw the Blessed Mother standing under the altar. None of the adults present were able to see anything.

The children said the apparition promised to help them in their studies and to send the Holy Spirit to them. Our Lady also promised to take them to heaven.

When news of the apparition spread, people began to gather at the church. On Oct. 3 a large crowd came to the church, along with the reputed visionaries, to pray the rosary. During this event, everyone perceived the scent of jasmine flowers. They also saw a bright light and a priest who was present said he felt someone patting his head.

Many of the people in the congregation said they received the gift of contrition while praying.

According to Father D’Silva, the archdiocesan authorities are taking a “wait-and-see” approach to the happenings in the parish before intervening.

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