Thank you, Ammaa!

Thank you,  Ammaa!
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It happened in November, 23rd,  1956.

The Express Train from Chennai,  bound for  Thoothukudi,  stopped at Arialur Railway station at about 5 o' clock in the  morning.

Mr.  Maria Soosai, about 21years old, had boarded the  train at Chennai, to go to Thoothukudi.

He was a  pious Catholic,  very devoted to our Mother Mary and very fond of  praying to her with Rosary in hand.

He never went anywhere without his Rosary.

When the  train was at Arialur Station he was praying Rosary,  with his hand stretched out through the  window.

When he was busy reciting the prayer unexpectedly his Rosary fell down from his hand.

Shocked at the fall,  he got down from the train to take the Rosary.

But it was not  on the  platform.

It had fallen down on ground near the rail.

To take it he must get down from the platform, which was risky.

He was ready take the  risk as he  loved the Rosary above all things , but when  he was just  about to jump down,  the train whistled to move.

So he had no other go but to remain on the platform.

The train began to move, but  he did not want to board the  train without the  Rosary.

The train was leaving with his luggage, but his Rosary was more important than the luggage.

Even going home did not seem important.

He was thinking only of his Rosary.

When the platform was free he got down from the platform, took the Rosary and gave it  a loving kiss.

Then he got upon the platform and began  reciting Rosary.

He decided to board the morning train to Thoothukudi and sat on a cement bench.

Only thirty  minutes had passed   when an unexpectedly shocking news came. 

The train which had left the station leaving him back  met with an an accident two miles off the station at river Maruthaiyar,  slipping off the rails into the  flooded river causing death to most of the travelers.

The bridge had been damaged by the floods, caused by heavy rain.

The steam engine plunged into the river together with seven compartments, with the passengers in them.

Maria Soosai's mind was  full of thoughts :

"If  I had not been praying Rosary!

If  I had not stretched my hand out with the  Rosary!

If the Rosary had not fallen down!

If  I had not left  the train to take  the Rosary!

I would now be buried in the river under the weight of the compartments!

Ammaa, you protected me with your Rosary!

Thank you, Ammaa! "

Lourdu Selvam.