The tombstones unearthed at Kumari Muttom, near Kanniyakumari, contain evidence to show that Catholics were living there for many centuries. The tombstones dated 1496 contain the edict of the local ruler granting tax exemptions to the residents of Kumari Muttom and authorizing the levy of a cess from the fishermen in Kumari Muttom.The aggregate income thus generated had to be used to keep the lights of the church burning.
In 1542 when St. Francis Xavier came to Cape Comorin (Kanniyakumari) he found ‘Our Lady of Delights Grotto’, at Kanniyakumari. Then it became a centre for mission activities of the Jesuits from Thoothoor to Ramanathapuram.
It is believed that Our Lady of Delights Grotto, in which St. Francis Xavier prayed, later became the church of Our Lady of Ransom. Our Lady of Ransom is the Patron of the congregation in Spain which redeemed the Christians from the Muslim invasion in the year 1218. The people of Kanniyakumari combined the name Ransom with Delight and call their patron Alangara Upakara Matha.