Two Indians from Kerala in sight of Sainthood in church

Mangalore Today News Network

Kerla, June 13, 2014:  Church sources in Kerala inform that the date for conferring sainthood or canonization of Blessed Chavara Kuriakose and Blessed Euphrasia of Kerala will take place on November 23. was set by an the cardinals meeting held in the Vatican June 12.The historic event of Catholic community in India comes six years after Sr Alphonsa became the first woman saint of the country.

Celebrating the occasion, prayers were held in churches in Kottayam and Thrissur, respectively the base of the two beatified persons.

The Vatican had in April this year approved the acts attributed due to intercession of Fr Chavara and Sr Euphrasia before completing long-drawn procedures to be followed under the church rule before conferring sainthood.

Both of them belonged to Kerala-based Syro Malabar Church, from which Sister Alphonsa also hailed, and were beatified during the tenure of Pope John Paul II, who was recently canonized in Rome on a fast track.

RESUME :

1. Blessed Chavara (1805-1871), who founded the Carmalites Mary Immaculate (CMI) congregation, was born near Alappuzha in Kerala. He is also revered was a social reformer who worked hard for the development and education of people throughout Kerala by encouraging to have school at village parishes. The CMI congregation is now renowned for its socio-educational services across the country, even in remote villages of northern India.

2. Sister Euphrasia (1877-1952), was born near Thrissur in central Kerala. She joined the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel at Koonammavu in Kerala the first indigenous congregation of Syro-Malabars. She was was often afflicted with various illnesses which caused her intense suffering. Once, during a particularly painful attack, the Sisters were resolved to send her away to home, but through an apparition of the Holy Family she received a miraculous healing that permitted her to continue in the convent.

Mother Euphrasia had a profound sense of Church and she personally felt the sorrows and problems of the Church of her day. She offered her mortifications and penances for the conversion of schismatics and asked the novices and children to pray for them.

The Vatican has not announced the miracles it accepted to decree the canonization of these saintly people.

Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam became India’s first woman saint when she was canonized on October 12, 2008.