New Saints to India - Chavara Kuriakose and Sr. Euphrasia

Vatican City: Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia from Kerala were on Sunday conferred Sainthood by Pope Francis here at a special canonisation mass, a moment of elation and spiritual fervour for the Christians in India, especially in the state.

Reformist Catholic priest Chavara and reclusive nun Euphrasia from Kerala along with four other beatified Italians were declared Saints by the Pope during the mass at St Peter's Square at Vatican, attended by a large number of devotees, two Cardinals, bishops, clergy and nuns from the state.

The four other Saints from Italy are Giovanni Antonio Farina, Ludovico da Casoria, Nicola da Longobardi and Amato Ronconi.

Conferring Sainthood, Pope Francis praised their 'creative' commitment to helping the poor.

"They responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of God and neighbour," Pope Francis told crowds in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

With Chavara and Euphrasia's canonisation, the finale of the long-drawn process is known in Catholic parlance, the centuries-old Syro Malabar Catholic Church in Kerala has three Saints, the first being Sister Alphonsa raised to the revered rank in 2008.

Pope mentions Kerala, meets Indian delegation

Hundreds of pilgrims, priests and nuns from Kerala took part in the prayers in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Church, kicking off the ceremony earlier in the day.

The prayers, attended by cardinals and bishops, started as the icons of the beatified priest and nun were kept in the basilica. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, led the prayers.

Cardinal George Alancheri, the Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Chruch, and Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, represented Kerala.

Also in attendance were Maria Rose, a ten-year-old girl from Pala, and Jewel Jenson, a youth from Thrissur, who the Church says were cured by the intercession of Fr Chavara and Sr Euphrasia, respectively.

A devotee, in tears, prays at Mannanam. Photo: Rijo Joseph/Manorama

About 10,000 Malayalis attended the canonisation at Vatican.

Apart from the church delegation, an official delegation from India led by P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has also attended the Canonisation in Vatican. Kottayam MP Jose K. Mani was also part of the Indian delegation.

Ministers P.J. Joseph and K.C. Joseph represented the Kerala government in the ceremony. Pope Francis met the Indian delegation after the canonisation ceremony.

Prayers in Mannanam, Koonammavu, Ollur

It was a moment shared in elation and spiritual fervour by churches across Kerala where the faithful throng in large numbers for thanks giving service and prayers.

According to church scholars, Syro Malabar Church, which traces its origin to the visit of Apostle St Thomas to the Kerala coast in the first century AD, is one of the 22 Eastern Churches in Full Communion with Rome.

Three places closely associated to the lives of Chavara and Euprhasia at Mannman in Kottayam, Koonammavu in Ernakulam and Ollur in Thrissur have been in a jubilant mood for the last several days with the faithful thronging churches in large numbers for thanks giving service and prayers.

Saint Fr Chavara, a social reformer

Founder of the congregation Carmalites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who was born in a family of modest means in Kuttanad in Alappuzha district in 1805 and died in 1871, was more than a spiritual leader of Syro Malabar Catholic community.

Historians and church chroniclers consider him as a social reformer who gave thrust to secular education of not only Catholics but also of children of other communities, especially the depressed classes. Incidentally, one of the first institutions he founded was a Sanskrit school.

As the Prior General of the congregation, Chavara also took initiative for setting up a printing press and encouraged the community leaders to launch its own publications.

Father Chavara entered the seminary for training as a priest at a young age. After his ordination in 1829, he took the initiative to form the CMI in 1831, the first congregation for men in the Syro Malabar Church.

The Canonisation procedures in his case began long back and was declared a Venerable in 1984 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Kerala in 1986.

The CMI has over the decades set up a large number of educational and charity organisations within and outside Kerala, drawing inspiration from the work and vision of its founder Chavara.

Evuprasiamma a Saint now

Sister Euphrasia, who was born in 1877 at Arnattukara in Thrissur and died in 1952, on the other hand, was more meditatively inclined, who chose to live in the confines of a convent in Thrissur helping people through prayers and wise counsel.

'Evuprasiamma', as she is known to the members of the local community around her convent in Ollur, brought spiritual solace to the people who approached her through prayers and wise counsel.

Sister Euphrasia was significantly a member of the Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC), founded by Chavara for women.

She was declared Servant of God in 1987 and beatified in 2006 after the approval of a miracle attributed through her intercession by the Vatican panel set up to consider her case for Sainthood.

All roads lead to Mannanam

 As the hour of the canonisation of Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara approaches, the faithful are flocking towards his tomb at Mannanam and all the places marked by his blessed life. They pray and submit their children to the blessed priest. They seek blessings in the room Fr. Chavara lived in and the corridors he walked on.

Mannanam is all set for the announcement in Vatican. A massive marquee that can accommodate about 50,000 pilgrims has been set up in front of the monastery church. The roads leading to the church has been re-laid.

Pope Francis will elevate Fr. Chavara and Sr. Euphrasia to the league of saints at 2.30 pm on Saturday. The monastery prior, Fr. Sebastian Chamathara, and the vice postulator, Fr. James Madhathikandathil, are already in Vatican to witness the moment of glory for their congregation.

The ceremony will be relayed live at Mannanam using six digital walls. The monastery will start celebrating from the morning. Priests and laity from nearby parishes will march to Mannanam at 10.30 a.m. A Mass will be celebrated. Fr. Martin Perumeli will lead the adoration in the afternoon.

After Fr. Chavara has been declared a saint, a hundred priests will celebrate a Mass to express their gratitude. Thiruvalla Malankara Archdiocese Metropolitan Thomas Mar Koorilos will speak.

At 6 p.m., Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate a public meeting in connection with the event. Later a procession will be held in the town carrying the Saint’s icon.

Finance minister K.M. Mani will inaugurate the Chavara housing scheme. Kanjirappilly Bishop Mar Mathew Arakkal will preside over the function. Home minister Ramesh Chennithala will unveil the portrait of the saints to be placed in the monastery. Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will release a book.His cabinet colleague Anoop Jacob will also attend the celebrations.

Vice prior Fr. Saji Parakkadavil and co-ordinator Fr. Antony Kanjirathinkal will lead the programmes.

Where the saint walked

Fr Chavara’s birthplace in Alappuzha district is also in festivities. Kainakari and other pilgrims centres are already witnessing heavy congregation flows of the faithful. There will be rallies and regattas, feasts and fireworks to celebrate the occasion.

At Chennankari St Joseph’s Church, celebrations have already started after a Mass in the morning. Minister K M Mani will flag off the regatta to Kainakari. In the afternoon, Kodikkunnil Suresh MP will inaugurate a public meeting.

Bishop Mar Joseph Puthenveettil will give a sermon at Chavara Bhavan at Kainakari. The ceremony in Vatican will be aired live here also.

There are elaborate functions arranged in the church in Arthunkal where Kuriakose Elias was ordained as a priest. Minister K.C. Joseph will inaugurate a commemorative meeting in the parish hall at 10 a.m. A procession carrying the priest’s relics from Alappuzha Mount Carmel Cathedral to Arthunkal Basilica will start at 2 p.m. A pontifical Mass will be held under the blessing of the bishop, Dr Stephen Athipozhiyil. The Vicar general, Monseigneur Pius Arattukulam will speak.

A rally from Ottappunna will proceed towards the Pallippuram Forane Church, where Fr Chavara was a seminarian and later a vicar priest. Minister Ramesh Chennithala will inaugurate a public meeting after a feast. Professor K.M. Sanu and Fr Dr J Naluparayil will speak.

K.C. Venugopal MP will inaugurate the Chavara charitable fund while A.M. Arif MLA will launch a souvenir. P Thilothaman MLA will attend.

As soon as the ceremony gets over in Vatican, a rally with relics will start from Mannanam to the Thanki church, where Fr Chavara had studied. The vicar general, Fr Antony Thachara, will lead the ceremony

Hours Left For the Declaration of Saint Chavara

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According to Church sources, the Pope will declare Chavara and Euphrasia as Saints during a special mass at St Peter's Square at Vatican on Sunday.

A large number of devotees, two Cardinals and clergy and nuns from Kerala have already left for Vatican to witness the event. Special prayers will also be held in Catholic churches across the state to mark the occasion.

Two places closely associated to the lives of Chavara and Euprhasia, at Mannman in Kottayam and Ollur in Thrissur respectively, have already been in the grip of spiritual fervour for the last several days.

Founder of the congregation Carmalites of Mary Immaculate, Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871) was more than a spiritual leader of Syro Malabar Catholic community, that traces its roots to the legendary visit of Saint Thomas the Apostle, to the Kerala coast to preach Gospel in India.

Historians and church chroniclers consider him as a social reformer, who gave a thrust to secular education of not only Catholics, but also to other communities, especially the depressed classes.

The Canonisation procedures in his case began long back and was declared a Venerable in 1984, and beatified in 1986, during the reign of Pope John Paul II, who visited Kerala that year.

Sister Euprhasia was a spiritual person, who chose to live in the confines of a convent in Thrissur, helping the people who came seeking her support.

'Euprasiamma' as she is known to members of the local community around her convent, she brought spiritual solace to the people who approached her through prayers and wise counsel.

Euphrasia, who died in 1952, was declared 'Servant of God' in 1987, and beatified in 2006, after the approval of a miracle attributed through her intercession by the Vatican panel, set up to consider her case for Sainthood.

Apart from the church delegation, an official delegation from India led by P J Kurien, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, will be attending the Canonisation in Vatican.