People, cutting across caste and religion, are holding their breathe with hope and prayers for the auspicious moment of canonisation of Sister Alphonsa as a saint in pompous ceremony in the Vatican City today. She is only the second Indian to be elevated to sainthood after the 16th century martyr, Gonsalo Garcia, who was canonised in 1862. Albanian-born Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died in 1997, was beatified in 2003 — the first step to sainthood.
More than 7,000 people from Kerala state are expected to attend the canonization of Blessed Alphonsa which includes 700 priests, 200 seminarians, 2,260 nuns and 3,840 laypeople, aside from bishops, participants at the canonisation will include Jinil, an 11-year-old Catholic boy whose cure through Blessed Alphonsa’s intercession was accepted by the Vatican as a miracle.
Also while the Pope will be leading the ceremonies in Vatican, the faithful in large numbers would be turning up to attend a spec i a l mass and thanks-giving meeting in the small town of Bharananganam in Kottayam district where Sister Alphonsa spent most of her life in a Clarist convent of Fransican Order in early 20th century.
And when the Pope Benedict XVI declare Sr Alphonsa as saint at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, bells will ring from the churches from across the state and crackers will be burst.
At the St Mary’s Forane Church, Bharananganam, the statue of Sr Alphonsa, which so far been without crown, will be crowned after the Pope’s declaration in Rome.
The canonization will be telecast live on big screen on the church premises on Sunday afternoon.
Father Joseph Mundakkal, the canonisation-in-charge told a large number of people are visiting Bharananganam and the place is slowly becoming a Lisueux.
Sister Alphonsa was born on August 19, 1910 at Kudamaloor in Kottayam district. Anna, which was her baptismal name, lost her mother when she was very young. She showed an inclination for religious life as a child despite suffering from various illnesses.
Sister Alphonsa was so determined to enter a convent that she deliberately stepped into a burning fire to disfigure her feet so that her aunt would stop pressuring her to marry.
Though she taught in a school for a short period, sister Alphonsa had to give up her job due to illness. She spent most of her life in the sick room of the convent and she became known as the suffering servant . The title was more of a tribute to her for the way she accepted all the sufferings in her life, saying that it was a gift for her from her loving Lord. She was buried in Bharananganam, Kerala on July 28, 1946
In 1953, the diocesan process for her canonisation started and the late Pope john Paul-II beatified her during his India visit in 1985. Earlier this year, Vatican announced the date for her elevation to sainthood giving final stamp of approval to a miracle attributed to her.
- By KOL News , Written on October 12, 2008
i varghese m francis the son of m v francis and rosy m francis are proud to witness the auspiecious cerimony of the canonisation of alphonsamaa as a saint. definitely i trust in the name of god jeasus christ and mother marry she will save my family , means my wife my child my expected child to be born and all the problems we had faced will be solved in the midst of alphonsamma.i admire her even as a child long back and she will protect us all, and all whom ilove.thank god.
It is a blessing to our Nation, our people and let peace and communal harmony prevail in us
As an Indian,I am thrilled to have a saint from India.I pray,Sr.Alphonsa,nay, st.Alphonsa inspires more and more indians to live a life of witnessing Jesus Christ which in turn will lead them to the official ecclesiastical list of the saints
I seek St.Alphonsa’s intercession for communal peace and harmony in India.This is my first prayer to the first Indian Sanit.
Oh saint Alphonsa, model of all religious, intercede for the Catholic Church in India. Give us a heart to endure our daily sufferings with an utmost humility and patience. Blessd be your glorious name… Blessed are you among all religious. Be gracious to the sick, specially to the children in need.
Canonization of sister Alphonsa to sainthood is an honour given to India.As Indian christian communities faces persecution these days this graceful moment is a strenth to the chrintians in our Mother Land and Our Living God exsalts us amidst humilation and sufferungs.St. Alphonsa is praying for us to bear witness to Christ.St. Alphonsa remains as a role model and inspiraton to the catholics in India.
ALWAYS THE RECOGNITION WILL COME VERY LATE AND SOMEBODY NEVER RECOGNIZED.
NO COMMENTS , IT IS AN COMMUNAL FUNCTION
It is really an honour for all Indian to hear about this saintly woman. How much she suffered makes her more noble. This is a setting example for human kind for today who engage in activities like terrorism.
saint alphonsa it self is a miracle for us..the whole mankind…..St alphonsa thankyou for the miracle u performed for me…
Saint alphonsama please miracle for my family
my husband drinking and smoking is stoping u
please prayer for me
My immence prayer to Blessed Alphonsa now Saint ALPHONSA during my youth had led me to over come my difficulties , problems , sickness after visiting the Holy Shrine at Bharananganam 20 years back
Saint alphonsama, please pray for my family and also pray for my husband to stop his bad habits.
my own st.alphonsa i’m not say give me wealth why because more money make the people “heartless” so if i get a job i can help to poor people including my family and husband family also….pray for me consider me as your daughter.
Saint alphonsa please pray for us.As a child i am weeping on your feet as I am feeling sad as in my family so much of problems & health problems..kindly see upon us & our sufferings.
please make me first in the class.get good marks
and please pray for me
alphonsama……. pl pray for my familylots of financial problems s der. pl pray for us .my would be is drinking so much some he change his character pl help me .. give miracle to our family ….. pl pray for us i need ur help pl …. love u so much jesus.
Saint Alphonsamme, please interceed for Uncle Richard who is having cancerof thelungs
Saint Alphonsa please pray for my family & also my sister get married soon.
I studid in a school, where st.Al;pphonsaaus School, chennamattam. I visited her tomb many times and her house and experienced that special joy. Now the intercession , I asked that the man passed away peacefully.
Now I ask more for my family that they may all live in unity .love and peacefulness.