"Love our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with all your heart. Draw the waters of eternal life from that fountain as in the words of the Prophet Elijah" Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Kuriakose Elias Chavara was an Indian Catholic priest, an educator, a social reformer, and now a saint. He was canonized by Pope Francis on November 23, 2014.

Kuriakose was born on February 10, 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala, in southwestern India, to Christian parents. His family belonged to an ancient community of Christians popularly known as Saint Thomas Christians. The community descended from Christians baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle in the 1st Century AD. He attended a school in his local village and was educated in language and science.

Before he became a Carmelite priest, Kuriakose was an educator and social reformer. He initiated reforms in his local society and started schools in the communities of Mannanam and Arpookara. He recognized that children needed to be fed in order to learn, so he instituted a midday meal to feed the children.

From 1831 onwards Father Kuriakose engaged in various spiritual and welfare activities, such as starting a Sanskrit school at Mannanam for the educational development of the area, establishing the first wooden press in Kerala, renewing the Order of the Liturgy, popularising Sunday sermons and organizing annual retreats in parishes to facilitate the spiritual renewal of the people. In 1866, he founded the first Indian religious congregation for women, the Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC).

In 1846, he established St. Joseph's printing press in Mannanam, which was the third such press in Kerala, and the first purchased without foreign help. Using the press, he began printing the Nasrani Deepika, a religious newspaper. The press would go on to print Deepika, starting in 1885, which is now one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in India. The paper is published in Malayalam, spoken in the region with about 37 million native speakers.

Kuriakose took vows in the Carmelite tradition along with ten other priests on December 8, 1855. He took the name, Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family. He governed a series of monasteries in the region as the prior general from 1856 until his passing in 1871. He established seven monasteries during his tenure.

During his life, Kuriakose was a prolific writer who kept a chronicle of events in his monastery as well as a record of what was happening in society around him. He wrote several spiritual works, including poetry.

Kuriakose passed away on January 3, 1871, at age 66. His last words suffice as a homily: "Why are you sad? All God's people must die someday. My hour has come. By the grace of God, I prepared myself for it since long. My parents taught me to keep the Holy Family always in my mind and to honor them throughout my life. As I had always the protection of the Holy Family I can tell you with confidence that I have never lost the baptismal grace I received in baptism. I dedicate our little Congregation and each of you to the Holy Family. Always rely on Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Let the Holy Family reign in your hearts. Don't be sad about my dying. Joyfully submit yourselves to the will of God. God is all powerful and His blessings are countless. God will provide you with a new Prior who will be a source of blessing for the Congregation as well as for you. Hold fast to the constitution, the rules of our elders and that of the Church. Love our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with all your heart. Draw the waters of eternal life from that fountain as in the words of the Prophet Elijah. All the members of the congregation, especially elders must be charitable to one another. If you do so, God will be glorified by the congregation and which will be flourished day after day. Your charity will bring salvation to souls."

Saint Kuriakose spent the last seven years of his life at Koonammavu, Kerala, where he died on 3 January 1871 and was buried in Saint Philomena’s Church, Koonammavu. Later, on 24 May 1889, his mortal remains were transferred from Koonammavu and reinterred in the Saint Joseph’s Monastery Chapel at Mannanam, the mother house of the CMI congregation.

Saint Kuriakose Elias was well known for his sacrificial life and continues to be a modelof Christian virtue and a solace for many in their trials and tribulations. Many favours have been received through his intercession. Saint Alphonsa, the first saint of India, sought the intercession of Saint Kuriakose and was instantly cured of her illness. She had certified this cure by her own handwritten testimonial.

The canonization process of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara began in 1956 and, on 8 February 1986, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Kottayam, Kerala.

The miraculous cure of the crippled feet of Joseph Pennaparampil from Calicut, Kerala, through the intercession of Saint Kuriakose was approved for the beatification. The miraculous cure of the alternating convergent squint eyes of Maria Jose Kottarathil from Pala, Kerala, was approved by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Vatican, for the canonization of Saint Kuriakose. On 18 March 2014, Pope Francis signed the Decreeapproving Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara to be declared a saint.

On 23 November 2014, Kuriakose Elias Chavara was canonized at Rome by Pope Francis. The tomb, where the mortal remains of Saint Kuriakose are interred, is situated in front of the main altar of Saint Joseph’s Monastery Chapel at Mannanam.

His feast day is celebrated on January 3 in the Syro-Malabar Church, and February 18 in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church. He remains well-known and popular in India.
with inputs from Catholionline, chavaralibrary

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Genevieve
2. Saint Blitmund of Bobbio
3. Saint Fintan of Doon
4. Saint Finlugh of Derry
5. Saint Gordius of Cappadocia

Click here to read other articles of this series