Saint of the day - July 28
Saint Alphonsa Muttathupadathu is the first Indian native woman to be elevated to sainthood. She is the second person of Indian origin to be canonized as a saint by the Church and the first canonized saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
She was born as Annakkutty in Kudamaloor, a village in Kottayam district of Kerala, India, on 19 August, 1910. Her parents were Joseph Muttathupadathu and Mary Puthukari. Anna lost her mother when she was young, and thereafter, she was raised by her maternal aunt.
She had several marriage proposals from reputed families. However, she always wanted to be a bride of Jesus and do good things for people. Once, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux appeared and told her that she would become a saint. There are many similarities in the lives of Anna and Thérèse, and she was Anna's all-time favourite saint and role model.
In 1923, Anna's feet were severely burnt when she allegedly jumped into a pit of burning chaff in order to avoid her foster mother's attempt to arrange a marriage for her, as she wanted to fulfil her desire of becoming a nun. This accident left her partially disabled for the rest of her life.
When she was cured of her injuries, Anna joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, a religious congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis, in 1927 and took the name ‘Alphonsa’.
In December 1936 she was reportedly cured from her ailments through the intervention of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. However on 14 June 1939, she was struck by a severe attack of pneumonia, which left her weakened. On 18 October 1940, a thief entered her room in the middle of the night. This traumatic event caused her to suffer amnesia and further weakened her.
Alphonsa's health continued to deteriorate during the following months. She received extreme unction on 29 September, 1941. The next day it is believed that she regained her memory, though not complete health. Her health improved over the next few years, until July 1945, when she developed a stomach problem that caused frequent vomiting.
On 28 July 1946, Alphonsa died at the age of 35 and was buried at Bharananganam, in the Diocese of Palai. Her death was unnoticed by the public and the funeral was simple and thinly attended. But soon the school children, who loved her, started receiving favours through her intercession. Her tomb at Bharananganam turned out to be a great centre of pilgrimage, attracting people from far and near.
The cause of Sister Alphonsa began on 2 December 1953 in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palai and she was declared a Servant of God. She was declared Venerable on 9 July 1985 by Pope John Paul II. On February 8, 1986, almost 40 years after her death, Pope John Paul II beatified her at Kottayam, during his Apostolic pilgrimage of India.
The pope summarized her life in his speech, saying: “From early in her life, Sister Alphonsa experienced great suffering. With the passing of the years, the heavenly Father gave her an ever fuller share in the Passion of his beloved Son. We recall how she experienced not only physical pain of great intensity, but also the spiritual suffering of being misunderstood and misjudged by others. But she constantly accepted all her sufferings with serenity and trust in God, being firmly convinced that they would purify her motives, help her to overcome all selfishness, and unite her more closely with her beloved divine Spouse.”
Alphonsamma, as she is fondly called in her native, was canonized on June 1, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Innocent I
2. Saint Jaime Hilario Barbal
3. Saint Pedro Poveda Castroverde
4. Saint Nicanor the Deacon
5. Saint Samson of York
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