People in the southern Indian state of Kerala state are rejoicing over Rome's green light for Blessed Alphonsa's canonization.
"I'm very happy about the news. To us, she is already a saint," Rosamma Kuriakose, a 62-year-old Catholic woman who claimed her mother had seen Blessed Alphonsa alive, told UCA News on June 4.
Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, a Kerala nun, died on July 28, 1946, at the age of 37. Pope John Paul II beatified the Clarist nun during his first India visit in 1986.
On June 1, Pope Benedict XVI authorized her canonization. The Vatican said the pope authorized the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to her intercession.
Kuriakose said her family prays to Blessed Alphonsa whenever it faces problems. "I consider her my family saint," added the woman who lives 16 kilometers from Bharananganam, a parish in Palai diocese where the nun was buried. Palai is some 2,650 kilometers south of New Delhi.
According to Kuriakose, people from all religions and castes pray at Blessed Alphonsa's tomb. For example, her Hindu neighbor prays at the tomb "at least once in two months."
The canonization news has cheered people in villages around Bharananganam. "Many old-timers in the village had seen Sister Alphonsa and talked to her," said Joseph Mundat, who lives three kilometers away from Blessed Alphonsa's tomb. "We are waiting for the great occasion when the Church officially declares her a saint. Because of her, our village is known all over the world," the Catholic layman told UCA News.
Bharananganam, a sleepy village of rubber plantations, has become a popular pilgrimage center after people attributed hundreds of miracles to Blessed Alphonsa.
Mundat said his family is "indebted" to Blessed Alphonsa because whatever "we have gained in our life is all due to her blessings." The 62-year-old farmer said the saintly nun answers whenever "I pray to her with deep devotion."
Father Francis Vadakkel, vice postulator for the canonization of Blessed Alphonsa, said visitors to her tomb have increased after the media released news about her canonization. The 73-year-old priest, who claimed to have seen the nun when she was alive, told UCA News some 600 people visit the tomb daily. On weekends, the number rises to 1,400.
According to the priest, the canonization formalities have been completed and a date would be declared after convening the cardinals' consistory. "We are all waiting for the great occasion," he added.
Father Vadakkel said the Vatican approved the miracle cure of Jinil, a fourth-grader in Kuruppumthara, 35 kilometers from Bharananganam. Jinil was born with twisted legs. Soon after his birth, medical experts said that he would be a cripple for life.
In 1999, his parents took him to Blessed Alphonsa's shrine. "Soon his legs become normal and he started walking," Father Vadakkel said, adding that "medical science could not explain the cure and considers it a great miracle."
Nuns of Blessed Alphonsa's congregation are also thrilled. "It's great news for all of us and the Indian Church," said provincial Sister Maria Francis. She noted that in the 2,000 years of the Indian Church, Blessed Alphonsa is the second saint from the country and the first from Kerala. "We thank God for selecting our member as a saint," the 63-year-old nun told UCA News.
The first Indian saint is Gonsalo Garcia who was crucified in 1597 at Japan's Nagasaki. Pope Pius IX canonized the Franciscan lay brother from Bassein in western India in 1862.
Sister Rani Jose, superior of Bharananganam convent, told UCA News that Blessed Alphonsa is a "role model" for some 50 nuns under her. Blessed Alphonsa's life "was full of suffering, but she never complained," Sister Jose added. According to her, Sister Alphonsa's life motivates many young women to join her congregation.
"I'm very happy about the news. To us, she is already a saint," Rosamma Kuriakose, a 62-year-old Catholic woman who claimed her mother had seen Blessed Alphonsa alive, told UCA News on June 4.
Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, a Kerala nun, died on July 28, 1946, at the age of 37. Pope John Paul II beatified the Clarist nun during his first India visit in 1986.
On June 1, Pope Benedict XVI authorized her canonization. The Vatican said the pope authorized the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to her intercession.
Kuriakose said her family prays to Blessed Alphonsa whenever it faces problems. "I consider her my family saint," added the woman who lives 16 kilometers from Bharananganam, a parish in Palai diocese where the nun was buried. Palai is some 2,650 kilometers south of New Delhi.
According to Kuriakose, people from all religions and castes pray at Blessed Alphonsa's tomb. For example, her Hindu neighbor prays at the tomb "at least once in two months."
The canonization news has cheered people in villages around Bharananganam. "Many old-timers in the village had seen Sister Alphonsa and talked to her," said Joseph Mundat, who lives three kilometers away from Blessed Alphonsa's tomb. "We are waiting for the great occasion when the Church officially declares her a saint. Because of her, our village is known all over the world," the Catholic layman told UCA News.
Bharananganam, a sleepy village of rubber plantations, has become a popular pilgrimage center after people attributed hundreds of miracles to Blessed Alphonsa.
Mundat said his family is "indebted" to Blessed Alphonsa because whatever "we have gained in our life is all due to her blessings." The 62-year-old farmer said the saintly nun answers whenever "I pray to her with deep devotion."
Father Francis Vadakkel, vice postulator for the canonization of Blessed Alphonsa, said visitors to her tomb have increased after the media released news about her canonization. The 73-year-old priest, who claimed to have seen the nun when she was alive, told UCA News some 600 people visit the tomb daily. On weekends, the number rises to 1,400.
According to the priest, the canonization formalities have been completed and a date would be declared after convening the cardinals' consistory. "We are all waiting for the great occasion," he added.
Father Vadakkel said the Vatican approved the miracle cure of Jinil, a fourth-grader in Kuruppumthara, 35 kilometers from Bharananganam. Jinil was born with twisted legs. Soon after his birth, medical experts said that he would be a cripple for life.
In 1999, his parents took him to Blessed Alphonsa's shrine. "Soon his legs become normal and he started walking," Father Vadakkel said, adding that "medical science could not explain the cure and considers it a great miracle."
Nuns of Blessed Alphonsa's congregation are also thrilled. "It's great news for all of us and the Indian Church," said provincial Sister Maria Francis. She noted that in the 2,000 years of the Indian Church, Blessed Alphonsa is the second saint from the country and the first from Kerala. "We thank God for selecting our member as a saint," the 63-year-old nun told UCA News.
The first Indian saint is Gonsalo Garcia who was crucified in 1597 at Japan's Nagasaki. Pope Pius IX canonized the Franciscan lay brother from Bassein in western India in 1862.
Sister Rani Jose, superior of Bharananganam convent, told UCA News that Blessed Alphonsa is a "role model" for some 50 nuns under her. Blessed Alphonsa's life "was full of suffering, but she never complained," Sister Jose added. According to her, Sister Alphonsa's life motivates many young women to join her congregation.
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