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Everything you wanted to know About Saint Alphonsa

 Everything you wanted to know About Saint Alphonsa


It was on the 19th of August 1910, it is unknown whether the rays of the morning sun were brighter than normal on that day. It’s also hard to say if nature was more beautiful on that day. Maybe it was. Our knowledge is also limited, anyone who lived at that time has thought of it that this day would be remembered forever. Nobody could have imagined that 19th August 1910 would be written in golden letters in the pages of history. Alphonsamma, who is a prophetess of love, was brought to earth on that day by the Almighty. No one except the Almighty could have known that a beautiful little girl born in the village of Arpookkara in Kudamalur Parish at Kottayam may reach the heights of glory and her heights of holiness would surpass even the heights of the angels. It is the pride and joy of every Keralite and Malayalee that St. Alphonsa was born in Kerala lived in Kerala and was called to heaven from Kerala.



A girl born in a small village in Kerala, a nun who lived within the four walls of the monastery and suffered from various ailments, both physical and mental, how did she become the center of attention of the world? Are there any notable discoveries she has made? Does she have any world-class literary works? Nothing. In her lifetime, she did not establish any monasteries, did not construct any buildings, nor did she hold any positions of authority. The only thing she knew was to endure and love. Like St. Little Flower, Alphonsa was a virgin who lived for Jesus every moment of her life. She made patience the road to holiness because of her love for Jesus.



Childhood and Early Years

She was born to Joseph Muttathupadathu and Mary Puthukari in a Syro-Malabar Nasrani family. She was the fourth daughter of the Joseph Mary couple. Her parents called her Annakutty. The baptism of Annakutty took place at the Kudamalur church on 27th August 1910. Annakutt’s mother passed away on September 16th, 29 days after she was born. Her mother left the responsibility for the care of her beloved daughter to her sister Annamma at the time of her death. Annamma loved and raised her more than her own children. Annakutty received her first holy communion at Kudamalur Church on November 27th, 1917.


Small but important things to observe in St. Alphonsa 

 

She received several marriage proposals from prestigious families. But her desire was to be a bride of God and serve people. When she realized that her physical beauty was an obstacle to leading a monastic life, she displayed an act of extraordinary courage that was ready to fire to gain the backing of ugliness. She burned her legs, mutilated them and she was unable to walk for some time. Alphonsa has stated that the saint who had most influenced her is St. Kochu Theresa (Little Flower). A lot of times she has read the biography of Little Flower. Her childish innocence, simplicity, modesty, and sincerity to God impressed Alphonsa a lot. She had longed and tried to imitate Little Flower. On Pentecost day of 1927, exactly on May 27, Annakutty bids farewell to her home and joins the Franciscan Clara monastery. The Franciscan Church and Clara congregation signed by Francis of Assisi and St. Clara built a golden path to her Holiness.

 

Official life of Alphonsa 

Alphonsa was not only a nun but also an educator. Education has been associated with religion throughout history. In Alphonsa’s life, the church prepared her to be a teacher. The Vakakkad St. Paul’s LP School in the Diocese of Pala was lucky enough to get Alphonsa as a teacher. During her regular appointment time of nine’ O clock, Alphonsa regularly checked the notebooks of her students. In addition to Mathematics, Malayalam, and Science the children were taught moral stories, Bible stories, and stories of saints. As well as teaching children, it is said that Alphonsa assisted the headmistress in her administrative duties. Despite her ill health, Alphonsa also took care of the convent’s gardens and altar arrangements. While doing novitiate at Changanassery Clara Convent she was caught a deadly disease. She prayed to Fr. Chavara Kuriakose Eliyas and miraculously recovered through his intercession. Alphonsa told about this miracle to those who visited her.  Alphonsa and Fr. Chavara both were beatified at the same time, by the same Pope. That too is a wonderful divine plan.

 

Sr. Alphonsa endured a great deal of suffering during her lifetime. As the years passed by her beloved Heavenly Father increased her participation in the passion of His beloved son. She suffered not only physical pain but also emotional distress due to misinterpretations and misjudgments. Even so, she kept her serenity and her trust in God during all of those sufferings. After a lot of suffering and pain, she was called to heaven on 28 July 1946. On the next day onwards first, children and then others began to crowd her grave to seek her intercession. How many stories of miraculous healings? Where modern medicine has failed intercession of Alphonsa is winning. She is an unexplainable phenomenon.




A Window to Heaven


Less than fifty people attended the funeral of Sr. Alphonsa, yet at the ceremony at which she was declared blessed more than five lakh people attended there. With a flower, God can create a spring. A little saint named Alphonsa was crowned with glory by God. On 12 October 2008, when hundreds of cardinals and bishops wore their official robes, in the presence of thousands of priests and nuns from all over the world, when thousands of Malayalees from all over the world transformed the Vatican into Kerala, when three thousand Indian National flags flutter in the autumn breeze of the Eternal City, when the melodies of divine praises ascended to Heaven, Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of St. Paul and head of the catholic church made the important announcement. During the canonization ceremony, more than three lakh people witnessed the proclamation of the Holy Word.


 

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