St. Alphonsa - the flower of FCC

Alphonsa (1910 August 19 – 1946 July 28)- the Passion Flower of Kerala blossomed at a village called Kudamaloor near Kottayam in the Arch Diocese of Changanassery, to Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu. Her pet name was Annakutty. She was baptized on August 27, 1910 at Saint Mary's Church in Kudamaloor under the patronage of Saint Anna.

Anna's mother died when she was very young, so her maternal aunt raised her. Anna was educated by her great-uncle Father Joseph Muttathupadathu. When Anna was 3 years old, she contracted eczema and suffered from it for over a year. In 1916 she started school in Arpookara.She received First Communion on November 27, 1917. In 1918 she transferred to the school in Muttuchira. In 1923 Anna was badly burned on her feet when she fell into a pit of burning chaff.

She arrived at the Poor Clares convent at Bharananganam on Pentecost 1927. She received the postulant's veil on August 2, 1928 and took the name Alphonsa. In May 1929 she entered the Malayalam High School at Vazhappally. Her foster-mother died in 1930.On May 19 1930 she received her religious habit at Bharananganam. On May 22 1930 she resumed her studies at Changanacherry, while working as a temporary teacher at the school at Vakakkad. On August 11, 1931 she joined the novitiate.

She took her permanent vows on August 12, 1936. Two days later she returned to Bharananganam from Changanacherry. A teacher She taught elementary school. Her students loved her for her gentleness and her light-hearted attitude.

Unfortunately, she was often sick and unable to teach Health declines On June 14, 1939 she was struck by a severe attack of double-pneumonia, which left her weakened. On October 18, 1940, a thief stumbled into her room in the middle of the night. This traumatic event caused her to suffer amnesia, and weakened her again.Her health continued to deteriorate over a period of months.

She received extreme unction on September 29, 1941. The next day she regained her memory, though not complete health. Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused vomiting.

Bl. Alphonsa’s life is an example to the modern world. It is a lesson to the world that it is possible to live fruitfully even in the midst of illness and suffering. She was a towering personality - strong willed and determined - who saw suffering as a means to become one with God. Inspite of her mental and physical afflictions, she was able to maintain an even cheerful appearance.

She died on July 28, 1946 after a painful illness. She is buried at Bharananganam, South India in the Diocese of Palai. Her tomb has turned into a center of pilgrimage and many miracles have reportedly occurred there since then.

A miracle in December, 1936 she was miraculously cured from her ailments through the intervention of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Pope John Paul II formally approved a miracle attributed to her intercession and, on 9 July 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa. Beatification On December 2, 1953, Eugène-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Cardinal Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared Servant of God, while on 9 July 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa.

On February 8, 1986, during his apostolic visit to India, the Pope beatified both her and Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kottayam.On June 1, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI authorised her canonization.She will be canonized as saint on October 12^th 2008 at Rome. She would thus become the second saint from India after Saint Gonsalo Garcia.

The miracle approved for the canonisation was singular. Jinil Shaji Ozhuthottiyil was born club footed. Being a congenital malformation, it was impossible to obtain a cure. Sixteen days after his birth, he was taken to the orthopaedic department of the hospital at Kottayam. The orthopaedic surgeon succeeded in correcting the deformity a little, but the child continued to limp. On the suggestion of a priest, the parents took the child to Bharananganam on 13th November 1999 and laying the child on the tomb of Sister Alphonsa, they prayed for a cure. That same evening, while they were praying fervently, the child got up, tottered awhile trying to walk and then with the sole of his feet fixed firmly on the floor steadied his gait, began to walk, and then started frolicking about as any normal child would. Pointing at the photograph of Sister Alphonsa on the wall, the child exclaimed: “This Annamma (baptismal name of Sr. Alphonsa) made me walk”. Flabbergasted and unable to contain their emotions, the parents immediately took him to the Vice-Postulator for the Canonisation, Fr. Francis Vadakel, and briefed him about the miraculous healing of their son. Five doctors examined this case of healing and on 23rd March 2006 declared their verdict: medical science has no explanation for the healing of the child.

The miracle that stepped up the beatification process too was regarding the deformed feet, from birth, of a primary school student frequenting the 4th standard. Thomas Abraham Andumalil went to pray at the tomb of Sister Alphonsa on 29th January, 1947. At night he saw her in a dream and on 30th January, he was perfectly cured. This miracle occurred when not even an year had passed since the demise of Sister Alphonsa. The boy walked without a limp and showed no sign of deformity. Thomas was medically examined on 12/02/1947 and no medical explanation could be found for his cure.

The Franciscan Clarist Congregation which gave birth to the first Indian woman Saint - St. Alphonsa - is proud of its flower. Proclaiming her as a saint, the Church reiterates its universality of which Sister Alphonsa is a prime example: the harmonious blending of the Western and Eastern Spirituality, beautifully rhapsodized by her humble and simple life. A simple nun who achieved nothing great in the world’s view has become famous not only in the Christian world but in Indian and abroad, regardless of race and religion. The secret of her greatness is that she understood well the meaning of her sufferings in the light of the Gospel of Christ. Now she is a messenger of God’s compassionate love by giving many favours to all who approach her in faith.

Today when man is broken in heart, in life, in family, and in society, the life of St. Alphonsa ensures him a state of freedom from guilt, fear and anxieties which will enable him to find inner peace and tranquility. Thus she gives the energy of mind and spirit to transform our life as a genuine Franciscan for the service of God and man.

She became a saint by doing little things with deep love. It is the only way by which we can reach our heavenly abode. May her guiding light illumine our path, free us from the shackles of this world and bring us to the Eternal City.