Excitement as nun set to be India's first female saint
- added October 09, 2008
- 0 responses
-
-
-
- goldenways
- added this
-
A Roman Catholic nun who disfigured herself to avoid marriage will become India's first woman saint when she is canonised by the Pope on Sunday.
Many Indian clergy and pilgrims are expected to attend the special mass at the Vatican for Alphonsa Muttathupadathu, who died in 1946, aged 36.
She is the second Indian to be elevated to sainthood. The first, 16th-century martyr Gonsalo Garcia, was canonised in 1862. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died in 1997, was beatified in 2003 - the first step to sainthood.
Sister Alphonsa's pending canonisation has caused great excitement among Catholics in India and comes as the nation's Christian community is feeling under considerable threat.
About 35 people have been killed and numerous churches burned since August in anti-Christian violence in the eastern state of Orissa.
"In these times, the canonisation is an encouraging moment for those suffering in the name of Jesus," said Father Alphonse Arokiam, who heads one of the churches dedicated to the popular saint-elect.
Christians account for 2.3per cent of India's billion-plus, mostly Hindu, population.
Born in 1910, Sister Alphonsa was so determined to enter a convent that she deliberately stepped into a fire to disfigure her feet so that her aunt would stop pressuring her to marry. She was plagued by serious illness but was known for her stoicism and compassion.
After her death, numerous miracles were attributed to her and her burial place became a pilgrimage site.
The main miracle attributed to her, and approved by the Vatican, involves the reported cure in 1999 of a one-year-old boy, Jinil Joseph, who was born with a birth defect affecting his legs. After a visit to Sister Alphonsa's tomb, his legs apparently straightened.
"I pray to Sister Alphonsa every day for curing me," said Jinil, who will be at the Vatican canonisation ceremony.
"She made my life normal and I'm indebted to her for the miracle cure."
Many Indian clergy and pilgrims are expected to attend the special mass at the Vatican for Alphonsa Muttathupadathu, who died in 1946, aged 36.
She is the second Indian to be elevated to sainthood. The first, 16th-century martyr Gonsalo Garcia, was canonised in 1862. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died in 1997, was beatified in 2003 - the first step to sainthood.
Sister Alphonsa's pending canonisation has caused great excitement among Catholics in India and comes as the nation's Christian community is feeling under considerable threat.
About 35 people have been killed and numerous churches burned since August in anti-Christian violence in the eastern state of Orissa.
"In these times, the canonisation is an encouraging moment for those suffering in the name of Jesus," said Father Alphonse Arokiam, who heads one of the churches dedicated to the popular saint-elect.
Christians account for 2.3per cent of India's billion-plus, mostly Hindu, population.
Born in 1910, Sister Alphonsa was so determined to enter a convent that she deliberately stepped into a fire to disfigure her feet so that her aunt would stop pressuring her to marry. She was plagued by serious illness but was known for her stoicism and compassion.
After her death, numerous miracles were attributed to her and her burial place became a pilgrimage site.
The main miracle attributed to her, and approved by the Vatican, involves the reported cure in 1999 of a one-year-old boy, Jinil Joseph, who was born with a birth defect affecting his legs. After a visit to Sister Alphonsa's tomb, his legs apparently straightened.
"I pray to Sister Alphonsa every day for curing me," said Jinil, who will be at the Vatican canonisation ceremony.
"She made my life normal and I'm indebted to her for the miracle cure."
-
-
-
-
- goldenways
- 1 month ago
Login/Registration is required to add a response
