THE SAINTS: STORIES, IMAGES, MEDITATIONS

Non-Catholics seek help from Catholic saint

The rainsoaked streets of the village of Bharananganam in Kerala state were filled with throngs of Christians, Hindus, and Muslims visited the tomb of St. Alphonsa.

Monday, October 13, 2008 By UCA News

The sleepy streets of Bharananganam village in Kerala state were filled with people who came to the village's St. Mary's Church, which houses Saint Alphonsa's tomb.

Church bells chimed and firecrackers were set off across Kerala when Pope Benedict XVI declared the Clarist nun a saint at St. Peter's square at 1:30 p.m., Indian time.

It rained heavily in the morning but about 50,000 people visited the tomb all the same, said Father Augustine Palackaparambil of Palai diocese, which now covers the area. The diocese, together with other dioceses in Kerala, plan a four-day commemoration starting on Nov. 9 in Bharananganam village, Father Palackaparambil, media coordinator for that event, told UCA News.

Saint Alphonsa, born in 1910, joined the Franciscan Clarist convent in Bharananganam and lived there until she died in 1946. The village is near Kottayam, a town 2,650 kilometers south of New Delhi.

"People of different faiths have visited the tomb and offered prayers. The chapel was packed for the 5 a.m. Mass," Father Palackaparambil said. He added that Masses were offered every hour from the morning until the canonization ceremony started at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

Ramesh Chandran, a Hindu and bank employee, said he visits the tomb once every year to offer prayers. I've received great favors from the saint. Whenever I have a problem or difficulties in life, I pray to her. I'm very happy today," he said about the canonization.

Also among the crowd at the tomb was Sarina Ibrahim, 14, who lives 20 kilometers from Bharananganam. The Muslim girl told UCA News she seeks the saint's help in her studies because "Saint Alphonsa is a saint of all" not only Christians.

Close to 10,000 people assembled at the St. Mary's auditorium near the church to watch the live telecast of the canonization ceremony from the Vatican. Media reported about 100,000 people attended the event.

During the internationally televised program, the pope also declared three other saints, Maria Bernarda Butler from Switzerland, Narcisa de Jesus Marlillo Moran from Ecuador and Father Gaetano Errico from Italy.

Five Franciscan Clarist nuns who knew Saint Alphonsa in the 1940s watched the canonization ceremony and reminisced with UCA News. They recalled how they interacted with the nun, who died at the age of 36, and said they were excited to have met India's first woman saint.

The nuns said they conversed with Sister Alphonsa as primary class students at St. Mary's School in Bharananganam, where the congregation has a school and a convent.

Sister Grace Kalariparambil said she was 5 years old when she first met the saint. "My aunt was a nun and roommate of Saint Alphonsa. Whenever I visited my aunt, Saint Alphonsa used to hug me. She was very fond of children," the now 77-year-old nun recounted.

Sister Fathima Mary, 80, recalled that when she finished high school, Saint Alphonsa invited her to join the congregation. "She was very loving. Her face was always beaming with compassion," Sister Mary said.

Sister Josetta, who attended the saint's funeral Mass, told UCA News she enjoyed talking to her. "I've vivid memories of meeting her on several occasions. Our meetings are the sweet memories of my childhood," the 71-year old nun said.

With Sister Alphonsa's canonization, India now has two saints. The other, Gonzalo Garcia, part Portuguese, was born in western India's Vasai region. The Franciscan lay brother was martyred in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1597 and was declared a saint in 1862.