With the canonisation of Saint Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan recently on 2019 October 13th by Pope Francis, Kerala in India has gained a lot of prominence in the spiritual map of the world. With the elevation of St Mariam Thresia, the number of Saints from Indian origin has risen to 6 and the number of Saints from a small state known as Kerala alone has risen to 4! There is more amazing news for the faithful that many more Blessed souls are readily waiting to be canonised shortly! And many 'servants of God' are in the waiting to be declared as 'Blessed'!
When the number of the Saints, the Blessed and the Servants of God are in the rise here in Kerala, it is a matter for great rejoicing in Heaven. At the same time it is a shocking thing for the dark world. Naturally where ever there is rise in the number of devoted and faithful persons, the kingdom of hell will be very much worried and satan will deploy more troops at that place and recruit many local agents to fight and damage the Church from within.
As we are in the last hour for the fulfilment of the Biblical prophecies, we must be very vigilant and cautious. satan will go to any extend to mislead and ruin 'even the chosen'. That is why we see many faithful including priests and nuns being trapped by satan, join hands with the godless, atheists and terrorists and making vain attempts to destroy the Church of God.
Though we are living in a society where the number of the atheists, criminals and satan-worshippers are in the rise, there are also numerous known and unknown servants of God who pray ceaselessly for us and the whole world. We may not be aware that there are many saintly nuns and religious fully involved only in prayers and penance in many cloister convents and monasteries in India. We are fortunate to see, hear and touch some contemporary saintly priests, religious and laity (even though not officially recognised and declared as saints by the Holy See) who lead a prayerful life of sacrifices and serve the Word of God very loyally. St Mother Teresa of Calcutta lived with us few years ago. As she led a life of Holiness fully pleasing God, she is today witnessing the Glory of God as a Saint in Heaven and making intersession for us all!
The process of sanctification and the declaration of the sainthood has 4 stages in the Catholic Church. A wait period of at least 5 years is necessary to initiate the process after the death. Sometimes the entire process takes even centuries for the completion.
1. Servant of God (ദൈവ ദാസൻ):
When the cause of a person who led a saintly life in this world is accepted by the 'Congregation for the causes of saints', on the recommendation of the local Bishop, he/she will be called as Servant of God.
2. Venerable (ധന്യന്):
After the acceptance of the cause and after making due examinations, from the time when the congregation officially approves and declares that the person lived a virtuous Christian life, he/she will be addressed as Venerable.
3. Blessed (വാഴ്ത്തപ്പെട്ട):
After declaring venerable, if a remarkable miracle happens through the intercession of that person, the congregation recognises that he/she is in heaven and is declared Blessed by the Pope. This declaration is known as beatification.
4. Saint (വിശുദ്ധന്):
After the third stage, when another exceptionable miracle occurs (and is approved by medical and theological commissions), the Pope in consultation with all the Cardinals fixes the date for the canonisation and declares a Saint.
List of Saints in Kerala Catholic Church:
1. St Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception:
Saint Alphonsamma of Bharananganam near Pala in Kottayam district is the first woman saint of India and the first declared saint of Kerala. She was a member nun of the FCC (Franciscan Clarist Congregation). She is known as the 'passion flower' who joyfully offered all her sufferings and pains with that of the agony of Lord Jesus Christ. She always pleaded Lord Jesus to grant her the share of His sorrowful Passion and used to complain to the Lord when the sufferings were less. Her tomb is at Bharananganam near Pala.
Born on: 19-09-1910 at Muttathupadam in Kottayam Dist
Died on: 28-07-1946 at Bharananganam in Kottayam Dist
S o God : 02-12-1953
Venerable: 09-11-1984
Blessed: 08-02-1986
Saint: 12-10-208
Feast Day: July 28th
2. St Kuriakose Elias Chavara:
Saint Chavara Achchan of Mannanam near Kottayam was a social reformer also. He had worked for the eradication of social evils and the uplift of the poor and backward people without of any discrimination. He was a Catholic Priest and the co-founder of CMI Congregation for the Priests. He founded a Religous Congregation for the sisters (nuns) by name CMC. His tomb is at Mannanam near Kottayam.
Born on : 08-02-1805 at Kainakari in Alappuzha Dist
Died on : 03-01-1871 at Koonammavu in Ernakulam Dist
S o God : 08-12-1958
Venerable: 07-04-1984
Blessed: 08-02-1986
Saint: 23-11-2014
Feast Day: January 3rd
3. St Euphrasia:
St Evuprasamma was known as the 'praying mother'. She was a member of the CMC congregation founded by St Chavara Eliyas. She too had the grace to drink from the cup of the Master and had to face many trials.
Born on: 17-10-1877 at Kattur in Thrissur Dist
Died on: 29-08-1952 at Ollur in Thrissur Dist
SoG : 29-08-1987
Venerable: 05-07-2002
Blessed: 03-12-2006
Saint: 23-11-2014
Feast Day: August 29th
4. St Mariam Thresia:
St Mariam Thresiamma known as the 'patroness of families' was a mystic and had the rare opportunity to receive the stigmata and the sufferings of the Divine Master. She is the co-founder of the Holy Family Congregation for the nuns. She was also a social reformer who strived hard for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden and for the eradication of immorality, drunkenness and other evils from the families and the society. She used to experience spiritual ecstasy many times in her life. The Church where her tomb is situated is a pilgrim center that attracts large number of pilgrims and numerous miracles occur through her intercession!
Born on: 26-04-1876 at Puthenchira in Thrissur Dist
Died on: 08-06-1926 at Kuzhikkattusserry in Thrissur Dist
SoG : 05-02-1973
Venerable: 28-06-1999
Blessed: 09-04-2000
Saint: 13-10-2019
Feast Day: June 8th
List of Other Saints Born in India:
1. St Gonsalo Garcia:
Born on: 15-05-1557 at Bassein in Mumbai
Died on: 05-02-1597 at Nagasaki in Japan
Blessed: 14-09-1627
Canonised: 08-06-1862
Feast Day: February 6th
2. St Joseph Vaz:
Born on: 21-04-1651 at Benaulim in Goa
Died on: 17-01-1711 at Kandy in Srilanka
Blessed: 13-05-1989
Canonised: 21-01-1995
Feast Day: January 16th
Foreign born Saints who served and died in India:
1. St John de Britto:
Born on: 01-03-1647 at Lisbon in Portugal
Died on: 11-02-1693 at Oryur in Madurai
Blessed: 22-06-1947
Canonised: 21-08-1853
Feast Day: February 4th
2. St (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta:
Born on: 26-08-1910 at Skopje in Macedonia
Died on: 05-09-1997 in Calcutta
Blessed: 19-10-2003
Canonised: 04-09-2016
Feast Day: September 5th
Foreign Saints who served in India:
1. St Francis Xavier:
Born on: 07-04-1506 at Navarra in Spain
Died on: 03-12-1552 in China
Blessed: 25-10-1619
Canonised: 12-03-1622
Feast Day: December 3rd
2. Mariam Baouardy:
Born on: 05-01-1846 in Israel
Died on: 26-08-1878 in Bethlehem
Blessed: 13-11-1983
Canonised: 17-05-2015
Feast Day: August 26th
3. St Maximilian Kolbe:
Born on: 08-01-1894 in Poland
Died on: 14-08-1941 in Poland
Blessed: 17-10-1971
Canonised: 10-10-1982
Feast Day: August 14th
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