AKSHI AND MEENA Saint Alphonsa The good nuns would have by now walked the five minutes from the school to their convent which, like all other Clarist convents in Kerala, is indeed bursting with vocations. This is because of the fame of a young nun who died in obscurity at the Clarist convent in Bharananganam, near Kottayam in central Kerala.. The first sign of the exceptional holiness of Sister Alphinsa came when the discarded mat on which she slept was used by a madwoman, who was instantly cured. Then there were the childrenof the school attached to the convent. They used to visit Sr Alphonsa when she was ill. They also visited her whenever they needed the help of her prayers with examinations, quarrels withfriends, troubles at home. After her death they went to her tomb with the same problems, which were solved as if by miracle. The news spread and pilgrims began to arrive at her tomb from all olover Kerala. Stories of alleged miracles also began to make their rounds; newspapers started tp print the picture of Sister Alphonsa in the For Favours Received section of their classified columns. Alphonsa was the name she chose at the time of her religious profession. Born in 1910 to Mary and Joseph Muttathupadathu in Kudamaloor, she was christened Anna and affectionately called by the diminutive Annakkutty. For those who cared to look, there wee portents of her future saintliness. One evening, when there was no one else at home, some beggars came to the house. Annakkutty welcomed them and gave them the supper prepared for the entire household. At the age of seventeen Annakkutty joined the Clarist sisters. In the convent she was dogged by ill health. Ten years on, at the time of her perpetual vows, her sufferings began to intensify. But she only said: I have a great desire to suffer gladly. Her agonies increased as time passed, and when she was asked whether she did not wish for death, her reply was: Let me share in the sufferings of Christ. On another occasion she said: A day without suffering is a day wasted. But in July 1946 Sister Alphonsa asked her spiritual director for permission to pray for death because she did not want to be a burden on the community. He agreed -- on condition that she should add to her praye the words if it is Your will. She died in the same month. The funeral was simple. The coffin was carried by her fellow sisters. A few priests, some relatives and several children from the convent school were present. Her spiritual director, preaching the panegyric, said: As far as human judgement can be relied upon, this young nun was almost as saintly as the Little Flower of Lisieux. Now there are churches dedicated to Saint Alphonsa and the people sing: Keralathin kochu rani, Alphonsamme thyagaseele, Sodarer njangal ninte Madhyastham thedidunnu. Little princess of Kerala, Abnegating Alphonsa, We your brothers and sisters Seek your intercession.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 11:34:05 +0000
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