Catholics in Kerala on Sunday celebrated the sainthood of Kuriakose Elias Chavara, founder of the order of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, and Euphraisa Eluvanthinkal, popularly known as Evuprasiamma, with special mass and prayers.
Some 5,000 people, including an official Kerala delegation led by Minister for Culture K.C. Joseph and a national delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien, were in attendance at the Vatican as Pope Francis raised the two Keralites to the honours of the altar.
The service of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara was recalled with gratitude at a gathering during the day at his resting place in St. Joseph’s Monastery at Mannanam, near Kottayam. Saint Chavara had contributed immensely to the social reform movement in Kerala in his life time. In 1896, he opened a Sanskrit School for everyone when only the affluent and those from upper castes had access to education.
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The day began early at St. Joseph’s Monastery where thousands of devotees arrived to participate in special prayers.
Hundreds also attended ceremonies held at St. Mary’s convent chapel at Ollur, the resting place of Saint Euphrasia. Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur Archdiocese Mar Raphael Thattil led the holy mass.
“It’s a jubilant moment for Christian community in Kerala. We are getting two saints on the same day. While Father Kuriakose Chavara was a social reformer, Sister Euphrasia was a mystic who spent her entire life in prayers for people across religions and communities. So the canonisation of these great souls is a honour for the people in the State,” Bishop Mar Thattil said in his homily.
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