Pope to confer sainthood on two Blessed from Kerala today

With their canonisation, as the finale of the long-drawn stage-by-stage process is known in Catholic parlance, the centuries-old Syro Malabar Church will have three saints, the first being Sister Alphonsa, raised to the revered rank in 2008.

Two places closely associated to the lives of Chavara and Euprhasia at Mannman in Kottayam and Ollur in Thrissur respectively have been in the grip of spiritual fervour for the several days.

Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara, founder of the congregation Carmalites of Mary Immaculate, (1805-1871) was more than spiritual leader of Syro Malabar Catholics, who trace its roots to the legendary visit of Saint Thomas the Apostle to the Kerala coast.

Historians and church chroniclers consider him as a social reformer who gave a thrust to secular education.He was declared a Venerable in 1984 and beatified in 1986 during the reign of Pope John Paul II, who visited Kerala that year.

Sister Euprhasia chose to live in the confines of a convent in Thrissur helping the people who came seeking her support.

“Euprasiamma”, who died in 1952, was declared Servant of God in 1987 and beatified in 2006 after the approval of a miracle attributed to her.