SAINT ALPHONSA

     Saint Alphonsa was born on 19th August 1910 in an ancient Catholic family, called Muttathupadam in the village of Kudamaloor, Kottayam district, Kerala. She was the fourth child of Joseph and Mary. She was prematurely born and her mother died a few months after her birth. She was given the name Anna at her baptism and her aunt Annamma Murickan, to whom she was entrusted, affectionately called her "Annakutty". Annakutty had her primary education in a Catholic school at Arpookara, Kudamaloor. Later she was transferred to the Government school at Muttuchira. Annamma was a disciplinarian but she loved and cared for Annakutty. She planned to groom her into an accomplished homemaker.

          However young Annakutty who had read the biography of St. Therese of Lisieux yearned to become a saint. She decided to become a nun. But her aunt wanted her to get married. The aunt was very adamant and compelled her to marry a young man she had chosen. To avoid marriage, Annakutty took an extreme step. One morning she burnt her feet. Her aunt finally yielded to her wish to become a nun. So on the feast of Pentecost, she joined the convent school of the Franciscan Clarist Sisters (FCC) at Bharananganam.

          She received the Veil of the Postulant on 2nd August 1928 and was named Alphonsa. Even at this stage, she was persuaded to retract from her path and accept a married life. She firmly rejected the suggestion and said "I have already chosen my love, and to Him have I pledged my word. I would die rather than retract". She received the habit from His Excellency Mar James Kalassery, the Bishop of Changanacherry, at Bharananganam on 19th March 1930. She fell ill a few months after her vestition. She entered the Novitiate on 12th August 1935, the day of the feast of St. Clare. Even at the Novitiate she was plagued by illness and her health condition interfered with the routine of other novices. As her health was very bad, it was thought advisable to send her back to Bharananganam. But at the intervention of the Bishop she was allowed to stay on. It was the will of God that she should complete her Novitiate.

          On 12th August, 1936 she took her perpetual vows. She continued to suffer from ill health. But the little sufferings of others always weighed with her much more heavily than her own acute sufferings. She prayed to God to transfer to her the illnesses that prevented the good work of others. She used to speak about her sufferings thus; “…It is in giving crosses that Jesus shows His love. He sends crosses only to those He loves. Pray to Jesus to give me strength to suffer everything". She did not like others to assuage her pain.

          She prayed: "O Lord, give me more to suffer silently. I would drink deep of the Chalice thou hast given me - drain it to the very last drops. . . .". On Sunday 28th July 1946 Sr. Alphonsa went to attend the Holy Mass but she had to return to bed as she suddenly fell very ill. In her agony, she said, "I cannot stand the pain, pray for me. You renew my intention of offering the pain to God while I struggle with it". As tears rolled down her cheeks she covered her face with the blanket. She mur­mured: "It is what our Lord has given me to suffer - let me suffer. After a few minutes she appeared to get ready to go somewhere. She said to those watching her: "Get me my dress". When they said that she had already been dressed, she insisted, "Give me a good habit and a good toque, and let me go". Her soul flew to her Maker.

          Her whole life was a sacrificial act of love. We celebrate 28th July as Alphonsa Day because it is her birthday in heaven. Saint Alphonsa's life teaches what Jesus said. "A grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains". As Rev. Fr. Martindale S.J., the renowned English writer on spiritual subjects, points out that her love of sufferings had its root in a deep love for Christ Crucified. She was selfless and was in fact an embodiment of sympathy for others. This was because of her realisation that we are the members of the mystical body of Christ and hence we are brothers and sisters.

           Saint Alphonsa loved children and children also loved her. In the beginning God let Saint Alphonsa be known through little children. They considered her a saint. They prayed at her grave and received favours. Children's devotion gradually spread among their elders. Now her grave at Bharananganam has become a great pilgrim centre and people seek solace and cure for ailments. Let us emulate her and seek her intercession. Let her be a beacon light to guide us in our life.