Alphonsa Muttathupadathu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blessed Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (August 19, 1910–July 28, 1946) was born Anna Muttathupadathu in Kudamaloor, a rural village near Kottayam (Kerala, India) to Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu.
On February 8, 1986 the Pope beatified her at Kottayam.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Her pet name was Annakutty. She was baptized on August 27, 1910 at Saint Mary's Church in Kudamaloor under the patronage of Saint Anna. Anna's mother died when she was very young, so her maternal aunt raised her. Anna was educated by her great-uncle Father Joseph Muttathupadathu. When Anna was 3 years old, she contracted eczema and suffered from it for over a year.
In 1916 she started school in Arpookara. She received First Communion on November 27, 1917. In 1918 she transferred to the school in Muttuchira. In 1923 Anna was badly burned on her feet when she fell into a pit of burning chaff. This accident left her permanently disabled.
She arrived at the Poor Clares convent at Bharananganam on Pentecost 1927. She received the postulant's veil on August 2, 1928 and took the name Alphonsa. In May 1929 she entered the Malayalam High School at Vazhappally. Her foster-mother died in 1930.
On May 19 1930 she received her religious habit at Bharananganam. On May 22 1930 she resumed her studies at Changanacherry, while working as a temporary teacher at the school at Vakakkad. On August 11, 1931 she joined the novitiate. She took her permanent vows on August 12, 1936. Two days later she returned to Bharananganam from Changanacherry.
[edit] A teacher
She taught elementary school. Her students loved her for her gentleness and her light-hearted attitude. Unfortunately, she was often sick and unable to teach.
[edit] A miracle
In December, 1936 she was miraculously cured from her ailments through the intervention of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Pope John Paul II formally approved a miracle attributed to her intercession and, on 9 July 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa.
[edit] Health declines
On June 14, 1939 she was struck by a severe attack of double-pneumonia, which left her weakened. On October 18, 1940, a thief stumbled into her room in the middle of the night. This traumatic event caused her to suffer amnesia, and weakened her again.
Her health continued to deteriorate over a period of months. She received extreme unction on September 29, 1941. The next day she regained her memory, though not complete health. Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused vomiting.
She died on July 28, 1946 after a painful illness. She is buried at Bharananganam, South India in the Diocese of Palai. Her tomb has turned into a center of pilgrimage and many miracles have reportedly occurred there since then.
[edit] Beatification
On December 2, 1953, Eugène-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Cardinal Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared Servant of God, while on 9 July 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa.
On February 8, 1986, during his apostolic visit to India, the Pope beatified both her and Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kottayam.
