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Church bells peeled across Kerala and special prayers were held as the proclamation was made at the St Peters Square in the Vatican.
Three others-- an Italian priest and founder of Missionaries of Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Father Geatano Eerrico, Swiss foundress of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, Maria Bernarda Butler and Narcisa de Jesus Martillo, an Equadorian lay person, were also canonised as Saints along with the Keralite nun.
The Prefect of Congregation of Saints presented Sister Alphonsa's biography to the Pope.
Sister Alphonsa is the second person from India to be canonised by the Catholic church, the first being Gonzalo Garcia, a Franciscan monk born to an Indian mother and Portugese father. While she was alive, people from the sleepy farming village and hamlets around used to call on her and she would pray for them. Some of the miracles attributed to her were said to have happened then.
While the Roman Catholic church has over 10,000 canonised saints, in India this is the first time that someone from its flock has been elevated to full sainthood, church sources say.
The church is spread over Syro Malabar, Malankara and Latin Catholic rites and accounts for about 70 per cent of the Christian population in India.
Giant screens had been put up at Kudamaloor and Bharananganam, the ancestral house and tomb respectively of Sister Alphonsa, to enable the thousands of worshippers who had gathered to see the live telecast.
Union minister Oscar Fernandes led the Indian delegation at the ceremony. Kerala was represented by state PWD minister, Mons Joseph, former minister K M Mani and MP P C Thomas, among others.
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I am catholic and I am proud that Alphonsa is the first Indian saint. She was so good, they even named the mangoes after her.Let's dig her up and parade her around just like that guy Francis in Goa. To see what kind of unsavory politics goes behind the scenes during a canonization, see the italian movie "My mother's smile". Also look up the book "Saints Behaving Badly" by Thomas J. Craughwell, to see the kind of characters who have been sanctified. For example, St. Mary of Egypt, who trolled the streets looking for new carnal conquests; and Thomas Becket, who despite his vast riches refused to give his cloak to a man freezing to death in the street. And there are many more that I cannot write about because of the word-filter ...The popi is a man elected by a bunch of Vatican politicians, and he has the authority to decide who becomes a saint - what a joke! By the way, nice topi, popi!
This is another of Vatican's effort at conversion of gullible people who is fed with the tale of miracles. Most of their other plans for conversion of people to Christianity have not been as successful as they wanted. So, they raised one nun to sainthood on the basis of tell-tale miracles. If they really wanted to call somebody a saint, it should have been Mother Theressa for her unselfish service to mankind which was more praiseworthy than the supertitious belief in the so called miracles of Sister Alphonsa.
How wrong you are. Sister Alphonsa grew up in my mother's family. They witnessed the little boy with club feet suddenly get up and walk as he prayed. So this is not a "tale" of miracles. Sister Alphonsa was a wonderful human being who suffered greatly and performed great acts of kindness and charity. Mother Theresa is on track to become a saint as well. So if you do not understand the Catholic faith, please don't write incorrect information before checking the facts.
I am not questioning the humbleness or purity of Sr. Alphonsa. She was indeed a good person. But, surprisingly, the miracle occurred only to one boy. Does this mean that no other person has ever prayed there? Now we can close down all hospitals and other medical institutions since people can get themselves cured of their illnesses through the miracles of Sr. Alphonsa free of charge!!!
I am a Catholic (born) and I don't believe in miracles and saints. There are good people and very god people. And if the Roman Catholic Church recognises only Catholic good people and not the thousands of other good people, it's just IGNORANCE OF BASIC BIBLICAL RECOGNITION OF THE HUMAN BEING REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS/ETHNIC/COLOUR CODES. Let US, the civilized literate not make this into a catholic vs other religion conflict. Thank LORD we have enough and more of that ....
Editor, Is she really the first Indian Woman Saint or the first Indian Christian Woman Saint? Have you 'secular' media decided that there are no Indian woman saints other than Christian ones? I am sure you would have heard of communal hindu women saints like 'Gargi', 'Meerabhai', 'Avvai' etc., Of course, you would like to dismiss these as nothing but those belonging to a superstitious and communal cult called Hindusim, right? You serve the purpose of secularism greatly - where secularism means demeaning, disowning and disparaging everything that belongs to 80% of the population of this country. And by doing all this, you expect the very 80% to swallow the demeaning that you shove under their throat under the name 'secularism'. And if they protest, brand them communal! I see no difference between the English language media in India and the terrorists - both are out to wipe out civilised societies - one with the pen and ink and other with weapons.
It is unfortunate that you think we got the first woman saint in India only now. Have you not heard the names of Shabari, Anasuya, Lopamudra and many other woman Indian saints.
HOW DOES IT MATTER TO COMMON POOR MAN ON THE STREET?
IIT FEELS GREAT FROM INSIDE THAT ONE OF OUR SISTER BECOME SAINTAND I FILIPE M BERNANDES GAVE THANKS TO GOD FOR GIVING US THIS GIFTWITH HER HELP WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE IN CIMMING DAYSTHANK YOU VERRY VERRY MUCH LORD
Very Nice to hear that.
This country has had a lot of Woman Saints. In every state there are numerous examples of Woman Saints. So please change your heading. The Reverend Sister is not the first Saint and one among many who is definitely worth respect.
Is Sister Alphonsa is only India's first woman saint? What about Mirabai? Because she is not canonised by Vatican. Great job Secular media!!!
Please change the news title to "First Woman Catholic Saint". This is a thoughtless title. Indian media is dishing out this as if Sister Nivedita, and hosts of other woman saints shoudl wait for Pope to declare that they are saints!
a day is not far ,when all indian gonna be christian.
Big Deal.
BIG DEAL............WHEN THE CERTURIES OLD ORIGINAL CULTURE "HINDU...STAN" THAT IS INDIA IS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOREIGN HAND WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN FREE HAND BY THE GOVT. OF INDIA LED BY MANMOHAN......?
and don not know why this becomes a headlineand theres have been woman saints before, she is first catholic waoman saintget a life sickularists mediamore
this is a cheap gimick by the rome war loards to kindile dead christianity in hindustan one way flexing musle with the great hindus of india
Where are our "rationalists"? Why do they disappear into thin air when Christians talk about Miracles, and appear from nowhere when Hindus talk about the same? And, what is this funny business of someone 'elevating' someone as 'saint' posthumously after reporting 'miracles'?? And these Kerala ministers went there on tax payer money to witness silly superstituous ritual?????
I think the title is misleading. If we look at the definition of Saint on Wikipedia, it says "Saints are not exclusive to Christianity. In every religion, in every nation, there are people who have been recognised as having fulfilled the highest aspirations of religious teaching and have realised God's will in their actions."I think there must be many more woman saints being worshipped in India.
This news is mis-leading. No miracles were attributed to Sister Alphonsa while she was alive.It was only after her death, some miracles are said to have happened.These started with some of the school children who prayed at her tomb before their exam, got good results !
Sister Alphonsa is NOT the first saint from India.But she is first CATHOLIC women saint from India.Please correct the title.
Foreign crazy India gloats and is crazy about recognition from anybody foreign...cannot get over the slavish mentality...and the secular media finds this news important enough for front page headlines....
SUCH MISCHIEVOUS REPORTING WOULD STRAIN THE ALREADY TENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS IN INDIA. ALPHONSA IS NOT THE FIRST WOMAN SAINT BUT THE FIRST christian WOMAN SAINT AS INDIA HAS HAD HUNDREDS OF HINDU, BUDDHIST AND JAIN WOMAN SAINTS IN THE PAST. THE ENGLISH MEDIA INSTEAD OF PRINTING ANY NEWS ITEM FROM THE VATICAN SHOULD FIRST APPLY ITS OWN MIND AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE REPORT.
PLASE PRAYING FOR MY MINISTARY IN SAUDI ARABIA, i DO THE FULL TIME CHIRESTAN MINISTARY. NEED FULL SUPORT FROM THE CHIRESTAN MINISTARY
Is it something to be proud of. This shows how fast the indians are forced to change there religion.
This is the most critical news, which should appear on the headlines of Indian Express. This is very unfortunate
God love all of us , as we are the children of God. He is so great, holy, merciful and loving.... God sees us through our hearts, that's why Jesus said " blessed who have pure hearts, because they can see God"God created the Saints, to show us how big their faith in Him and how patient and humble they are, in order to copy them in our life and try to be like them by praying, helping others, love each other as God love us and forgive each other...and the most important thing is to have FAITH because who has REAL FAITH can make MIRACLES............In the name of the father, the son and their holy ghost .....one trur GOD Amen.