Alphonsamma : A pious life devoted to god :By Kannan Balakrishnan
Submitted by admin on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 01:31.
Tags:Sister Alphonsa, St.Alphonsa
When Annakkutty was born in Kudamaloor muttupadathu family in 1910,nobody may have thought it as a special event. Now As she is being declared as "Saint Alphonsa" All are proud of her.
Annakkuttys father and mother were ordinary villagers.She was baptized in the Kudamaloor church in Kottayam district. Her mother died in an early age. She was brougt up by her mothers sister.She learned about the life of great saints from her grandmother.
Her education was in Thonnankuzhi government primary school and a government school in Muttuchira.She was god loving and pious. She received First Communion on November 27,1917 at the age of 7.
From the young age itself she prayed and participated in fasting and other religious activities.She fasted even without the knowledge of her family. Her mind was pure and firmly in god .
In 1923 the anna was disabled by a burn in her leg.Anna wanted to be a nun always. The life of St.Theresa and other saints always influenced her. She even tried to escape from marrige by making burns on her body. She arrived at the Poor Clares convent at Bharananganam on Pentecost 1927. Also she continued her studies at the Klaramdom boarding school.She received the postulant's veil on August 2, 1928 and took the name Alphonsa.Also she passed eights standard from a school in vazhappally near Changanacherry.She worked as a teacher for some time in a primary school.
She had illness throughout her life. At many points she recovered from illness by prayer.At one time she had even amnesia by seeing a thief. But she was always firm in god and she was called to gods grace in july 28 th 1946.
Her tomb in Bharanagnanam is a pilgrimge site and many people from all over the world go there. Alphonsa was declared Servant of God on 9 July 1985. On October 12, 2008, she was declared as the first woman saint of India.So let us be proud of st.Alphonsa
useful links:
http://www.alphonsa.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonsa_Muttathupadathu Wikipedia article
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005071.html a beautiful narrative about Alphonsamma
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 2 guests online.
Effect of Alphonsa's Sufferings in my Life
I have once read the life history of St. Alphonsamma. It was so struck to me that, I was in the meomory of St. Alphonsa for one week while I was walking, sleeping, eating and working. I could understand the meaning of suffering in life. The holiness of her life has such an effect that, I could be able to keep purity in my life even with her memory. I was very lucky to get married with a girl from St. Alphonsa's own Muttathupadam family of Kudamaloor. Now I am very happy in my life. St. Alphonsa's life has so powerful effect in my life that all my sufferings and hardships in my life is like roses for me. I thank heartly to St. Alphonsa for all blessings of God in my life.