Indian Saint Sister Alphonsa 2008
Sister Akphonsa was canonized by the Pope and declared a saint on October 12, 2008. Sister Alphonsa Muttathupadath (The Passion Flower)(1910-1946) of Kerala become the first Indian woman—and second Indian—to be canonized and declared a saint by Pope Bendict XVI at the Vatican in 2008.
This marks a proud and important day in India’s Christan heritage and history.
Sister Alphonsa, comes from a poor family in Kottayam district, was earlier beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986 during his visit to Kerala. In March this year, the Pope decided to elevate her to sainthood after a decades-long procedure which included the Vatican’s confirmation of the miracles ascribed to her.
The nun belonged to the Congregation of the Poor Clares of the Third Order of St Francis. Over 3,000 delegates from Kerala’s Syro-Malabar church-India’s largest Catholic denomination tracing its origins to St. Thomas-attended the canonisation, makeing a proud day in India’s Christian heritage and history..
The only Indian canonized before was Saint Gonzalo Garcia, a Jesuit priest born in Vasai near Mumbai to an Indian mother and Portuguese father in 1556.
