SAINT OF THE DAY
SUNDAY, 18 FEBRUARY, 2024
SAINT KURIAKOSE ELIAS CHAVARA
INDIAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND SOCIAL REFORMER
(10 FEBRUARY 1805 - 3 JANUARY 1871)
HIS VOCATION
Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout Catholic parents, at Kainakary, Kerala, India. His early schooling was done in his native village. He underwent priestly studies under Fr. Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram. Chavara was ordained a priest in 1829.
St. Chavara was a very courageous person. He undertook many initiatives and contributed a lot to the Church and to the society because of his strong faith in God's providence. He generally took the road less travelled. St. Chavara strongly believed that however mighty the obstacles were, they were nothing before the all-powerful Lord. He had the strong conviction that if he did his part the Lord would take care of the rest. He had an ardent desire to lead a more radical way of living his Christian discipleship.
NEW RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION, SEMINARIES AND RETREATS
With the able support of Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porukara, in 1831, he founded the first indigenous religious congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). After the death of his senior companions, Fr. Kuriakose, together with the first members, made their religious profession in 1855.
For the spiritual renewal of the people of God he started several seminaries, introduced annual retreats for priests and people, started forty-hour adoration and gave special attention to the catechumens.
In religious life, he took the name, Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family. Starting seven religious houses, including the first one at Mannanam, in different parts of Kerala, the new Congregation made great strides in the spiritual renovation of the Church. Seminaries for the education and formation of the clergy, introduction of annual retreats for priests and people, a publishing house for the propagation of Catholic doctrine, a house for the dying and destitute, special attention to catechumens and schools for general education, were a few among the various activities of the Congregation under Fr. Kuriakose Elias' leadership.
SAVES THE CHURCH FROM SCHISM
Fr. Chavara also introduced valuable improvements and reform in the Syro-Malabar liturgy. In 1866, with the co-operation of Fr. Leopold Boccaro OCD, he started the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) for women. When a schism threatened the Church in 1861, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the then Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Church, took a strong stand and gave effective leadership in thwarting Thomas Roccos' intrusion and saving the Church in Kerala from schism.
Fr. Chavara also wrote a number of books with unique spiritual vision. His counsel to the Christian families given in the form of the 'Testament of a Loving Father' is applicable and relevant to this day. Essentially a man of prayer and intense charity, he lived in close communion with the Lord amidst his several religious and social activities.
A GOOD PASTOR
How good a pastor he was, can be seen from a concrete incident in his life. Once when St. Chavara came to know that a person suffering from the contagious disease small pox wanted to receive the last sacrament, he immediately got ready to go to him. Even though many warned him against going to that person, St. Chavara did not change his mind. He said, “ now it is my duty to take of this person. God will take care of me”. An incident that speaks of his ability to be an instrument of peace in the hands of the Lord is worth mentioning. The year before his death he was taking rest and treatment in the monastery at Koonammavu. Disputes and quarrels were going on in the parish of Anackal relating to the Portuguese Patronage. All efforts to reconcile the rival groups having failed, the parish chiefs approached the prior and said: “It is enough if you just come for peace to be restored.” He went with them and peace was restored.
HIS DEATH, BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION
Owing to his deep spirituality that permeated all his actions, he was accepted and referred to as a man of God, from his early years. In 1871, on January 3rd, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, after a short but painful illness, passed away at Koonammavu preserving his baptismal innocence unto death. At first, he was buried at St. Philomena's Church. Later his mortal remains were transferred from Koonammavu to Mannanam in 1889 and has been reinterred in St. Joseph's Monastery Church at Mannanam.
The diocesan process for his beatification was inaugurated by the Archbishop of Changanassery on 3 January 1958 on the request of the late Fr. Maurus CMI, the then Prior General. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints, after having scrutinised the writings of the Servant of God and other relevant documents, formally introduced the cause on 15 March 1980.
On 7 April 1984, Pope John Paul II solemnly recognised the heroic virtues of the Servant of God and elevated him to the status of Venerable. On 8 February 1986, during his historic visit to Kottayam, Kerala, Pope John Paul II raised Venerable Kuriakose Elias Chavara to the honours of the altar declaring him 'Blessed'.
On 18 March, 2014 Pope Francis approved the miracle by signing the Decree prepared by the Assembly of plenary of Cardinals. Pope Francis declared Kuriakose Elias Chavara a saint on November 23, 2014.
PATRON: Press industry, media, literature, congregations.
PRAYER: Loving Jesus, we praise and thank you for the gift of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara to your Church as a model of holy life. Give us the grace to be inspired by his ardent life of faith in order to experience you through prayer and to work for the growth of the Church untiringly, and thus to be committed to you wholeheartedly.
Loving Father, enable us to glorify you by striving for the sanctification of our lives and working for the salvation of all after the inspiring example of St. Chavara who was patron of families and model of religious and priestly life. Help us to accept with joy the share of your cross through the sufferings of our daily life.
May the special intention... for which we now pray to God be granted to us through the intercession of St. Chavara, through Christ our Lord. Amen.