Vatican to cannonize first Indian nun

Vatican, Oct 11: Sister Alphonsa from Kerala will become the first nun from the country to be canonised by the Vatican on Sunday, Oct 12.

The date was announced after a formal meeting of the Pope and other cardinals in the Vatican on March 1. Her beatification - that is recognition by the Church of a dead person's accession to heaven - was ordered by the then Pope, Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Kerala in 1986. Sister Alphonsa was born at Kudamaloor in Kottayam District in 1910. She joined the Clarist congregation. She died in 1946 after suffering from various illnesses.

Sister Alphonsa was credited to have performed some miracles by the residents. She was beatified and made blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1986.

According to residents, a disabled child was miraculously cured of his ailment and his limbs restored due to prayers at the altar of Sister Alphonsa's shrine.

Sister Alphonsa is the first person to be conferred sainthood from the Kerala Church, which traces its origins to the visit of St Thomas around 2,000 years ago to preach the gospel in India.

In June 2007, Pope Benedict Fourteenth signed a decree approving the miracles that took place through the intercession of Alphonsa paving the way for canonisation.

Her tomb at Palai in Kerala is a famous Christian pilgrimage spot.

ANI