Fr Chavara Kuriakose Elias and Sr Euphrasia closer to sainthood
Six years after the canonization of Sister Alphonsa as India's first woman saint by the Vatican, Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluvathingal moved closer to the sainthood with Pope Francis approving miracles attributed to them.
Vatican information Service (VIS) announced this after the Holy Father Francis received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the decrees concerning the miracles attributed to Blessed Kuriacose Elias Chavara, Indian professed priest and founder of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (1805-1871) and Blessed Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (nee Rose Eluvathingal), professed religious of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (1877-1952).
Both Chavara and Euphrasia belong to the Syro Malabar Church, as Sister Alphonsa.
The Pope endorsed the decree submitted by the Vatican's panel on sainthood. Both Chavara and Euphrasia were beatified during the tenure of Pope John Paul II.
An official declaration will be made later by the consistory of Cardinals during which the date of the canonization would be announced.
Chavara (1805-1871), born in Kainakari near Alappuzha, was a social reformer and educator of the Kerala Catholic community. He founded the congregation, Carmalites Mary Immaculate (CMI), which runs several educational and charity institutions. He was beatified in 1986. Sister Euphrasia (1877-1952), who led a life of total devotion, hailed from Kattoor near Thrissur in central Kerala.