FEAST OF SAINT KURIAKOSE ELIAS CHAVARA
FEAST DAY – 3rd JANUARY
St. Kuriakose Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout Catholic parents of Syro-Malabar Church, at Kainakary, Kerala, India. After his early schooling, he started his priestly studies under Fr. Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram. He was ordained to priesthood in 1829. In 1831, along with Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porukara, he founded the first indigenous religious congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). It was after the death of his senior companions in the foundation that Fr. Kuriakose, together with the first members, made the religious profession in 1855.
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 Syro-Malabar 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. Fr. Chavara also introduced valuable improvements and reforms 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 has also written a number of books in prose as well as in verse 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. 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. He was buried at St. Philominas Church first, 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. On 12 June, 2014, Pope Francis announced the date of canonization as 23rd November and duly carried out his canonization, during the celebration of the Public Consistory at the Vatican on 23 November, 2014. He is the patron saint of the 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, be granted to us through the intercession of St. Chavara, in the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen
Source: saintchavara.org