Kerala-born nun to be made Saint, relics taken to Rome

INDIA'S FIRST: Pope Benedict will make Sister Alphonsa a Saint on Oct 12. (Image courtesy: www.alphonsamma.org)

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Kottayam: A delegation from Bharananganam has taken two pieces of bone, the holy relics of Sister Alphonsamma, to the Vatican from here as part of canonisation of the Clarist nun by Pope Benedict on October 12.

The delegation also last night took a portrait of the nun to be displayed during the canonisation.

The two pieces of bones of Alphonsamma's hand were taken in two 'Arulicas' (caskets).

Franciscan Clarist Congregation Mother-General Sr Sicily took the holy relics and the portrait, representing the Pala diocese of the Catholic Church.

She would hand over one 'Arulica' to the Pope to be installed in the St Peter's Basilica where holy relics of the Church's saints were kept, according to Church sources.

The other 'Arulica' would be kept in the chancery of Alphonsamma at the Vatican.

The relics were taken from her tomb at Bharananganam when it was opened as part of declaring her "Blessed" by the Vatican.

Ten thousand Catholics from Kerala would attend the historic event of the canonisation of the Kerala-born nun as "Saint," the first from an Indian Church.

The head of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil and senior prelates would attend the solemn ceremony at the Vatican.