Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram: The first Indian woman upon whom sainthood is to be conferred is not Mother Teresa, but Sister Alphonsa, who hails from Palai, Kerala.
The Pope's decision to canonise the Sister has had hundreds of believers thronging her tomb.
The nun is credited with performing a miracle, when, in May 1999, a two-year-old handicapped child, Jinil, suddenly started walking.
It was this miracle that caused the Vatican to canonise Sister Alphonsa.
Many, such as Sreeraj (20), hope a similar miracle would cure them, too.
“From very early age my son could not walk. We took him to a number of hospitals but nothing has worked out. Now we hope Alphonsa amma will cure him. He is showing a lot of change now,” said Sreeraj’s mother, Jaya.
Though she lived for only 36 years, from 1910 to 1946, she has left behind a huge legacy of selfless service.
Sister Gracy of the Palai Diocese recounts: “I was only 15 years old when I first met her (Sister Alphonsa) and attended one of her lectures. She has been a huge source of inspiration for all of us in this area. Although she is not with us, her words keep us going.”
Come October 12, Sister Alphonsa will complete her journey to sainthood.
With inputs from R Reghuraj in Kottayam
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