Once again recognizing the vitality of Kerala's contemporary Christian community and its long and pedigreed history, the Vatican anointed two more saints from the Syro-Malabar Church. At a special mass at St Peter's Square at Vatican, Pope Francis declared Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluventhinkal as saints, worthy of worship at altars in all Catholic and sister churches across the world. The Vatican event was greeted with jubilation and spiritual fervour across Kerala, where church bells rang in unison as Pope Francis recited the Formula of Canonization in Latin.
A large contingent of lay persons and clergy from the state witnessed the simple yet elegant ceremony at the Vatican. Mother Sancta, Mother General of Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), carried the relics of Sr Euphrasia to the holy altar, while the relics of Fr Chavara was taken to the altar by Fr James Madathikandathil during the rites.
Six saints were canonized on Sunday, the four others being Italians. In a touching moment that resonated with hundreds of thousands of devout Malayalis watching the ceremony live on television, Fr Davis Pattath, director of Jerusalem Retreat Centre in Thrissur, read out a short prayer in Malayalam.
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