BLESSED EUPHRASIA – TOWARDS THE FULLNESS OF SANCTITY
Blessed
Euphrasia is a humble CMC nun who has personalized the prayer heritage of
Carmel and lived according to the divine inspirations and rose to the heights
of sanctity. For all of us who are called to be “the beloved of God that is to
be saints”(Rom: 1:7), the spirit-filled life of Bl. Euphrasia is an example and
to take a peep into her holy life would be proper and useful.
Rosa
was born as the daughter of Elavuthinkal Antony and Kunjethi on 17 October,
1877 in Kattur which was in the undivided Trichur Diocese and now in the
Diocese of Irinjalakuda. Besides three brothers, Rosa had a sister also, but
she died in early childhood. Even in the midst of all wealth and pomp in the
family, little Rosa’s heart desired only God. A good evidence of this is her
offer of her virginity to God at the tender age of 9. After overcoming many
obstacles she was able by the grace of God to become a member of the boarding
of the kerala Carmelite Congregation in (founded by Bl. Kuriakose Elias Chavara
in 1866) at Koonammavu. In those days the Koonammavu boarding was the only
place of virtue where the girls who desire religious life can go. There the
boarding started in 1868 was taught orderly life and education and practice of
virtue besides other handicrafts also were taught. This was a very good
training place for the girls who desired religious life.
The
Koonammavu convent was under the administration of Trichur Vicariate, started
in 1887, but in the re-division of the vicariate (Trichur, Ernakulam,
Changanassery) it came under the Ernakulum diocese. The first native Bishop of
the Trichur diocese Mar John Menachery brought the sisters who belonged to
Trichur diocese from Koonammavu. They were taken to the newly founded st.
Joseph’s convent Ambazhakkad, the first Carmelite convent of the undivided
Trichur diocese. Here on 10 May, 1897 the head-dress was given to Rosa
Elavuthinkal who received the new religious name, Euphrasia of the sacred Heart
of Jesus.
One
of the important things that happened before coming to Trichur is to be noted
here. This child, Rosa was always troubled by many serious sicknesses. From one
such a very serious illness, she was saved by a miraculous vision of the Holy
Family. The details of this vision and the reasons why she was allowed to
continue in the convent were written in a letter by Sr Agnes, the then mother
superior and sent through the sisters to
Mar John Menachery the Bishop. This letter was the cause to have special
attention towards this nun and also to cause the Bishop to order her to report
her spiritual state truly to him regularly. This virtuous virgin after
receiving the Carmelite dress from Mar John Menachery on 10 January, 1898 began
to deepen in personal love for Lord Jesus. On 24 May 1900, the St. Mary’s
convent Ollur was founded. That day itself Sr. Euphrasia along with others made
her perpetual profession in this new convent and surrounded her whole self to
Jesus.
The
period from 1904-1910 when Sr. Euphrasia was the Asst. Superior of St. Mary’s
convent Ollur and in-charge of the novices was a period of innumerable graces. When
in the congregation officially novitiate was started it was Sr. Euphrasia who
was selected to be the first novice mistress. It was at this time that the
order of Mar John Menachery Mariam
Thressia who is today among the blessed came to stay at the Ollur convent
in order to discern her vocation. It was mother Euphrasia who was the novice
mistress who gave the necessary formation to Mariam Thressia. More than
mistress and disciple it was the coming together of two holy saintly souls
guided by the Holy Spirit. In the deep experience of God both of them were
great friends.
Mother
Euphrasia who was appointed superior of the St. Mary’s convent Ollur from
1913-1916 served the sisters under her authority in a very exemplary way. She
was able to do loving and kind services to all those who came into contact with
her because of the divine love she received from the Holy Eucharist and the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and her devotion to Mother Mary.
Mother
Euphrasia grew in humility, poverty and holiness as she completely obeyed the
will of God every moment. The whole life of this virgin was full of continuous prayer,
penance and reparation. Mother Euphrasia who found contentment in loving Jesus,
her divine spouse was always in the forefront in receiving censure and abuses.
All those who approached her she helped with motherly love, prayer and good
advice. This prayer help she extended to souls in purgatory also. After a long
life of 75 years, Euphrasia, the praying mother passed away in the convent at
Ollur on 29 August, 1952. It was a wonder that the church bell at Cheralayam
parish began to ring without stop at her death.
To
all those who prayed her intercession, the one who never forgets even after
death, granted graces. God is revealing her great heavenly intercessory power
through miracles and signs. This holy virgin who desired to become an unknown
saint is raised today to the glory of the altar by the Almighty and the sweet
fragrance of her sanctity is spread worldwide.
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