Blessed Alphonsa
A commemorative postage stamp on the 50th Death Anniversary of Saint Alphonsa, first woman of Indian origin canonised as saint by Catholic Church :
Issued by India
Issued on Jul 19, 1996
Issued for : Department of Post issues a commemorative stamp to mark 50th death anniversary of Blessed Alphonsa.
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Denomination : 100 Paise
Printer : India Security Press
Name : Alphonsamma
Born on Aug 19, 1910 at Kudamalloor, near Kottayam, Kerala, India
Died on Jul 28, 1946 at Bharananganam, Kottayam district, Kerala, India
About :
- Sister Alphonsa was born at Kudamaloor, near Kottayam in Kerala on 19th August, 1910. She joined the Clarist Congregation of nuns to dedicate her life entirely to God and the service of humanity. For a short period she worked as a teacher. In spite of her ill health she avidly pursued her mission and brought out great spiritual enhancement in the lives of the people around her. She was beatified by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 8th February 1986 at Kottayam, the first woman from India to be raised to this honour.
- She breathed her last on 28th July 1946 at Bharananganam where her mortal remains lie buried. Over the years, Bharananganam has become a centre of pilgrimage attracting thousands of pilgrims – Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Her life and work has become the subject for more than 20 books some in European languages like, French, Italian and Spanish.
[…] Saint Alphonsa who has left everlasting footprints on her earthly pilgrimage, is today continuously bestowing divine graces on us by interceding before the mighty throne of Merciful God. Saint Alphonsa is a model saint for all of us, for the whole of India and for the entire world. In the modern world, which is riddled with egoistic pursuits, travails and persecutions, the clarion call of Saint Alphonsa is to love, to love in the midst of all the sufferings. […]