Saint Alphonsa

Saint Alphonsa, originally named Annakkutty (meaning ‘little Anna’), was born in Kudamaloor, a village located in the princely state of Travancore, India, during the British Raj period. This region is now known as the Kottayam district in Kerala. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu, baptized her on August 27, 1910, at Saint Mary’s Church, Kudamaloor, in honor of Saint Anna.

After her mother’s untimely death, Annakkutty was raised by her maternal aunt. She began her formal education in Arpookara in 1916 and received her First Communion on November 27, 1917. Later in 1918, she transferred to a school in Muttuchira. In 1923, Annakkutty suffered a severe accident, falling into a pit of burning chaff, which resulted in permanent damage to her feet.

Despite her physical impediment, Annakkutty was determined to join the Franciscan Clarist Congregation. On Pentecost 1927, she arrived at the Poor Clares convent at Bharananganam. She took the name Alphonsa on August 2, 1928, when she received the postulant’s veil. In May 1929, Alphonsa attended the Malayalam High School at Vazhappally. The following year, her foster mother passed away.

Alphonsa received her religious habit at Bharananganam on May 19, 1930, and soon after, she resumed her education at Changanacherry. She also worked as a temporary teacher at Vakakkad school. On August 11, 1931, she joined the novitiate, and five years later, on August 12, 1936, she took her permanent vows. Despite her frail health, which often kept her away from teaching, Alphonsa served as an elementary school teacher.

In December 1936, Alphonsa reportedly recovered from her illness through the intercession of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. However, her health was again compromised after a severe pneumonia attack in 1939, and a traumatic incident involving a thief in 1940. Although she regained her memory by September 1941, she continued to struggle with her health and developed a stomach ailment in 1945 that led to severe vomiting.

On July 28, 1946, at the age of 35, Saint Alphonsa passed away and was buried in Bharananganam, Travancore (now Kerala) in the Diocese of Palai. Today, her tomb has become a pilgrimage site, as several faithful have reported miracles attributed to her. The miracle that led to her canonization by the Vatican was the healing of an infant’s club foot in 1999.

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