All you need to know about newly canonised Saint Euphrasia and Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Meet Saint Euphrasia

Declared 'Servant of God' in 1987, and beatified in 2006, after the approval of a miracle attributed through her intercession by the Vatican panel set up to consider her case for Sainthood.

1.     Sister Euphrasia was born as Rosa Eluvathingal on  October 7, 1877  in the village of Kattoor, situated near the city of Thrissur in Kerala, India. 

2.     Rosa, at the age of nine is said to have experienced an vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led her to make a vow that she will never marry, and commit her entire life in service of God.   

3.     She experienced strong opposition from her father, who wanted Rose to marry into a rich family. Her intense prayer life, which included the rosary, fasting and abstinence, as well as the rather sudden death of her younger sister, brought about a change of heart in her father, Anthony. Her father, then granted Rose permission to enter the convent. 

4.     Curing bone cancer of a carpenter is the first recognised miracle by Sister Euphrasia. Thomas Tharakan, a furniture polishing worker from Anchery in Ollur, went to the Jubilee Mission Hospital in Thrissur with hip pain. After many scans and tests, the tumour in the hip was diagnosed as cancerous.  Thomas was admitted for a week. A before the surgery, the surgeon took another scan and was shocked to see no sign of tumour. The tumour was very clear in the older scan. Thomas’s sister Rosy said the miraculous cure was the result of her prayer to Sister Euphrasia, seeking her mediation. 

Information source: Manoramaonline.com

Pope Francis celebrates a canonization mass for Euphrasia Eluvathingal, friar Francescano Amato Ronconi, bishop Antonio Farina, priest Kuriakose Elias Chavara, friar Francescano Nicola Saggio da Longobardi and friar Francescano Amato Ronconi in St Peter's square at the Vatican - AFP 

5.     A second miracle happened on December 20, 2006. It is said that a seven year old Jewel  from Aloor in Kerela was the blessed recipient of the miracle. Jewel had a tumour in his neck because of which it was excruciatingly painful to swallow. The doctors at Dhanya Hospital in Potta said the disease could not be cured without an operation. Hailing from a poor family this expense was beyond the reach of the family. After his grandmother began praying to Sister Euphrasia  the family began noticed that the tumour on Jewel's neck was shrinking.  Dr Sasikumar of Dhanya Hospital, again examined him and found the tumour to have disappeared. Many doctors examined the boy and stated that it was a complete miracle.

Information source: Manoramaonline.com

6.     Euphrasia is said to have had vision of the Holy Family which consists of Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary  and Saint Joseph. 

7.     People popularly knew her as 'Euprasiamma' or the Praying Mother.

8.     Sister Euphrasia died on August 29, 1952 at the Ollur Convent. Even today, miracles have been reported by her faithful followers who visit her tomb at the convent as a pilgrimage site.

Workers install a tapestry prior to a canonization mass for Indian priest Kuriakose Elias Chavara at St Peter's square,The Vatican -  AFP 

Meet Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Beatified by Pope John Paul II during the papal visit of Kottayam,Kerela on February 8, 1986, Father Kuriakose was on April 3 2014 approved for canonization by Pope Francis. 

1.     Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on 10 February 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala to god-fearing parents. 

2.     From age 5-10, he went to a village school to study languages, different dialects, and elementary sciences under the guidance of a Hindu teacher. His desire to become a priest, he continued advanced studies at St.Joseph church.

3.     Curing a deformity in the feet of a six year old Joseph is the first miracle by Father Chavara. It is said that Joseph's feet were beyond cure according to an Ayurvedic doctor that was consulted by the little boy's grandmother, however after merely two months of praying Joseph's feet began to show improvement. First the right foot and a few months later the left foot was also rid of the deformity.  

Information Source: chavarasecretariat.info

4.     Father Chavara was a social reformer as well. He played a major role in educating the low and downtrodden classes of the society. He started a school at Mannanam,Kerala in 1846. 

5.     He founded the first printing press of the Indian Catholic Church at Mannanam. Nasrani Deepika, the first Malayalam daily came from this printing press. He strongly believed that intellectual development and the education of women was the first step towards social welfare.

Tapestry with the saints being displayed at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City - AFP