Kuriakose Elias Chavara declared Saint

Pope Francis declared Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) and co-founder of CMC (Congregation of Mother of Carmel) a saint on November 23, 2014. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was a visionary Carmelite priest  whose creative and path breaking initiatives, played a pivotal role in initiating a spiritual and social revolution in Kerala, the southern state of India. Witnessed by...

Read More

Kuriakose Elias Chavara: Ahead of his Time

Kuriakose Elias Chavara It is the second time in less than two months that I write about the Blessed Kuriackos Elias Chavara, who will be declared a Saint, on November 23. He is one of the greatest social reformers of Kerala, whose contributions have, unfortunately, gone unrecognised for reasons like his own aversion to self-glorification and publicity. Though I first read about Fr Chavara only when Pope John Paul II visited Kottayam on February...

Read More

Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara: On the Way to Sainthood

Kuriakose Elias Chavara was a unique blend of a social and spiritual revolutionary whose contribution to the society in Kerala and the Catholic Church is immense. He was a visionary who initiated reforms in the Church as well as in the society. From being the founder of the first Indian religious congregation, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate to establishing a sanskrit school for students of all castes in a predominantly caste ridden society,...

Read More

Kuriakose Elias Chavara of Happy Memories

The saintly Kuriakose Elias Chavara had a profound understanding of death. His reflections on death were in tune with the theology and spirituality of his times which could very well be seen in the frightening and fearful picture which he shares through his writings. But he optimistically prescribes various means to safely sail across the troubled ocean to reach the Promised Land.  He looks up to Blessed Virgin Mary ‘as the strong...

Read More

Karmayogi: The Personality of Kuriakose Elias Chavara

The greatness of the personality of Chavara is reflected in the words of many of his contemporaries like Fr. Mathai Mariam Kappil, Mathai Mariam Palakkunnel, Bishop Louis Pazheparampil, etc. Many of the lay persons as well as historical writers could recognize the importance of the personality of Chavara and his contributions as relevant to all times and people.  The attribute ‘karma-yogi’ given by Prof. P. T. Thomas gives a...

Read More

Kuriakose Elias Chavara: A Faithful Defender of the Church

Kuriakose Elias Chavara considered the Church as his own mother. He was aware of the fact that being truthful and faithful to the Church was essential for salvation. Union with Pope and obedience and acceptance of the authorities appointed by the Pope are important in this regard. The Kerala Church was going through a challenging phase during that time. The ripples of  Koonan Cross oath  in the middle of seventeenth century which...

Read More

Kuriakose Elias Chavara: Founder of CMC Congregation

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing,” said Swami Vivekananda. Keralite women, being sidelined, were craving for a change in social attitude towards them and come to the mainstream. Rightly analyzing that women’s education was the ultimate means in this equalization process, western missionaries were in forefront in bringing...

Read More