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Euphrasia Eluvathingal

Euphrasia Eluvathingal was an Indian Carmelite nun of the Syro-Malabar Church, known for her life of prayer and devotion. She is remembered for her canonization as a saint by Pope Francis in 2014, following reported miracles.

Feast Day
August 30
Country Or Region
India

Key Facts

  • She was born Rosa Eluvathingal on 17 October 1877 in Kerala.
  • She entered the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel.
  • She served as novice mistress and Mother Superior in convents.
  • She was known as the 'Praying Mother' for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
  • She died on 29 August 1952.
  • She was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis on 23 November 2014.
Also Known As

Rosa Eluvathingal, Praying Mother

Birth Year
1877
Death Year
1952
Manner of Death
Venerated In
Role Type
Religious Order

Carmelites, Congregation of the Mother of Carmel

Canonized By
Pope Francis
Canonization Year
2014
Beatified By
Pope Benedict XVI
Beatification Year
2006
Relics Location
St. Mary's Convent, Ollur

About Euphrasia Eluvathingal

Saint Euphrasia Eluvathingal

Saint Euphrasia Eluvathingal, born Rosa Eluvathingal on October 17, 1877, was an Indian Carmelite nun of the Syro-Malabar Church. Her life, which concluded on August 29, 1952, was marked by profound prayer and devotion, leading to her recognition as a saint.

Life and Ministry

Born into a Syro Malabar Church Nasrani family in Kattoor, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, Kerala, Rosa Eluvathingal entered the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. She served as novice mistress at St Joseph's Convent from 1904 to 1913 and later as Mother Superior of the Convent of St Mary at Ollur from 1913 to 1916. She dedicated herself to a life of constant prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, becoming widely known as the "Praying Mother."

Veneration and Canonization

The process for her canonization began in Ollur on September 27, 1986. She was declared a "Servant of God" on August 29, 1987. Her remains were transferred to a new tomb within the chapel of St. Mary's Convent in 1990. Pope John Paul II declared her "Venerable" on July 5, 2002. She was beatified on December 3, 2006, in Ollur, by the declaration of Major Archbishop Varkey Vithayathil on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI.

On April 3, 2014, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of decrees concerning a miracle attributed to her intercession, paving the way for her canonization. On November 23, 2014, Pope Francis canonized Euphrasia Eluvathingal as a saint at a Mass held in St Peter's Square, Vatican City.

Miracles

Two miracles are attributed to her intercession. The first involved a carpenter named Thomas Tharakan, who was cured of bone cancer after his sister prayed to Euphrasia. The second involved a seven-year-old child named Jewel, who had a tumor in his neck that doctors deemed incurable; after his grandmother prayed to Euphrasia, the tumor reportedly shrank and disappeared.

Feast Day

While Euphrasia Eluvathingal died on August 29, her feast day is celebrated on August 30, as August 29 is observed as the feast of the beheading of St. John the Baptist.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Euphrasia Eluvathingal born and when did she die?

Euphrasia Eluvathingal was born Rosa Eluvathingal on October 17, 1877, and she died on August 29, 1952.

What religious order did Euphrasia Eluvathingal belong to?

She was an Indian Carmelite nun of the Syro-Malabar Church, belonging to the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel.

Why is Saint Euphrasia known as the 'Praying Mother'?

She became known as the 'Praying Mother' due to her endeavor to lead a life of constant prayer and her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

When was Euphrasia Eluvathingal canonized as a saint?

Euphrasia Eluvathingal was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis on November 23, 2014, in Vatican City.

What are some of the miracles attributed to Euphrasia Eluvathingal?

Reported miracles include the cure of a carpenter from bone cancer and the shrinking and disappearance of a tumor in a seven-year-old child.