tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34819364287759659722024-02-18T18:16:22.141-08:00Kuriakose Elias ChavaraShowering Blessings from Heaven!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-7587756751032075352014-12-14T10:13:00.005-08:002014-12-15T02:22:37.989-08:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara declared Saint<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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 5000 strong crowd of St. Thomas Christians from Kerala, who flocked Vatican Square on the day of canonization, Pope Francis declared that, "they [Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Euphrasia] responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of od and neighbour...their preference for the smallest and poorest was the reflection and measure of their unconditional love of God." <br />
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Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born at Kainakary, Kerala in 1805 and was ordained a priest in 1829. It was in 1831 that he found the first religious Congregation for men in India, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. He dared to think beyond his times and emphasized the need for education, the publication and reading of books, organising the liturgical texts, initiating spiritual exercises, the necessity to preach homilies and retreats, the quest to bring down the caste barriers and above all to lead people to God. He was rightly called by his cotemporaries as 'man of God.' He bid adieu to his illustrious earthly life in Jan 3, 1871 at Koonammavu, his mortal remains where later entombed at Mannanam. He was declared venerable in 1984. Pope John Paul II declared Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Alphonsa Muttathupadath blessed in 1986 at Kottayam Kerala. <br />
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Vatican approved the miracle cure of squint eye of Maria Rose Kottarathil with the exclusive intercession of Kuriakose Elias Chavara. It was this miracle which cleared the final hurdle for canonization. To declared him blessed in 1986, Rome had earlier approved the miracle which helped Mr. Joseph Mathew Pennaparambil to overcome his congenial deformity of the legs which took place in April, 1960.<br />
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The joy, happiness and gratitude of Catholic Church in India, was in full display at the National Thanks Giving day celebration at Rajagiri Valley, Kochi, Kerala. A whopping 60,000 catholics attended the Holy Qurbana presided over by Major Arch Bishop Mar George Alencherry and the public gathering. Prominent attendees include Rt. Rev. Salvatore Penachhio, Apostolic Nuncio, Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the head of Malankara Church, Mr. Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister of Kerala. The thanks giving day celebration was well attended by Bishops, Priests and prominent figures from political and social arena. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-15996719661339997012014-08-06T09:22:00.000-07:002014-08-06T09:22:24.000-07:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara: Ahead of his Time <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuriakose Elias Chavara</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">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.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Though I first read about Fr Chavara only when Pope John Paul II visited Kottayam on February 8, 1986, and declared him “Blessed”, I never missed an opportunity to read about him. For one reason or another, I always compared the priest from Kerala to William Carey, his contemporary, whose contributions have also gone unrecognised.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Last week when opportunity came my way to address the Kerala Club on the social, cultural and literary contributions of Fr Chavara, I took up the challenge. My recent visits to Kainakari, where he was born on February 10, 1805, and to Mannanam, his karmabhoomi, provided me the perspective required for the task.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">I also read his biography in English written by K.C. Chacko and published in 1986, Chavara Achen: Oru Rekha Chithram (A Book of Documentation) and several booklets on various aspects of his life. The book that I liked the most was Sukrutham Smara, edited by my acquaintance Prof Thomas Mathew. It is an anthology of articles on Fr Chavara.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Among the contributors are Dr Sukumar Azhikkode, Prof M.K. Sanu, Prof A. Sreedhara Menon, P. Govinda Pillai, Dr M. Leelavathi, C.P. Sridhar and Prof Mathew Ulakamthara. I found Pillai’s article the most enlightening. He was a Marxist but when it came to praising Fr Chavara’s contributions, he did not show any stinginess.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">I found it a mere coincidence that the day before I visited Mannanam, the late Marxist theoretician’s son, M.G. Radhakrishnan, a senior journalist with the India Today group, had visited the place to do a feature on the canonisation process. All this strengthened me to address the Club on Friday last.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">One of my resolves was to raise some pertinent questions and answer them to the satisfaction of my audience. Though the power point presentation did not go the way I desired it to go, I thought I would raise those questions here and give the answers.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>1. Why is Fr Chavara remembered 143 years after his death on January 3, 1871?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He is remembered for his various contributions to the religious and socio-cultural development of Kerala. He was endowed with exceptional creative and leadership qualities.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>2. Why is Fr Chavara considered an educationist?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">In the first half of the 19th century, admission to even government schools was denied to children from Dalit and other socially and economically backward communities. Fr Chavara set up schools where admission to students, irrespective of caste, creed and status, was guaranteed.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>3. What did he do to promote girls’ education?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Fr Chavara realised that if a girl was educated, a whole family would be educated. He provided educational facilities to girls.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>4. Was Fr Chavara the first to introduce mid-day meals in schools?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">It was in the first decade of the 21st century that on the orders of the Supreme Court, the government introduced a mid-day meal scheme in government schools. One and a half century before this, Fr Chavara provided food to students from poor families because he believed that good food was a must for the intellectual and physical growth of children.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>5. What else did Fr Chavara do for school children?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He also supplied free books, slates and clothes to needy children. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, as Diwan of Travancore, quoted such practices while preparing a note to the Maharaja on the need to universalise primary education.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>6. Was Fr Chavara the progenitor of the Pallikoodam movement?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">The Malayalam word for school is “pallikoodam”, which means a hut attached to the church. Though CMS missionaries had started several schools attached to their churches, Fr Chavara gave a new direction to the pallikoodam movement. As Vicar General, he issued a circular in which he made it mandatory for every church to have a school attached to it. In fact, he even threatened that no church without a school would be consecrated. Soon, hundreds of new schools sprouted in the state.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>7. Was Fr Chavara the founder of the homes for the poor and the homeless?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He set up India’s first home for the poor at Kainakari, which continues to this day. He gave a written instruction on how funds should be collected to run such homes, which were meant for the destitute. In his own life time, he set up several such homes.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>8. Was he the first to start a Sanskrit school?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Until Fr Chavara arrived on the scene, Sanskrit was more or less the preserve of some. He started a school where he employed a Brahmin from Trichur to teach Sanskrit. The students of his seminary were taught Sanskrit. He himself was a life-long student of Sanskrit. He knew the Hindu scriptures so well that he used them to develop his own theological writing.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>9. Was Fr Chavara a secularist?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He was a deeply religious person. As such, he was not secular as it is understood today. His aim was not to convert more and more people to Christianity or “Churchianity”. His aim was to take the message of Christ into the minds of more and more people.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">His plan was to set up his centre at Pullarikunnu in Mannanam. But when a section of the people protested that the hill to which the presiding deity of a local temple constantly gazed was inappropriate, he changed his plan and found another hill where a whole lot of establishments, including a college, are now situated. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>10. How did Fr Chavara build so many institutions?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He built several institutions at several places in his life time. He collected money from ordinary people. He was able to instil confidence among the people. They contributed liberally to him and they included Hindus and Muslims too. He also paid the highest wages to his workers.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>11. Was Fr Chavara an architect?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He did not study architecture but he built Kerala’s first double-storied building at Mannanam. Again, his seminary at Mannanam was Kerala’s biggest building at that time.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>12. Was Fr Chavara the father of Malayalam journalism?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">The fist two printing presses in Kerala were at Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. The former belonged to the CMS missionaries while the latter belonged to the government. He wanted to start his own printing press but the authorities of the Kottayam press did not allow him to even see the press. He managed to see the government press with the help of a Catholic employee there.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">It is said that Fr Chavara saw the press, copied it in his mind and made a model using a banana stem. Then, with the help of a carpenter, he built a wooden press. He had to pay Rs 6000, a princely sum those days, to import paper and ink required for printing. It was on this press that the first issue of Nasrani Deepika was printed. And it was from this paper that the present-day Malayalam daily Deepika descended. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>13. How was Fr Chavara different from reformers like Abraham Malpan and Martin Luther?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Unlike the two who left their mother churches to form their own churches, Fr Chavara reformed the Catholic Church by maintaining steadfast loyalty to the Pope. In this respect, he was like Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556). </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>14. What are his contributions to the church?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">When a schism happened in the church in Kerala, he took a bold stand against a foreign usurper but for which most of the Catholic churches in Kerala would have gone out of control of the Vatican. He also brought hundreds of churches back to the Catholic fold.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">He set up the first seminary for the whole Catholic church in what is now Kerala. He also started two congregations for priests and nuns, which today have establishments all over the world. They are the first of their kind in India. He brought about ecumenism in the church.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>15. Was Fr Chavara the first playwright?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Yes, he was. The first Indian drama is Neeldarpan, written in Bengali by Deenbandhu Mishra on the miseries of the indigo cultivators. It was published in 1860. The first Malayalam play is considered Abhinjana Shakuntalam, translated into Malayalam by Kerala Verma Valiakovil Thampuran in 1882. Decades before that, Fr Chavara had written as many as 10 eclogues or liturgical dramas. Unlike in the case of Abhinjana Shakuntalam, which was staged several decades later, the eclogues were staged by the students of Fr Chavara’s seminary. So, he can be considered the father of Malayalam drama.</span><br />
<b><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">16. Why are Fr Chavara’s teachings famous?</span></i></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">His teachings are based on practical knowledge. He advised people against entering into marital relations with people who are irreligious. He had the foresight to warn parents against sending their children to relatives’ homes for stay. He said the parents should ensure that they did not return with unclean mind and body.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>17. Was Fr Chavara’s Anasthasyayude Raktasakshithvam (The Martyrdom of Anasthasya) the first khandakavyam (a short poetic work) in Malayalam?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">The first complete short poem in Malayalam was considered to be A.R. Rajaraja Varma’s Malayavilasam, written in 1895. Fr Chavara’s Anasthasya’s Martyrdom appeared three decades before in 1862. I have read parts of the poem and they are exceptionally good. The language is simple and lyrical. True, I am not competent to judge the poem but those who have read it like Sooranattu Kunjan Pillai, Sachidanandan, Guru Nityachaitanyati and Dr P.V. Velayudhan Pillai are ready to concede the point that the work is comparable to Kumaran Asan’s Karuna, Vallathol’s Magdalana Mariam and Ulloor’s Pingala. Let me make bold to say that he was the father of Malayalam short poems.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>18. Was Fr Chavara a single-book wonder?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">No, he wrote several books, both in prose and poetry. His longest poetical work is Atmanutapam which, too, I found very appealing. He is one of the first major prose writers of Malayalam. It can be inferred from his writing that he tried to liberate Malayalam from the excessive influence of Sanskrit. He also ensured that the books reached the masses.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>19. Was Fr Chavara a multi-linguist?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Yes, he knew Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit and Latin. Towards the end of his life, he also learnt Portuguese. One regret he had was that he could not learn Spanish, the language in which Saint Teresa of Avila communicated with God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>20. Who was the first Indian to be beatified?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">Fr Chavara was the first to be beatified. Yet, he was overtaken by Saint Alphonsa, who had given a moving account of how Fr Chavara intervened in her life and saved her from the rigours of an illness. He was the first priest in whose honour the Indian Postal Department released a stamp. It was President R.Venkataraman who released the stamp and the first-day cover in 1987.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><b><i>21. What is Prior mango?</i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">It is a variety of mango which Fr Chavara popularised. It is now named after the priest who was endearingly called “Prior”. Incidentally, William Carey had a species of tree named after him.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">All this makes Fr Chavara a unique personality. Yet, he has not received the recognition and attention his memory deserves. I am glad that more and more people will come forward to recognise him as a cultural leader of Kerala. Prof Omchery NN Pillai has declared that his picture will be unveiled at Kerala Club. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi has his portrait at its Thrisoor office.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">My wife and I had the unique honour of holding in our hands two sacred remains of Fr Chavara, a small casket containing a piece of his hair and a piece of lead on which his name was written when his body was interred. I am really glad that I got a forum like the Kerala Club to pay tribute to one of India’s greatest reformers who should be ranked along with Rajaram Mohun Roy, Sri Narayana Guru, Ayyankali and Jyotirao Phule.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">(We thank Mr. A J Philip for his kind gesture for allowing us to reproduce this article. The writer can be reached at ajphilip@gmail.com)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-61538913629663787382012-12-28T23:39:00.000-08:002014-01-18T04:20:28.685-08:00Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara: On the Way to Sainthood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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, Kuriakose Elias Chavara was
man of faith in action.</div>
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<b>Witness to Chavara's Holiness
during his Lifetime<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Tahshildar of Meenachil once said about Kuriakose Elias
Chavara, “Those who complained against
such a great man, a person endowed with divine grace, were very bad people and
reserved the anger of God.” He was not the lone figure who recognized the
saintliness of Chavara. At the sight of this holy person, ordinary people used
to say, “Here goes the man of God.” During his life time people from all walks
of life adorned recognized his greatness by calling him, ‘Servant of God,’
‘Divine person,’ ‘man of divine vision’ etc…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>After the Death of Chavara</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Two biographies of Kuriakose
Elias Chavara were written after his death in 1871. They were written by his
confessor and spiritual director Fr. Leopold Beccaro OCD and his successor Fr.
Kuriakose Porukara. Being well aware of
the fact that Chavara was a saint, Fr. Leopold distributed the copy of the last
testament along with his cassock, dress etc and asked the monasteries to
cherish them as sacred relics of their holy founder. Fr. Leopold wrote in his
diary on the day of Chavara’s death, ‘O beautiful and holy soul pray for me.’It was he who took the initiative to start the
process of canonization but he had to leave Kerala as a result of a conflict
with the Vicar Apostolic Mellano. </div>
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It is also notable that the St. Thomas Christians had sent petitions to
Pope Pius IX extolling the moral authority, prudence etc. of Chavara Kuriakose.
Written in popular poetic style, the <i>purathana
pattukal</i> portrays the greatness of Chavara’s holiness which was well known
to the people of Kainakari. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Servant of God, Venerable and
Blessed<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The CMI congregation, still in its early years of growth could not take
forward the cause of Chavara Kuriakose. The turning point was when Eugene
Cardinal Tisserant, the then prefect of Oriental Churches visited Kerala in
1953 and is said to have advised Fr. Maurus Valiyaparampil to begin the process
for Canonization. The process gained momentum with the Congregation for
oriental Churches introducing the cause of Kuriakose Elias Chavara and
authorized the Bishop of Changanaserry, Mar Mathew Kavukatt to institute the
informative process on the life and virtues of Chavara. Fr. Placid Padiapara CMI
was appointed the postulator and Fr. Maurilius Kakkanatt CMI was the vice
postulator at Mannanam. From the time the cause was introduced in diocesan
curia in 1955, Kuriakose Elias Chavara was called ‘Servant of God.’<o:p></o:p></div>
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A Position or a position document
describing the introduction of the cause and virtues of the servant of God Kuriakos
Elias Chavara was prepared. The work on position was completed in 1977 and was
submitted to the consultants whose response can be either positive, negative or
reserved. The response was indeed positive and Pope John Paul II after being
informed of the findings, ordered to prepare a decree, the conclusion of which
reads, ‘It is evident that the Servant of God Cyriac Elias Chavara practiced
the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity towards God and towards brethren and also the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and
fortitude and those connected with the same, in a heroic degree, in case and
for the effect in question.’ The decree of the heroic virtues was promulgated
in 1984 and from then he was called ‘Venerable.’</div>
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The cure of a six year old boy,
Joseph Mathew Pennaparampil, who was born with a club feet was accepted as the
miracle needed for the beatification. On 8 February 1985, Pope John Paul II in his
visit to India to India declared Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Alphonsa
Muttathupadathu blessed. </div>
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The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kerala</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and especially CMI congregation are prayerfully waiting for the moment when
Kuriakose Elias Chavara will be declared a saint.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-58101439226347961912012-12-28T23:38:00.000-08:002013-06-29T06:20:55.761-07:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara of Happy Memories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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 vessel, strong enough to resist the tempest of the sea, which gives
guarantee of safety and protection to passengers’ and St. Joseph as ‘the sailor
who is familiar with the route and who would safely bring the passengers to a safe landing. ‘The Confraternity of
Happy Death’ of St. Joseph, +the patron of happy death was established by
Kuriakose Elias and requested people to join so that they could confidently
face death and reach heaven. He concludes a letter written to parishioners in
Kainakary with the following words, “Each month, on this particular day read
this and say the following ejaculatory prayer: “Lord accept the soul of this
your servant in the home of the just.” This is my only request to you.</div>
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Toward the end of 1870, Chavara
Kuriakose Elias knew that he was inching closer to death. As Kuriakose Porukara writes, “As the Prior
was aware by a special intuition the approach of his death, he was continuously
preparing for a happy death.” In many of the churches which Kuriakose Elias
preached in 1870’s he stated that this would be his last sermon and also
repeated the same to the priests who had assembled for retreat. Even during the
difficult times of his life, he was very particular in celebrating mass at 5:00
am and relied greatly on the Blessed Virgin Mary and <st1:city w:st="on">St. Joseph</st1:city>. </div>
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He lost his eye sight during the
last three months of this life on earth but instead of becoming irritated or
sorrowful, he remained pleasant with a smile on his face. He suffered a lot
during the last three days before his death. On 2 January 1871, he made his last confession
to Fr. Leopold and received Holy Communion. He told the members who were
standing near his death bead, ‘Why are you weeping? Man, whoever he be, has to
die one day. Now it is my time. For a few days, I was preparing myself as far
as possible.” Then he revealed the secret which he hid from everyone , “By the grace of God I dare to say that with their help never had I
an occasion to be deprived of the grace received in baptism.” After Fr. Joseph
John of the Cross, the vicar of the Monastery of Koonammavu administered the
sacrament, Kuriakose Elias Chavara blessed all the members who were present.
When Fr. Leopold asked, “Father, how are you now? Are you happy? Are you
peaceful at heart?” He replied, “Father, now I have peace and joy.” These were
his last words and he lost his consciousness. On January 3, 1871, at 7:15 in
the morning Kuriakose Elias Chavara breathed his last.</div>
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The funeral was held on 4
January, 1871. The funeral mass was celebrated by Fr. John of the Cross, the
vicar, the sermon was preached by Fr. Mathai Kappil and Fr Kuriakose Eliseus
Porukara conducted the funeral services. Fr. Valerian writes that ‘according to
eyewitnesses the rush of people was such that it filled over the precincts of
the church. During the funeral speech Fr. Mathai Kappil said, “Today the flag
of Kerala has fallen.’ Then the bells rang and people burst out in loud
cries. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was laid
to rest at St. Philomena’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">monastery</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Koonammavu. When
this church was handed over to Latinites after the creation of Thrissur and
Kottayam vicariates, the relics of Chavara was transferred from Konnammavu to
Mannanam on 24 May 1899. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-14930646417362040642012-12-28T23:35:00.002-08:002013-06-29T06:48:28.639-07:00Karmayogi: The Personality of Kuriakose Elias Chavara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">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.</span> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The attribute ‘<i>karma-yogi</i>’ given by Prof. P. T.
Thomas gives a clear idea of the towering personality of Chavara.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">Prophetic Vision and
Mission of Chavara<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">The continuous changes that happen
in the society are the result of the one who has the sense of history, who
knows the present condition and having a vision for the future. Chavara is one among these visionaries who
changed society. The Chaldean leadership
was not that much acceptable and pleasing to the indigenous group in
Kerala. In the 16<sup>th</sup> century, with
the coming of the Portuguese, the Latin influence and dominance destroyed the unity
and autonomy of the Indian church of St. Thomas Christians.
The Christians of St. Thomas wanted to have co-existence with the
Portuguese, but they were for absorption, which resulted in conflicts. Chavara as well as the Malpans had a conviction
that no good can be expected from the Chaldean Church by re-linking Kerala Church
with it. One of the basic problems Chavara
could understand is that of language, the difference in language used and known
by the priests and bishops. So to say,
the condition of Kerala Church was that people were looking for a normal state; but the situation was entirely different, headed by one from different Rite,
using Latin language and Rites for rituals and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> The solution, Chavara could give was
to get a few missionaries from Europe, who were ready to study Syrian language and
to adapt Syro-Malabar Rite and later to make one among them as the head of the
Church in Kerala. Later Chavara wrote to
Prefect of the Propagande Congregation, for two bishops: one for the Latin
Church and another for Syrian Church, so that the wish of the people for bishop
from their own rite will be satisfied and they will get united. This request could influence many of the
decisions of Rome during that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> Chavara along with Malpans started
with the reforms to bring back the community to right track. One of the steps for the reform was starting
of the religious life in 1831 at Mannanam for men and one in 1866 for
women. Another area was the reform of
the clergy in Kerala; training of the seminarians, giving retreats, making
available spiritual books etc. He
introduced several schemes for the general renewal of Christian life, started
schools and printing presses and contributed a lot to the literature too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">Humane Personality<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> Chavara was a garden of virtues, so
that he was loved and respected by all, his students, priests, bishops and lay
people. All considered him equal to a
bishop. He enjoyed the company of all,
with no age or status difference. His
knowledge in different languages helped a lot in his ministries, teaching
seminarians, liturgical compositions etc.
He also had an in depth knowledge in theology and Bible, which he could
make use for the preaching and retreats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">Moral Dimension of
Chavara’s Personality<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> Chavara was accurate in all his
accounts and was just to all. He was very
keen to see only the good in others.
Chavara was a prudent person in making decision and doing things, but he
was ready to seek and accept advice from elderly persons. When he had to correct others he was
conscious not to offend them. His
foresight is evident in making funds for all the charitable activities that he
started. In solving problems and in
dealing with the people involved in such things, Chavara was very prudent. He professed a fourth vow, vow of humility,
and was humble in all his words and deeds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He believed that all that he had
were the gifts from God and he thanked God for all the blessings he received
from birth till the day of last breath.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He expressed
his faith in the Holy Catholic Church in all his activities.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He showed great trust in God’s
providence.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He was a true devotee of
Blessed Virgin Mary.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">His love to God was
out bursting in charity to the needy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Through love towards the brethren and even to the people who offended
him, he could prove that he really loves God.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He had great zeal for the souls, which he expressed through preaching,
pastoral activities, writing good books etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> Chavara led a poor life, trusting in
the providence of God, even when a number of projects he started without any
fund in his hands. He was very careful
in the virtue of chastity. According to
him one who shows obedience to superiors and subordinates will be able to enjoy
heavenly peace, making a mini-heaven around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> The true name that can be given to
Chavara is ‘<i>karma-yogi</i>’, ‘a
contemplative in action’, one who lived for others, out of love of God, along
with this he made an intense prayer life too.
His prayer life which was started in childhood itself was properly
brought up as he passed through different stages of life. In the case of the congregation when started,
it was following the Dominican way, <i>contemplata
praedicare</i> (preach what has been meditated upon). But in 1855 Carmelite spirituality was
accepted and followed, a combination of both and gave roots in eastern,
Carmelite and Indian spirituality.
Chavara considered this new face as that God willed, not because man
planned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;"> During the time of meditation,
others could see him on knees, shedding tears for the whole time. Chavara was influenced by St. Theresa of
Avila and St. John of the Cross and he could go up in the levels of prayer
experience. He considered God as his
Father and placed himself as His son in prayers and life. Another specialty of his prayer life was the
compunction of heart; he repented for the childhood follies and expressed
gratitude for all the blessings God showered in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">Chavara spirituality is revealed
through his spiritual compositions such as Martyrdom of Anastasia, <i>Dhyanasallapangal, Atmanutapam, Parvam</i>
and other letters. Most distinctive
characteristic of his spirituality is the longing for the vision of God, the
intense desire to see God. His devotion
to Holy Family is clear in adding a phrase “of the Holy Family” along with his
name on the day of religious profession.
In his spirituality he considered the first and second persons of Holy
Trinity and St. Joseph as father figures and makes prayers accordingly. Similarly, he considered Blessed Virgin Mary,
St. Theresa of Avila, the Holy Catholic Church and his own congregation as
mother figures. In his spirituality,
devotion to the Blessed Sacrament can never be neglected. He himself says that he wishes to be locked
in the tabernacle with Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">His spiritual life is based on a
family relationship.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">As pointed out
there are father figures and mother figures.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He considers </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">himself</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> as a prodigal son returning to his Father with
repentance.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">The rest of the humanity
consists of his brothers and sisters.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">With some members of the family, he has got more intimacy, since they
are also of the same state as that of his.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Towards his spiritual children he has a paternal love too.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">He extended his family relationship even to
those who are in purgatory and prayed specially for them and reminded others to
do so.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 140%;">To
conclude, the name <i>karma-yogi</i> is an
apt name that reflects the towering personality of Blessed Chavara. The great visionary and missionary in Chavara
was a God-given gift for the whole Church, especially for the
congregation. He was an inspiration for
the people of his time as well as the people who lived and lives years
after. He was a beacon of light who led
people to Christ by becoming another Christ in his personality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-42589345490577954432012-12-28T23:33:00.000-08:002013-06-29T06:20:59.602-07:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara: A Faithful Defender of the Church<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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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. <st1:place w:st="on">Union</st1:place>
with Pope and obedience and acceptance of the authorities appointed by the Pope
are important in this regard. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kerala</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> was going through
a challenging phase during that time. The ripples of <i>Koonan
Cross oath </i> in the middle of
seventeenth century which had divided the Church into <i>Pazhayakuttukar</i> (old party) <i>Puthenkuttukar</i>
(new party) could be felt with great intensity during the time of Chavara.
Kuriakose Elias Chavara defended the Church with valour as a faithful soldier
of the Church. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The Roccos Affair<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The people of Kerala were
dejected of being under the foreign rule and there was a strong demand for a
Bishop of their own rite. Bishop
Roccos arrived in Kerala on May 9, 1861.
Even though he arrived unlawfully, the real fact was hidden from
people. He received a grand reception by Syrian Churches. Very soon majority of the Churches in
Kerala stood behind Bishop Roccos. This unlawful Bishop and his companions
caused a Schism like situation in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kerala</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
It is known as ‘Roccos Schism’ in the history and Kuriakose Elias Chavara had
qualified it as ‘religious rebellion’ (<i>vedakalapam</i>).</div>
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Roccos and his companions
travelled far and wide in Kerala with the support of Antony Thondanat and others
and enjoyed the support of majority of the Churches. To be specific <span lang="EN-GB">86 churches fully supported Roccos
and in 36 churches there were both groups. It was a natural response of the
people who were reeling under the yoke of unmindful latinization by the
missionaries and the Bishops and the requests for a native bishop fell in deaf
ears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The situation was alarming. Inorder
to counter Roccos, on June 8, 1861, the Authorities of Verapoly officially
appointed Fr.Kuriakose as the Vicar General of Verapoly of all the Syrian
Catholics of Kerala. Kuriakose Elias was a champion of faith who even renounced
an offer to be made bishop by the Roccos group. On hearing about this offer, he
said, “My desire is not to be made a bishop, but to save my soul.” Fr. Chavara
sent a circular to priests and laity asking them to refrain from encouraging
the attempts of Roccos. The circular was strongly worded asking the faithful
even ‘to be prepared to die at their hands in defense of unity of the Church.’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kuriakose Elias had written to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vatican</st1:country-region> asking
clarification for the legitimacy of Bishop Roccos arrival. The letter from the
Pope praised Chavara for his zeal and devotion and expressed great regard for
the act of approaching the Holy See in such a critical situation to discern the
truth. The letter clearly stated that Roccos came to Kerala without the knowledge of the Pope. </div>
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Being aware of the letter from
the Pope, Bishop Roccos had made up his mind to return; but his supporters opposed it especially his followers like
Avira Parayi didn't allow him to leave . On 28
December 1861, Roccos was solemnly excommunicated. With much difficulty, the
excommunication order was handed over to Roccos by Fr. Mathai Mariam Kappil, vicar
of Koonammavu monastery. He went around
Kerala without showing any sign of repentance. But a second letter from the
Patriarch reached Roccos which asked him to return back. He fell ill and was
treated in <st1:city w:st="on">Kochi</st1:city>.
Roccos had a change of heart and was expressed in a letter to Vicar Apostolic.
Vicar Apostolic entrusted Kuriakose Elias with the responsibility of hearing
the confession, withdrawing excommunication on certain conditions and making
arrangements for the Roccos travel. Even though the situation was volatile, Kuriakose Elias handled it well and Roccos was sent back to Mosul in a ship
from Kochi. </div>
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<br /></div>
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From trying to bring together the
separated faction which came to existence post Coonan Cross Oath to dealing with
challenges from people like Antony Thondanatt, Antony Kudakkachira, Deneha bar
Jona, Kuriakose Elias led from the front and ensured that unity of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Christ</st1:placename></st1:place> in Kerala remained intact. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-40179987287063870282012-12-28T23:32:00.000-08:002014-01-18T04:20:50.240-08:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara: Founder of CMC Congregation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“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 <i>Swami Vivekananda.</i> 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 about
change. Kuriakose Elias Chavara too felt that a new religious congregation for
women would be game changer for women in Kerala both socially and spiritually. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kuriakose Elias Chavara founded
the Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC) along with an Italian missionary Fr.
Leopold Beccaro OCD on 13<sup>th</sup> February, 1866. The dream of starting a
religious congregation of women was something which Fr. Chavara had been
praying for long. While recollecting the day Fr. Leopold shared this idea,
Chavara writes, “It seems that God has been pleased to fulfill something which
seems difficult and for which I have been praying for long. In 1865, Rev. Leopold
took me out for an evening walk… (and told me)..here there is a widow and her
fourteen year old daughter. The girl is heiress to half the property of her
father. She does not like to get married. Why not separate them from their home
and accommodate them in a new house to be built on their own property, a little
removed from the family house? Here other girls in like situation may be
trained in handicrafts and virtuous ascetic life to become nuns.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The permission to begin the
congregation was granted by the Archbishop Bernadine OCD and treated them as
third order of Carmelite nuns. The building of the first convent was not an
easy task as contributions had dried up. But with the little they got a
building was made, in the words of Chavara, “it was built of coconut tree and
bamboo mats. It was divided into a prayer hall, a dining room and three other
rooms.” It was with unconditional trust in the Lord that Kuriakose Elias
Chavara and Leopold Beccaro started the first indigenous women’s congregation
in India with four members namely Eliswa-a widow, her daughter Anna, her sister
Teresa, and another young lady named Clara. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But the early life of sisters was
challenging. Fr. Chavara writes, ‘The life of sisters in the present structure
was very pitiable. Because it was made of fresh bamboos, bamboo mats that were
not yet dry and unprocessed tender coconut logs, they fall easy victims to moths
and termites. Hence there was need to construct a stronger and permanent
building.’ To make a new building, initiatives like families setting apart ‘a
handful of rice’ (<i>pidiyari</i>) everyday while preparing a meal for building a new
convent were taken up. Priest even went around to various churches to collect
money and even priests were contacted through letters to get contributions. The
foundation stone was laid for the convent on 13<sup>th</sup> June 1866 and on
April 27<sup>th</sup> 1867 sisters were shifted to a new convent in Koonamavvu.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This religious congregation for
women branched off into Congregation of Mother Carmel (CMC) in the Oriental
rite and Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) in the Latin rite. This
religious congregation played a significant role in giving a new face to women
upliftment. Taking women from the confines of homes and giving training,
employing them in cottage industries, giving them education, ensuring spiritual
growth, the Carmelite women congregation’s contribution to women and the Church
in Kerala is immense. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-26044179028282150782012-12-28T23:30:00.002-08:002013-06-29T06:16:29.931-07:00The Birth of CMI Congregation and Kuriakose Elias Chavara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From Hindu <i>rishis </i>to Buddhist Monastics, <st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place> is a land blessed with the
sages from time immemorial. Even though traces of Catholic monasticism could be
seen in India, they didn’t stand the test of time. It needed Fr. Thomas
Porkura, Fr. Thomas Palackal, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Bro. Jacob
Kaniyanthara to begin an indigenous religious congregation which would play an
important role in the growth of St. Thomas Christians in <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The desire of the founding
fathers was to lead a spiritual monastic life completely cutting themselves off
from the affairs of the world. On communicating this idea to Msgr. Stabilini,
the vicar apostolic, he was taken by surprise and shot back, ‘If erudite and
educated priests like you retreat to forests for your own spiritual well being
who will take care of the faithful?” He then asked them to start a monastery so
that they could strive for their own spiritual growth together with working for
the social, moral and spiritual advancement of brethren. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Unlike <st1:place w:st="on">Europe,</st1:place>
where monasteries were generously funded by Kings, establishing a monastery in
Kerala was not an easy task. But Bishop Stabilini was confident that the generous
Christians in Kerala would support this noble venture. He issued a letter
asking people to contribute and himself gave Rs. 200 toward establishing the
monastery. The permission to start the monastery was granted in 1829. After
going around Kerala searching for a suitable place, the founding fathers zeroed
in on Mannanam Hill. It was high enough and at the foot of it was water which
would mean easy accessibility. Thus it was the ideal place for
prayer/contemplation and also to serve the people.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The foundation stone of the
monastery was laid on 11 May 1831. After a few weeks the Chapel was completed
and blessed. Fr. Thomas Porukara and Chavara continuously resided in Mannanam
from then on and Fr. Palackal, the Malpan was commuting between Pallipuram and
Mannanam. Fr. Kuriakose Porukara write about the way the founding fathers lead
the religious life, “As soon as they had achieved their intention in some
measure, the fire that was burning in their heart began to emit rays of piety.
Personal prayers, meditations, fasting, vigils, the very long Hudra [Canonical
Prayer], the prayers of the three day fast, <i>Raza</i>
[solemn liturgy] on Sunday and feast days, sung masses and sermons on special
feasts- this was their routine….How wonderful it appears when we think of their
spirit of poverty, eating very frugal meals, sleeping least comfortable.” A
seminary too was started along with monastery to train both diocesan and
religious priests. In 1844, Fr. Thomas Porukara and Kuriakose Elias Chavara
were appointed Malpans by the Vicar Apostolic Francis Xavier Pescetto. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr.
Thomas Porukara passed away in 1841 and 1844 respectively. It was a testing
time of the leadership of Kurikose Elias Chavara. But he successfully passed
this test of fire by beautifully blending prayer and activities. With the
religious profession of the first batch of eleven priests headed by Fr.
Kuriakose Elias Chavara on 8<sup>th</sup> December 1855, the religious
community in Mannanam became a canonically recognized religious congregation.
Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was the first Prior General of the Congregation. The
visionary leadership of Kuriakose Elias made sure that new religious
congregation contributed to the social upliftment of the Keralite society and
spiritual renewal of the St. Thomas Christians. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When Kuriakose Elias Chavara went
back to the eternal abode on 3<sup>rd</sup> January 1871, he had established
seven new monasteries besides Mannanam. They are Konnammavu (1857), Elthurth
(1858), Plasanal (1858), Vazhakulam (1859), Pulincunnu (1861), Ampazhakad
(1868), Mutholi (1869).</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-65556162757682484912012-12-28T23:29:00.000-08:002013-06-29T06:16:34.320-07:00Western Education and Kuriakose Elias Chavara Model Education in Kerala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The rulers in Kerala were
convinced of the need for education. The western missionaries made good use of
the favourable situation and established schools. The pioneers in the education
field included London Missionary Society (LMS) who were active in South
Travancore, Church Mission Society (CMS) based in <st1:place w:st="on">Central
Travancore</st1:place> and Basel German Evangelical Mission in Malabar. But it
required a humble school which Kuriakose Elias Chavara established in Mannanam
to be a game changer in the Kerala scenario.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>London Missionary Society (LMS)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The London Missionary Society’s
main centre was in South Travancore. Rev. Mead who was part of LMS was a
pioneer in female education. He spent more than half a century in educational
work in <st1:place w:st="on">South Travancore</st1:place>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Church Mission Society (CMS)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The focal point of the activities
of the Church Mission Society was in Kottayam. In 1821 a grammar school was started
at Kottayam. The wives of Church missionaries played an important role in initiating
female education. The Christian missionaries also started schools in
Mattancheri and Thrissur. In 1818 Rev. J. Dawson opened an English School at
Mattancheri and in 1837 Mr. <st1:state w:st="on">Brandenburg</st1:state>
started an <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">English</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> at Thrissur.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Basel German Evangelical Mission<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The main Centers of Basel
Evangelical missions were <st1:city w:st="on">Calicut</st1:city>
and Tellicherry. In 1848 a Primary School was established at Kallayi which
later became <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Malabar</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Christian</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">College</st1:placename></st1:place>.
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Brennan</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">College</st1:placename></st1:place> of present had a humble
beginning in 1856 as an English school
at Tellicherry. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Swati Tirunal and English Education<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Swati Tirunal was born on 16th
April 1813 as the Son of Rajarajavarma Valiya Koil Tamburan and Gouri Lakshmi
Bai. He was genius with proficiency in eighteen languages. Being aware of the
importance of English education, he opened an English school at <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city> in 1834.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The </b><b>Advantage of </b><b> English Education </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Kings and family members were
interested in English. It was a royal language. As the British were ruling it
created opportunities for employment and gave privilege and respect to the
society. But the slaves had a different
story to tell. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Education of the Slaves<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The low caste people lived in a
pathetic situation in the eighteenth century. They were uneducated and were
treated like animals. Education was a privilege and exclusive right of <span lang="EN-GB">higher caste people.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In 1850 Anglican Bishop T. G. Rogant visited
Thiruvathamkur and was disheartened at the sight of the wretched situation in
which the low caste people were in. With the firm conviction that all are equal
in front of God, he established educational institutions for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Even though the Government of Kochi and
Thiruvathamkur appreciated missionaries' education, they later turned against
giving education to slaves. The influence of higher caste people is said to be
behind such a change in mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Chavara Model of Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the midst of raging opposition against education
of slaves from government and at a time when education for different castes under
a roof was impossible, Kuriakose Elias Chavara did the unthinkable at Mannanam.
He established an education institution where a Nair teacher taught Sanskrit
(considered as the language of gods!) to the children of all the caste who sat
in the same class without distinction. It was indeed a revolution, the ripples
of which can be felt even now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-1370007991094571052012-12-28T23:25:00.000-08:002013-06-29T06:16:38.940-07:00Language and Literature in 18th Century and Genius of Kuriakose Elias Chavara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The missionaries did a pioneering
and exemplary work in Kerala with their substantial contributions to Malayalam
language. There are many notable
individuals. Benjamin Baily translated books from English to Malayalam like ‘<i>Upanishadhwakayanam</i>’
‘<i>Bharathiya Theerthadakan</i>.’ Clodius Bukanan translated Bible into Malayalam in1811.
In 1818 Benjamin Baily gave a better translation of the Bible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Dr. Gundert, a Basal Missionary
considered Malayalam language as his mother tongue. His was a life dedicated to
Malayalam language a visible expression of which is the 24 books he wrote in
Malayalam. Notable ones include <i>Pazhamcholmala</i> (1850, <i>Keralapazhama</i> (1852)etc. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Story and Novel<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The written language deeply
influenced and refined the life and culture of the people during that time. It
was Benjamin Baily who introduced stories in Malayalam in the poetic
language. He translated it from English to Malayalam like <i>Randattinkuttikal</i>, <i>Bharathiya
Theerthadakan</i> etc. John Burnian, Arch Decon K. Koshy and Gundert have also made
contributions in this field. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In 1858 Rev. Joseph Peet
translated the novel of Mrs. Catherin, known as ‘<i>Fulmoni Ennum Koruna Ennum
Peraya Rendu Sthrikalude Kadha</i>’ Some important novels which has evergreen
status in Malayalam literature came up during this time like <i>Pullelikkunju</i>, in
1892, <i>Kunthalatha</i> in 1887 and <i>Induleka</i> in 1889.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Malayalam Drama<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was western missionaries who
were instrumental in introducing and nurturing Malayalam Drama. The Keralites
too jumped in making vital contributions to take it forward. The natives who
took great interest in Malayalam drama are Nidherickal Mani Kathanar, Kandathil
Varghese Mappilla, Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thamburan and C. V. Raman Pilla. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Grammar Books<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The first grammar book in
Malayalam was written by a missionary named Rev. Joseph Peet in 1841. It was
his book that was taught in schools and colleges. In 1851 and 1860 Herman
Gundert wrote Malayalam Bhasha Vyakaram. Rev. Geroge Mattam wrote the Malayalam
grammar in 1863. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Dictionary<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The first Malayalam - English dictionary was
published in 1846. It was Rev. Richard Colins who wrote the first Malayalam-Malayalam
dictionary in 1860.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Development of Science and History<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The developments in language and increasing number of educational
instiutions contributed to the development of science and history. In 1830
Chemistry began to be taught in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kottayam</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Scientific knowledge
was helpful in eradicating Superstitions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kuriakose Elias Chavara was a
literary genius. His contributions can be divided into two categories namely
literary (poetic) writings and spiritual writings. The literary writings include Compunction of
Heart (<i>Atmanutapam)</i>, Dirge
(<i>Parvam/Pana</i>) and Martyrdom of Anastasia. The Meditation Colloquies (<i>Dhyanasallapangal</i>) and other short
mediations come under the spiritual writings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Compunction of Heart (<i>Atmanutapam)</i>
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Written in epic (<i>Mahakavyam</i>) style, Compunction of Heart
(<i>Atmanutapam)</i> is the most significant
work of Kurikoose Elias Chavara. The original manuscript contains 143 pages
with 3000 metric verses, running into 4023 lines. Divided into 12 cantons and
following various poetic meters, the book treats life of Jesus from birth to
ascension into heaven and life of Mary from ascension of Jesus to assumption of Mary into heaven. What makes the book stand out is the self-reflection of
Chavara Kuriakose which has been beautifully introven in the work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Dirge (<i>Parvam/Pana</i>)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Keeping in mind the custom of relatives and friends keeping vigil around the dead body of a family member,
Dirge was written in order to sing loud on occasion like this. It has 1162
verses. Rather than emphasizing on the suffering in purgatory, our attitude
towards the dead is given importance. The poem reflects the Catholic faith in
communion of saints that is the communion among triumphant Church in heaven,
Church suffering in purgatory and the militant Church on earth. In order to inspire
the listeners to be kind towards the dead, the poem contains ten parables. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Martyrdom of Anastasia<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The story of St. Anastasia who
suffered martyrdom under Emperor Valerian has been written in beautiful poetic
form. It is a minor epic. (<i>Khandakavyam</i>)
It is written in boat song (<i>vancipatt</i>)
style in order to move the listeners to action and sacrifice. This poem is said
to be written during the time when the unity of Church in Kerala was challenged
after the arrival of the bishop Roccos and gave the message to persist in faith in spite of sufferings, persecutions and even death. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Meditation Colloquies (<i>Dhyanasallapangal</i>)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The contemplative dimension and
God-experience of Kuriakose Elias Chavara can be seen in full bloom in
Meditation Colloquies. It was a sort of spiritual diary which he wrote between
1866 and 1868. The book is a standing testimony to the fact that Chavara was a
master of spirituality and attained highest levels of mystical experience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The other books of Kuriakose
Elias Chavara include <i>Dhyanakuripukal </i>(Points
for Meditation/Retreat), Prayers Chavara used to recite and Forty hour
Adoration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Printing Press at Mannanam</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Being fully aware of the changes
that books could make in bringing about substantial changes in the society ,Kuriakose Elias established printing press at Mannanam in 1844. It was the first
Syro-Malabar Catholic Press in Kerala. It
published many spiritual books for deepening the religious life of the people. <i>Jnana Piyusham</i> was the first book to be
published from Mannanam press in 1846. <i>Nasrani Deepika</i> the first Malayalam daily
was printed from this press in 1887. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Thus Chavara’s literary
contribution to Malayalam is immense and it is rather sad that it has not been
seriously taken note by the literary fraternity in Kerala. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-61779340611167526142012-12-28T23:12:00.000-08:002013-03-24T01:28:22.779-07:00Leadership of Chavara and Growth of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) Congregation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ltxnmn_CIsCZ_KyPUhpoVwppaHa9C0IP8iUBmR-YktRl3dMSg8XNEek-rV39P8EG5Xn2i-xvH3q2Zh8wzLmBCY1oBB6EIApWmsdtMMAN29M_B8w8PNA8OQE5pFbfyPWMS7ivfaTLexl/s1600/growth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ltxnmn_CIsCZ_KyPUhpoVwppaHa9C0IP8iUBmR-YktRl3dMSg8XNEek-rV39P8EG5Xn2i-xvH3q2Zh8wzLmBCY1oBB6EIApWmsdtMMAN29M_B8w8PNA8OQE5pFbfyPWMS7ivfaTLexl/s1600/growth2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Source:http://goo.gl/t8GlY</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some of the leadership qualities we can find in Bl
Chavara are fairness, vision, openness, dedication, integrity, planning and so
on. Fairness is dealing with others consistently and just.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Vision is having a clear idea about the end
or aim. Openness helps to listen to new ideas. Dedication is spending time or
energy to accomplish the task. Integrity is the integration of outward actions
and inner values. Planning</span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">is making certain assumption about the future.
The greatest contribution of Bl. Chavara to the church were founding of two indigenous congregations. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He understood
that his mother church did not have its own religious communities. Together
with Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porookara he worked relentlessly for
the establishment of the religious community. Due to their intense prayer
experience many wanted Chavara to open monasteries at their own locality and so
with the help of the archbishop he started different monasteries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">St. Philomina’s
Monastery Konnammavu (1857)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Archbishop wanted to have a religious
congregation for Latin priests. So he enlarged the presbytery and appointed a
priest and two scholastics there. But the experiment did not succeed. So he
requested Chavara to take over that house and send three priests and two
scholastic from Mannanam. As per the request, Chavara send Fr. Munjanatt,
Scholastics Thoppil, Parapuram, and Kanatt Paulose.at koonammavu Missionary Fr.
Marceline received them. Later Fr. Mathew Manjanat was appointed vicar to the
monastery church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Elthuruth
Monastery (1858)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The northern part of Kerala felt the need of a
monastery. So collected money and brought a large compound. Bl. Chavara called
this place as God’s Island (El - Thuruth). On the feast of purification of the
Mother of God, February 2<sup>nd</sup> 1858, Fr. Prior laid the foundation
stone for the monastery as per the order of Vicar Apostolic. The bishop ordered
to contribute excess of income of the church for the construction of monastery.
On 8 October 1866 the consecration of new chapel began under the leadership of
Fr. Prior. In the course of time Elthuruth Monastery attained a status in the
north equal to that of Mannanam in the south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Plasnal
Monastery (1858 - 1859)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Fr. Antony Kudakkachira was refused admission to the
religious community at Mannanam. So he went with a vengeance that he would
establish a monastery of his own. With the help of his parish he built a
monastery. But unfortunately he and his candidate died while visiting Bagdad.
Vicar Apostolic Bernardine asked Bl Chavara to take that monastery. But all
those who were sent to that monastery had to come back due to sickness. So it was given up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vazhakulam
(1859)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">During the visit of Archbishop in Arakuzha parish
Fr. Nambiaparambil informed that he was ready to give his property to build a
monastery. On the feast of St. Joseph, Fr. Jacob Kanatt was
appointed vicar. Fr. Mathew Kalapurackal and Kurian Palackal and
two brother co - operators from Konnammavu were sent to to the new monastery. On 1859 June 21 the new monastery was inaugurated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pulincunnu
Monastery (1861- 1866)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After a retreat in the Pulincunnu parish by the TOCD
fathers the people wanted a monastery there. They were ready to gift the chapel
of St. Sebastian and the property around it to build a monastery. The work slowly progressed. First it was made a regular monastery and in 1872
it was became a seminary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ampazhakad
Monastery (1868)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Earlier there was a Jesuit monastery at Ampazhakad and people were very much attracted to it. So vicar
apostolic wanted to have a monastery at Ampazhakad. But the place
was on the hand of a notorious person called Mr Thomas Ittoop
Kanichai. Due to some quarrel with his neighbour he was sent to jail. On that
period he had a thought of donating the property to monastery. Meanwhile Fr. Leopold was making inquires
about the land. Finally they made an agreement with Itoop probably on 6 August
1867. But further development became difficult due to the quarrel in Kodassery family.
With the help of Diwan the problems were settled down and the first members were
Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Philip, Fr. Jacob and Fr. Mathew Maria. On December 15, 1868
they took the in charge of construction and collecting funds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mutholi (1869)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bl. Chavara and Fr. Gerard OCD were on the way to
Palai for helping the people to solve the problems of <i>Rocos Schism</i> and <i>Padroado
Schism</i>. On that way they found this place. They made proper agreement with
Mannor family, the land owners. In January 1871 the then pro vicar apostolic Philip
OCD, laid the foundation. In 1875 Fr. Varkery Thaliath began to reside there and
in 1878, on the feast day of St. John of the Cross, the Chapel was consecrated
and the monastery was dedicated in his name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Chethipuzha
(attempts started from 1870)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The vicar of Changanaserry Fr. Cherian Chakkalayil
happened to meet some of the TOCD fathers. He suggested having a monastery at
Changanaserry as it would be helpful for the people. Bl. Chavara discussed
this matter and wrote to Fr. Cherian to have an appropriate place for
monastery. Fr. Cheiran suggested Chethipuzha. But at the same time the
arrangements were being made for the establishment of Ampazhakad monastery. So
Fr. Prior communicated this to Fr. Cherian. Meanwhile Bl. Chavara passed away. The
foundation stone was laid only in 1883.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Affiliation of
the Congregation to the OCD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bl. Chavara prepared a set of rules based on the
daily life the community was leading and submitted it for approval, but the
Bishop Bernadine of Vearapoly sent him the Primitive Rule of the Carmelite
Order. Bl. Chavara with the Bishop made appropriate modification and began the use of <i>Reguala</i>. In 1860 the
religious institute of the Servants of the Immaculate Mother of Mount Carmel
was affiliated to the Discalced Carmelite first order as the third order
regular. All this happened because the bishop wanted others to be considered himself as founder of this
community. The Apostolic See approved the constitutions <i>ad experimentum</i> in 1885.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Implications of
the Affiliation <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is to be noted that the affiliation made no much change in the life of the Institute. Its activities continued as before. The
affiliation was effected in such a manner that the Prior General of the first
order became the prior general of TOCD. He delegated Bishop Baccinelli, the Vicar
Apostolic as the provincial of this community. The delegate appointed Bl.
Chavara as the common prior. As a result the new member had to take vows to the VicarApostolic and to Fr. Prior and their successors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Proposal to Make
TOCD an OCD Province<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">During the time of 1<sup>st</sup> Vatican Council
Fr. Leopold made arrangement to make TOCD as an OCD province. While Fr.
Leopold was making the arrangements, the then prior General of OCD and Bishop
Bernadine passed away. The new Prior General and Archbishop Leonard had a difference in opinion about this. Fr. Leopold was
called back due the difficulties with the new archbishop and the new OCD prior
general entrusted all the affairs of the third order to Archbishop Leonard. So
the effort to make TOCD an OCD province got stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">TOCD becomes CMI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1958, the name Third Order of Carmelites (TOCD)
was changed to Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The Congregation was
granted pontifical exemption in 1967. <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-49114135923428836132012-12-28T23:04:00.001-08:002013-06-29T06:16:47.443-07:00Kuriakose Elias Chavara responds to the Divine Call<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5wsfWieZIWpk5bHT3FWZJmmYa-udZaJxd_UK7dfhvdND3IwCr_so88EvtxWJ7PINXXHyIaTpfLYM-SmEh2kSJOIv_NmkgjX7tSfcbQj_bJIRLxi88GEQBd_XGyI5kvFomNRaObuWs2cv/s1600/call+of+chavara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5wsfWieZIWpk5bHT3FWZJmmYa-udZaJxd_UK7dfhvdND3IwCr_so88EvtxWJ7PINXXHyIaTpfLYM-SmEh2kSJOIv_NmkgjX7tSfcbQj_bJIRLxi88GEQBd_XGyI5kvFomNRaObuWs2cv/s1600/call+of+chavara.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Kuriakose Elias Chavara led a
very pious and holy life from his early childhood. Fr. Thomas Palackal, during
a visit to Chavara family noticed the intelligent and saintly young boy
Kuriakose. From the first glance Fr. Palackal understood that he was a worthy
candidate for priesthood. He then asked the permission of his father to take him for
priestly training. He was just eleven
years old then. But his parents didn’t
heed to his demand. But the family could not say no to the request of Fr.
Geevarghese Thoppil, the paternal of uncle of Kuriakose. The parent of Chavara felt that eleven years
was too tender an age for Kuriakose to leave for priesthood. So it was decided that Kuriakose will stay
with parish priest for about two years ie from 1816 to 1818. In 1818 Kuriakose
joined the South Pallipuram seminary of Thomas Palackal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Kuriakose writes in <i>Atmanutapam</i>
about the response of his mother on hearing about her son joining the seminary,
</div>
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<i>“When this good
tiding reached the ears of my mother, her heart leaped with exultation</i></div>
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<i>How good it is to
give to God</i></div>
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<i>One of the two sons.</i></div>
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<i>Yet the pain of
parting was there in her heart.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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There was no centralized seminary
training system at that time. The system of priestly training among St.
Thomas Christians was called <i>malpanate</i>. In the <i>malpanate </i>system an elderly priest used to give
training and such a person was called malpan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pallipuram seminary was a <i>malpanate</i>, Fr. Thomas Palackal was its <i>malpan</i>
(teacher)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Kuriakose Elias Chavara excelled both in learning and virtues. In Fr. Leopold’s
words: “As his fellow seminarians, who are still alive, attest, the young
Kuriakose was deeply interested in his studies in observing the rules [of the
seminary], and in cultivating the fear of God, motivated solely by the desire
of pleasing God. He never harboured any petty jealousy or bad blood against his
companions, as was usual among the young, but was always kind and charitable towards
them.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chavara received tonsure (<i>asthapad pattam</i>) in 1818, the same year
he joined the seminary as his guru Fr. Palackal was convinced of the
genuineness of his vocation. The tonsure was conferred to him by Most. Rev.
Peter Alcantra, the Vicar Apostolic of Varapuzha. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Baptism by Fire<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While Kuriakose was in the
seminary, an epidemic swept across the region and his parents and his only
brother passed away. Only his sister in law and her only daughter survived.
There was intense for Kuriakose from his close relatives to leave the seminary
and take care of the family. But he was deeply convinced of his divine call and
stayed strong. Kuriakose Porukara writes about the situation, “He accepted this
sad situation from the hands of God and offered himself, as he had learned from
his parents, as the slave of the Mother of God and became more devoted to that
Mother.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Kuriakose Elias Chavara: A Priest<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After receiving minor orders in
due course, Kuriakose received diaconate in 1828 by Bishop Maurilius Stabilini.
Kuriakose was ordained a priest in 1829 on the first Sunday of annunciation at
St. Andrew’s parish Arthungal and celebrated first holy Qurbana at his parish at
Chennankari. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was
fully active in the establishment of the monastery at Mannanam after spending a
short period for pastoral activities. After the establishment of the house of
vision (<i>darsanaveedu</i>), Kuriakose
Elias renounced everything in the world and in the words of Porukara, the first
members were engaged in “prayer and asceticism, preaching and begging.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Thus the life of Kuriakose Elias
Chavara was deeply rooted in prayer right from the word go, which was reflected in the life and activities which he undertook in his life time.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-20649181525926350992012-12-28T23:02:00.000-08:002013-06-29T06:16:43.711-07:00 Enlightened Administration in Travancore During the time of Kuriakose Elias Chavara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1gWP0-gdIZOwDmM3Ulu3N_ZmVH7vjVy0SdcSd8m6t-RY0aC-FrQc8LSCOJd7BqszXKvKLaLWG7KzsxMN6Fs37I7WVIqPIWmetdWxR0COcon5rCi8YTuh-227b-N5dXF7DQd9QFImJH5J/s1600/Historical+Places+In+South+India-Padmanabhapuram-Palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1gWP0-gdIZOwDmM3Ulu3N_ZmVH7vjVy0SdcSd8m6t-RY0aC-FrQc8LSCOJd7BqszXKvKLaLWG7KzsxMN6Fs37I7WVIqPIWmetdWxR0COcon5rCi8YTuh-227b-N5dXF7DQd9QFImJH5J/s1600/Historical+Places+In+South+India-Padmanabhapuram-Palace.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
rulers of Travancore during the time of Kuriakose Elias Chavara were Rani Gouri
Lakshmi Bhai, Rani Gouri Parvati Bhai, Swati Tirunal, Utradam Tirunal Marthadanda
Varma and Ayilyam Tirunal. In order to have a complete picture of the
enlightened administration in Travancore the rulers before and after his life
time is also significant. Enlightened Administration in Travancore begins at
1729 with the reign of Marthanda Varma and Dharma Raja. But after the death of
this prominent leader, the successor, Balarama Varma and his ministry were weak
in administration and public welfare. This resulted in a financial crisis in
the state and they began to levy forced loans from prominent people. Against
this injustice, Velu Thampi fought along with people in 1800 and became the
Dalawa of the Travancore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Velu Thampi Dalawa (1800)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
people of Travancore witnessed the efficient administration of Velu Thampi
Dalawa. He purified the administration from corruption, promoted revenue
collection, introduced education in the villages and ensured welfare and
prosperity of major towns with network of roads, cultivation etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ummini Thampi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
successor of Velu Thampi, Ummini Thampi also contributed to Travancore by
increasing the financial strength of the state, establishing courts and jails, settling
weavers, development of Vizhinjam Port etc. But Dalawa was unpopular even
though these reformations were introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rani Gouri Lakshmi Bai (1810 -
1815)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Several
Enlightened reformations were carried out by Rani Lakshmi Bai along with Munro,
resident-Diwan. He introduced secretariat system, pattayam, auditing, thahasildar
post and prevented smuggling, abolishment of slavery etc. which were
hyperactive active on that time. Reformation of judicial administration,
supervision of police department by Diwan, direct management of Davaswams by
the government etc are also the milestones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gouri Parvati Bai (1815 – 1829)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
regency period of Gouri Parvati Bai was a liberal administration. During her
reign agriculture,</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">communications etc were developed and
restriction on trade removed with several export and import duties. Civic
equality and social freedom were established, Therefore Christian missionaries
were allowed for evangelization, and rent-free and free timbers was supplied
for building the Churches. In addition, education for Syrians was considered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Swati Tirunal (1829 – 1847)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
period is known as the “Golden Age” in the history of modern Travancore. Major
contributions of him are: encouragement of fine arts, Munsiff courts for petty
civil and police cases, transfer of Capital from Quilon to Trivandrum,
beginning of English education, charity hospitals, engineering and irrigation
works, census of the population of the state etc. As a great reformer, he was
called ‘Garbha Sriman:’ one who was the sovereign even from his birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Utradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma (1847
– 1860)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Utram
Tirunal Marthanda Varma proved himself as a qualified leader. Improvement of
finances of the state, liberation for slaves, permitting Shanar (lower caste)
women to cover their upper body, education for girls, opening of first post
office and modern factory for the manufacture of coir were his greatest
achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ayilyam Tirunal (1860 - 1880)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ayilyam
Tirunal continued the great reformations of predecessors. Along with Diwan,
Madhava Rao he opened postal service to public, arts college established at
Trivandrum, English, Malayalam, Tamil schools, and hospitals were opened over
the state. Seshayya Sastri succeeded Ayilyam Tirunal and his major
achievements was building Kerala Government Secretariat. Travancore had taken
its place in the front rank of the Indian states during his time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Visakham Tirunal (1880 – 1885)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Most
important reformation of his reign was the re-organization of police force and
elementary education that made great progress under the system of grand-in-aid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sri Mulam Tirunal (1885 – 1924)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Major
events of his reformation were in the field of agriculture. He made giant
strides in the field of education with the co-operation of private agencies.
Libraries, reading rooms were opened and hospitals, especially Ayurvedic
Hospitals got special attention. Legislative Councils were formed and women
were given power to vote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Setu Lakshmi Bai (1924 – 1931)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Setu
Lakshmi Bai's achievements include formation of village panchayats and
abolition of Devadasi, animal sacrifice etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sri Chitria Tirunal Balarama Varma
(1931 – 1949)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 97.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
last sovereign ruler of Travancore took special interest in Legislative reformation.
Industrialization was developed. The execution of Pallivasal Hydro Electric
scheme and introduction of State Transport Services are bright spots during his
regime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-44251037658286313942012-12-28T22:58:00.002-08:002013-06-29T06:16:51.845-07:00Kerala Society in 18th and 19th Centuries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS3_j62pBgceg3MOLA7cqHsD_4OvxL0Cxb8rnUNUA-c1g0B9HrG7uxJXOGdzcWU354SvuWRd4AAsDAm5o6hyphenhyphenQdVhVysz7B321VcXTnfopCc3-9rIY-Eh7mTKgJctFg1O8hThSHQtxNENG/s1600/3chinese_fishingnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS3_j62pBgceg3MOLA7cqHsD_4OvxL0Cxb8rnUNUA-c1g0B9HrG7uxJXOGdzcWU354SvuWRd4AAsDAm5o6hyphenhyphenQdVhVysz7B321VcXTnfopCc3-9rIY-Eh7mTKgJctFg1O8hThSHQtxNENG/s1600/3chinese_fishingnet.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">An
understanding of the ground reality of Kerala in 18</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> and 19</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
centuries is essential to understand the significance of Kuriakose Elias Chavara’s contributions to the Kerala society. The 19</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
and 20</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> centuries witnessed the emergence of a new social order in
Kerala under the impact of the diverse social economic and cultural </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">changes</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">. Even towards the end of the 18</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> century the
traditional social structure had began to show signs of tottering. Before we deal with the various stages by
which the new social order was ushered in, now we shall briefly review the state of the
society in Kerala in the 18</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> century and the first half of the 19</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
century.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kerala Society in the
18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kerala
society was not based on the principles of social freedom and equality. Its chief
characteristic was the deep chasm which separated the high castes from the low
castes. In spite of the administration of the English East India Company in
Malabar, the upper castes like the Brahmins, the Kshatriya and Nairs, continued
to enjoy several privileges and immunities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The
law prevailed in the land was not equalitarian. The upper castes enjoyed
exemption from the payment of land tax. The Brahmin even enjoyed
immunity from death penalty. It was also the privilege of Brahmins Judges to
give </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">judgements</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> in all important cases. The penal code was extremely severe as
far as the lower castes were concerned. The death penalty was imposed upon low caste even for
ordinary offences like theft, killing of cows etc. and was some laws of
our realm were thus set forth<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As to how questions
regarding the adjustment of legal relations between person, the rights and
duties of vendors and purchasers, and disputes concerning lands and tracts
settled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As to how grave crimes
such as causing death or hurt, highway robbery and theft, injuries and offences
involving loss of caste are dealt with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> As regard the question of how the laws specified
above are ascertained.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Early administrative
and social changes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
British and the Indian administrators introduced a series of
administrative and social reforms with the view to modernising administration
and the society in Kerala. The important one was the abolition of slavery in Malabar,
then establishment of new society, concept of Government, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shanar Agitation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Special
mention may be made, in this connection, of the struggle of the Shanars of
South Travancore to secure for their womenfolk the same rights in regard to
dress as were enjoyed by the upper sections of the Hindus. There were so many
problems in connection with this issue and they were helped by the Christian
Missionaries. Later the British Government changed this law and they were given
permission to put on the upper cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Western Education and
the work of the Christian Missionaries. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
different communities of the land, particularly the Nairs and the Christian,
soon took to western education in order to become eligible for recruitment to
Government service. The role of the Christian missionaries in the spread of
western education and liberal ideas deserves special mention in this context. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Religious and Social
Reform Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
early decades of the 20<sup>th</sup> century witnessed the beginning of
powerful social reform movement in Kerala, the impact of which was felt by the
members of the upper castes too. Even Brahmins, kshatriyas and other upper
castes came within the fold of these movements an advocated radical social
reform. The prominent persons are:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">Chattampi
Swamikal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kuriakose Elias Chavara </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sri
Narayana Guru<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Brahmanada
Sivayogi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Swami
Vagbhatananda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vaikunta
Swami<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ayyankali<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vakkam
Abdul khadir Maulavi ( Muslims)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rise of Communal
Organisation <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
rise of communal organisation dedicated to the case of social reform helped to
supplement the activities of these people. The most important of the social
reform movement of Kerala was the agitation for removal of untouchability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vaikam Satyagraha<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Its
aim was to get the approach roads to the Vaikam temple opened for the Avarnas
of the Hindu community. One of the highlights of the Satyagraha was the Savarna
jatha organised under the leadership of Mannath Padmnabhan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Guruvayur Satyagraha<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
was to get Guruvayur temple opened for all Hindus. Thus though the Guruvayur
Satyagraha failed to achieve its immediate objective, it had helped to create a
climate in favour of the eradication of untouchability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Temple Entry Proclamation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
temple entry Proclamation of the Maharaja Travancore came as a bomb-shell in
orthodox Hindu circles, but it gave a massage of hope and good cheer to the
down-trodden Harijans and other backward class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
last but not the least important factor that has contributed to the elevation of
the new society in Kerala in decades is the emergence of the new economic and
professional class and the increasingly important part they have come to play
in public life. In recent decades, there has been a steady outflow of Keralites
to foreign countries particularly to the Gulf area, in search of employment.
This has led to the emergence of a neo-rich class which has come to exercise a
deep influence on modern Kerala society and economy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thus a new and dynamic society is gradually
taking the place of the decadent stationary society of the 19</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> and early 20</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
century.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577193145717493867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481936428775965972.post-42973709933055236602012-12-28T22:56:00.003-08:002013-06-29T06:33:56.953-07:00 Kuriakose Elias Chavara: A Child who would be a Sage!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIcVxo7unTlWwhGttyCDsDdPoZ5hi2kkeVCZLuGklNV5a3yfNBwxUk5o41F0mXvmfaX6rnG0LzwOayxrZEmOwyNnDL0bVUUInsApu2HoCTCB5eZPJSNcuDF_hivtiNXFk_L4Gg_KMQGXW/s1600/kuriakose+elias+chavara+halo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIcVxo7unTlWwhGttyCDsDdPoZ5hi2kkeVCZLuGklNV5a3yfNBwxUk5o41F0mXvmfaX6rnG0LzwOayxrZEmOwyNnDL0bVUUInsApu2HoCTCB5eZPJSNcuDF_hivtiNXFk_L4Gg_KMQGXW/s1600/kuriakose+elias+chavara+halo.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Blessed
Kuriakose Elias Chavara’s life and activities enriched Kerala from his birth of
10</span></span><sup style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> February 1805 at Kainakary till his demise on February 3, 1871
at Koonammavu. This was generally a period of progress for Travancore. It was
during this period that the western educational system was introduced and many
evil social customs were eliminated. The Kerala Catholic Church was yet to
step into the educational arena. Blame it on the lack of education and overtly
religious and irrational customs and traditions, the caste systems had been
plaguing the Kerala society. While the higher castes like Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Nairs and so on were given greater importance, the lower castes had to suffer
great negligence. Discrimination reached its zenith with the inhuman practices
like "untouchability" and "unseeability". Unable to withstand the </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">ill treatment</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> the
lower caste people found a way out by embracing Christianity. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
Christian community was going through a rough patch. There was rivalry between Catholics and
non-Catholics. Following the process of latinization under the Portuguese rule,
Catholics too were divided among themselves. The Syrians were disturbed by the
undue importance given to Latin liturgy. The cry for separate arrangements for
the two groups became alive. Educationally all groups were backward. The reason
was the absence of systematic educational institutions. Those days the only
schools were the village ‘</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">kalaries’</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
conducted by ‘</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Asans</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">’. It is in the
context of these facts that the life and achievements of Father Chavara have to
be evaluated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kainakary in the scenic
Kuttanadu<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kainakary
is a village in Kuttanad Taluk in Allappuzha District of Kerala state in India. It is
well famous for its scenic beauty with backwaters and paddy fields adding
charm. Kainakary was part of the
erstwhile Chembakassery dynasty. Five rivers originating from the Western
Ghats, including the sacred River Pamba drain into the Vembanad Lake in the tip
of Kainakary. Once a communist bastion, its literacy rate is top compared to
many counterparts. Kainakary is famous for its Snake boat race rowers. The
major income is still from agriculture and fishing despite tourism. But the land
strips became all the more famous and
blessed by the fact that Blessed Kuriakose Chavara was the first in Kerala from the Catholic Church to
be elevated to the honours of the alter by the Church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Chavara Family<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Chavara family is said to have been derived from Mukkatt Christian family.
Ultimately it is derived from the ancient family Pakalomattam of Kuravilangad.
According to a popular tradition the Pakalomattam family was one of the four
chief families of Palayur, which St. Thomas the Apostle is said to have
converted to the Christian faith in the first century of the Christian era. In the
course of time the Mukkat family branched off into two units, each assuming a
family name called after the places of its settlement. They are: Meenappilly
and Kalaseery. The Meenappilly family gave rise to four other families: Mampra,
Chavara, Kaliparamb, Vallonthara. Ultimately Chavara is derived from the
original Pakalomattam family of Kurvilangad. Today the house, where Kuriakose
Chavara was born on 10 February 1805, is a shrine established by the Carmelites
of Mary immaculate (CMI) and taken care of by the sisters of Congregation of
Mount Carmel. (CMC).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Birth and Childhood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Fr.
Chavara was born on February 10, 1805, of Kuriakose and Mariam in the village
of Kainakary. The same year on September 8, the child Kuriakose was dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Marian shrine in Vechoor. Chavara, in his old age, recalls this event
in his poetic work Athmanuthapam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>Mixed in her sweet milk, she regaled me<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>With thoughts of heaven, and words of grace so pure!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>And when reason grew strong, my little mind,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>Patiently informed, to lisp holy names.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Baptism and dedication
to Blessed Virgin Mary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
devout parents had the child baptised on the eighth day in their parish church
of Chennankari according to the custom prevailing then in the church. The child
was given the name of his father, Kuriakose. In the due time Kuriakose received
the Sacrament of Confirmation as was customary in the Church at that time. One
of the childhood events that Chavara recollects vivaciously is the dedication
his loving and pious mother made to the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in the
shrine of Vechoor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bringing up the child<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
dedication and the annual renewal of it are examples of how Kuriakose’s mother
wanted the child to grow up in faith and good character. Childhood is the most
important time for laying the foundation of an individual’s personality. The
family, above anything else, is where this takes place every effectively. As
mentioned above child Kuriakose was particularly fortunate to have a very pious
and devout Catholic family, a father well grounded and firm in faith and
devotion, and a mother exceptionally pious, he is full of gratitude to God
Almighty for the gift of a loving and caring mother to protect him. So he sings
in joy and gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Here we have a perfect model of
child mother relation, which had tremendous power in disciplining and
integrated upbringing of child Kuriakose. Here we have a mother with a balanced
deportment: appreciating whenever the child behaved well and disproving when he
misbehaved- all with the “mighty power” her eyes wielded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
first knowledge of Mother is as one who forms a child. The future of the child
is partially determined by the way the child is loved and formed by his
parents. Thereby he gives credit to his own mother for his formation. He
reminisces his infancy in his <i>Compunction
of the Soul</i>, how his mother pours into his heart all the love. The woman,
the mother, is the formator of the child. She is a person of prayer. She is the
one who, according to Chavara, creates a domestic church at home and the child
is attuned to the divine. The real formation and shaping of the mind takes
place in early childhood. As the mother is, so the child would be. The
formation and disciplining of the child is not, according to him, with scolding
and beating. Mother is the queen of the child’s horizon and reigns supreme in
his formation for the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">School Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
mother provided the boy with a correct perspective on life and faith. With some
mental agony Chavara recollects the transition from his family training-
“nurtures in body and mind, was I beloved too of God, my Father”- to the
schooling under a <i>guru</i> who was not a
Christian. It is a very dark picture he paints of the five years he was in the <i>kalari</i>. The contrast is evident: the
first few years at home under the loving tutorship of his mother were very
blissful, while the five years in the <i>kalari</i>
were difficult ones, exposed as he was to
temptations and occasions for sin, relief from which came with his minor
ones and yet he is full of compunction for them. He himself has testified that
he had not lost the graces he received in baptism. Hence we can guess how light
his faults were. A negative theology and an extraordinary abhorration of sin
made Chavara paint his school days so dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
message, life and activities of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara were not
exclusively confined to the Catholic community. They are relevant for all communities
and all ages. Father Chavara was undoubtedly a great man who lived ahead of his
time. Blessed Chavara is that humble servant of the Church who intelligently
and skilfully steered the Church
of Kerala during
the early years
of one of
its most critical and creative periods
which also witnessed conflicts of ideas and compulsions of perceptions, through
unchartered waters, armed with deep faith, unflinching love of the Church and most
sincere and impartial search for and
adhesion to truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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