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BHARANANGANAM, Kerala (UCAN), October 21, 2008
At 99, Lakshmikutty loves telling stories of her younger days, and more so if the stories are about Saint Alphonsa, her friend in primary school.
"I've been waiting for this day," the frail-looking great-grandmother told UCA News, sitting on the floor of her house holding a picture of Saint Alphonsa.
On that day, at a ceremony in the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI declared the Franciscan Clarist nun Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, India's first woman saint.
Lakshmikutty, 99, talks about her childhood friend Saint Alphonsa, while holding a picture of the saint, at her home in Kerala, India. Pope Benedict XVI canonized the Franciscan Clarist nun on Oct. 12, making her India’s first woman saint.
Several people living in her native Kerala state, in southern India, have memories of interacting with the nun, who died in 1946 at the age of 36. But Lakshmikutty, to whose name everyone affectionately adds amma, meaning mother, has more memories than the others.
Lakshmikutty, a Hindu, fondly called the saint Annakutty (little Anna), as she was known then. "She was my best friend at school. We studied together at the government lower primary school," the great-grandmother said. Both studied until 1918 at this school, a few kilometers from their Kudamaloor village, which had no school then. The area comes under Palai diocese.
The saint's house, preserved for pilgrims, sits a kilometer from Lakshmikutty's. Saint Alphonsa would walk to her friend's house and then they would continue together to the school along village pathways.
"We went to school together and returned together. Sometimes she came to my home and we stayed together. We had good times and I enjoyed her company," Lakshmikutty recalled, smiling.
But school was not where they first met. "Annakutty was brought to my home to get treatment for her eyes," Lakshmikutty recounted, noting that that her Hindu family practiced traditional medicine. "Then we became friends and playmates," she continued, wiping her wrinkled face. The treatment involved supervised, long-term use of herbs, roots and leaves.
Lakshmikutty said she remembers her friend vividly. "She is with me even now. People come here and ask me about her. She has held my family and my sons."
The elderly woman has achieved celebrity status in the village now. Scores of nuns and pilgrims visit her home to hear her stories. She tells the same stories enthusiastically, as if telling them for the first time. In addition a great-grandchild, Veena, plays Lakshmikutty in a television serial based on Saint Alphonsa's life.
The 12-year-old told UCA News that playing the role of her great-grandmother was a thrilling experience. "I'm proud and happy about my grandmother and her relation with Saint Alphonsa," she said.
Rajan, Lakshmikutty's grandson and Veena's father, said their whole family regards Saint Alphonsa as their guardian angel. He added that his grandmother goes with his family at least twice a year to visit Saint Alphonsa's tomb in Bharananganam village.
Lakshmikutty's daughter-in-law, 70-year-old Karottupongavana Gouri, told UCA News Lakshmikutty always tells stories of her childhood and her association with the saint.
Gouri said her family is not well-off financially, but they take Lakshmikutty to visit the saint's tomb whenever she wants. "We oblige her, because she finds pleasure in visiting the tomb."
The woman also recounted that three months ago, her mother-in-law was critically ill and doctors said she might not survive more than a week. "But after three days, she recovered. We believe Sister Alphonsa cured her to be alive for the canonization day," Gouri added.
Copyright © UCA News
Lakshmikutty, 99, talks about her childhood friend Saint Alphonsa, while holding a picture of the saint, at her home in Kerala, India. Pope Benedict XVI canonized the Franciscan Clarist nun on Oct. 12, making her India’s first woman saint.
Several people living in her native Kerala state, in southern India, have memories of interacting with the nun, who died in 1946 at the age of 36. But Lakshmikutty, to whose name everyone affectionately adds amma, meaning mother, has more memories than the others.
Lakshmikutty, a Hindu, fondly called the saint Annakutty (little Anna), as she was known then. "She was my best friend at school. We studied together at the government lower primary school," the great-grandmother said. Both studied until 1918 at this school, a few kilometers from their Kudamaloor village, which had no school then. The area comes under Palai diocese.
The saint's house, preserved for pilgrims, sits a kilometer from Lakshmikutty's. Saint Alphonsa would walk to her friend's house and then they would continue together to the school along village pathways.
"We went to school together and returned together. Sometimes she came to my home and we stayed together. We had good times and I enjoyed her company," Lakshmikutty recalled, smiling.
But school was not where they first met. "Annakutty was brought to my home to get treatment for her eyes," Lakshmikutty recounted, noting that that her Hindu family practiced traditional medicine. "Then we became friends and playmates," she continued, wiping her wrinkled face. The treatment involved supervised, long-term use of herbs, roots and leaves.
Lakshmikutty said she remembers her friend vividly. "She is with me even now. People come here and ask me about her. She has held my family and my sons."
The elderly woman has achieved celebrity status in the village now. Scores of nuns and pilgrims visit her home to hear her stories. She tells the same stories enthusiastically, as if telling them for the first time. In addition a great-grandchild, Veena, plays Lakshmikutty in a television serial based on Saint Alphonsa's life.
The 12-year-old told UCA News that playing the role of her great-grandmother was a thrilling experience. "I'm proud and happy about my grandmother and her relation with Saint Alphonsa," she said.
Rajan, Lakshmikutty's grandson and Veena's father, said their whole family regards Saint Alphonsa as their guardian angel. He added that his grandmother goes with his family at least twice a year to visit Saint Alphonsa's tomb in Bharananganam village.
Lakshmikutty's daughter-in-law, 70-year-old Karottupongavana Gouri, told UCA News Lakshmikutty always tells stories of her childhood and her association with the saint.
Gouri said her family is not well-off financially, but they take Lakshmikutty to visit the saint's tomb whenever she wants. "We oblige her, because she finds pleasure in visiting the tomb."
The woman also recounted that three months ago, her mother-in-law was critically ill and doctors said she might not survive more than a week. "But after three days, she recovered. We believe Sister Alphonsa cured her to be alive for the canonization day," Gouri added.
Copyright © UCA News
