Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (19 August 1910 – 28 July 1946), born as Anna Muttathupadathu, was an Indian Catholic nun and educator. She is the first woman of Indian origin to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, and the first canonized saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Born in Kudamalur, Kerala, Alphonsa joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation at a young age. She served as a teacher and faced numerous health challenges throughout her life. Despite her physical sufferings, she was known for her spiritual devotion and cheerful demeanor. Alphonsa's life was marked by simplicity and a deep commitment to her faith. She taught at St. Mary's High School in Bharananganam but her tenure was often interrupted by illness.
After her death in 1946, many people began to attribute miracles to her intercession. The process for her canonization began in 1955, and she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986 during his visit to India. In the 1990s, a commemorative postal stamp was issued in her honor, marking her as the first woman from Kerala to be featured on an Indian stamp. Alphonsa was canonized on 12 October 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI, making her the first canonized saint from India.
St. Alphonsa is particularly venerated in Kerala, where her tomb at Bharananganam has become a pilgrimage site. Her feast day is observed annually on 28 July in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Alphonsa, born as Anna Muttathupadathu on 19 August 1910, was a member of a Malankara Nasrani family. She was born in Kudamalur, a village in the princely state of Travancore, which later became part of Kerala. She was the daughter of Joseph Muttathupadathil and Mary Puthukari. Baptized on 27 August 1910, she was commonly known as Alphonsamma in her local community.
Nicknamed Annakutty ("little Anna") by her parents, Alphonsa's early life was marked by personal challenges, including the early loss of her mother. Following her mother's death, she was raised by her maternal aunt. Hagiographies recount her childhood as being difficult, characterized by the strict discipline of her aunt and foster mother, as well as teasing from her schoolmates. Her education was overseen by her great-uncle, Joseph Muttathupadathu.
In 1916, Alphonsa began her education in Arpookara and received her First Communion on 27 November 1917. After completing the initial cycle of schooling in 1920, she was transferred to Muttuchira, where she lived with her aunt Anna Murickan, as her mother had requested before her death. Raised in the prominent Murickan family, Alphonsa was exposed to stories of saints, prayers, and Christian songs by her grandmother.
During her adolescence, Alphonsa received several marriage proposals from well-known families. However, she felt a strong calling to religious life and desired to become a "bride of Christ," dedicating herself to serving others. This conviction was reportedly reinforced by a vision of Thérèse of Lisieux, a figure whom Alphonsa admired and considered a role model, and who she believed foretold her future sainthood.
In 1923, Alphonsa's feet were severely burned when she placed her feet into a pit of burning chaff. This injury was self-inflicted to prevent her foster mother from arranging a marriage for her, thereby allowing her to pursue her religious calling. The accident left her partially disabled for the remainder of her life.
Anna joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, a religious congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis, where she completed her education.
She arrived at the Clarist convent in Bharananganam, Kottayam district, on Pentecost Sunday in 1927. On August 2, 1928, she received the postulant's veil and took the name Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of Alphonsus Liguori, whose feast day fell on that date. In May 1929, Alphonsa began teaching at Malayalam High School in Vazhappally. After the death of her foster mother in 1930, she resumed her studies in Changanacherry while working as a temporary teacher in Vakakkad. On May 19, 1930, Alphonsa entered the novitiate at Bharananganam. After completing her novitiate on August 11, 1931, she took her first vows and became a fully professed member of the Catholic Church. Alphonsa sought to model her work as a nun after Thérèse of Lisieux.
Between 1930 and 1935, Alphonsa experienced significant health issues. She took her permanent religious vows on August 12, 1936. Two days later, she returned to Bharananganam from Changanacherry. She briefly taught at St. Alphonsa Girl's High School, but her poor health often prevented her from fulfilling her duties. Throughout her years as a member of the Clarist congregation, Alphonsa dealt with severe illness.
In December 1936, it was claimed that she recovered from her ailments due to the intercession of Kuriakose Elias Chavara, though she continued to experience health issues. On June 14, 1939, she suffered a severe bout of pneumonia, which further weakened her. On October 18, 1940, an intruder entered her room at night, causing her to experience shock and temporary amnesia, which worsened her condition.
Her health continued to decline over the following months, and she received the sacrament of Anointing of the sick on September 29, 1941. The next day, it is reported that she regained her memory, although her health remained fragile. Despite some improvement over the next few years, she developed gastroenteritis and liver issues in July 1945, leading to violent convulsions and vomiting. During the final year of her life, she became acquainted with Sebastian Valopilly, who later became a bishop in Kerala. Valopilly frequently administered communion to her and became known for his efforts to support marginalized communities in the region.
Sr. Alphonsa died on July 28, 1946, at the age of 35, following a series of health complications. She was buried at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bharananganam within the Diocese of Palai. Her funeral was attended by a large number of people. Rev. Fr. Romulus CMI delivered the funeral oration, in which he compared her life of quiet devotion to that of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. He expressed hope rather than sorrow, suggesting that Alphonsa was now an intercessor in heaven, and speculated that her grave might become a site of pilgrimage.
Claims of her miraculous intervention began almost immediately upon her death and often involved the children of the convent school where she used to teach. On 2 December 1953, Cardinal Eugène Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared a Servant of God.
In 1985, Pope John Paul II formally approved a miracle attributed to her intercession and on 9 July she became "Venerable Sister Alphonsa".
Alphonsa was beatified along with Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kottayam, on 8 February 1986 by Pope John Paul II during his apostolic pilgrimage to India.