Bangladesh Catholics want Josephine Corraya, mother of six consecrated men and women, to be declared a saint
The mother of ten died last year. Although she widowed young and lived in poverty, she was able to send all of her children to school. An outstanding woman, a loving and caring mother, for some who knew her, “There is no other layperson except for her who deserves to become a saint". One woman claims that she was healed by Josephine.
Gazipur (AsiaNews) – Catholics in Bangladesh want to see the opening of the cause of canonisation of Josephine Corraya. The mother of ten, six of whom were consecrated to Christ, died last November at the age of 83.
Everyone, both those who had the pleasure of knowing her and those who only heard about her, remembers her for her kindness, humility and great love for the Catholic Church.
For thousands of Catholics, Josephine is an inspiration. Widowed when she was young, she lived in poverty, yet managed to give an education to all her children. Three of her sons became priests and daughters became nuns.
In June 2016 she received the Ratnagarva Maa (Jewel Mother) Award from the speaker of the Bangladeshi parliament, for being an outstanding woman, a loving and caring mother who was able to raise her many children, ensuring that everyone got a good education.
She is so well known and appreciated that many in the country have begun to ask for her intercession and are willing to testify in her beatification process.
In many homes, her picture is placed next to those of Jesus and the Virgin (picture 3). Roza Gomes, 94, an elder in Josephine’s own village of Rangamatia (Gazipur), told AsiaNews that "She was my neighbour. I've never seen anything negative in her. She was an honest, kind and devoted woman.”
“She had great faith and love for God,” the neighbour added. Her character was clear and holy. Although she herself was in need, if a beggar knocked on her door, she would never let him go away empty-handed. I think that Josephine was a living saint. The Church must investigate her and declare her a saint."
After her husband's death, Josephine continued to pass on her spiritual and moral teachings to her children. She encouraged the vocation of those who eventually chose to dedicate their lives to serving Christ.
Last year, speaking with the AsiaNews correspondent, she said that her greatest wish as a child was to be a nun. In the end though, "It was my children who fulfilled my desire".
The old woman spent the last years of her life in the convent in Bhadun parish where one of her daughters lives. "She was a pious woman,” said Fr Parimal Ignatius Rozario, the local parish priest. “She sacrificed so much in her life, giving her children to the Lord. She had great faith and was very active as a Catholic."
China Gomes, a 32-year-old housewife mother of two daughters, remembers that "whenever I had a problem and went to her for advice, she told me to pray. She always kept a rosary in her hand and prayed."
For Shipra Costa, "There is no other layperson except for her who deserves to become a saint". When "I came to the convent to be treated, I was introduced to Josephine. At that time, I was sick, but just before she died, she told me I would never be sick again."
Now she says she has been healed for about six months and believes that her recovery is a miracle by Josephine.
.png)
03/09/2019 16:57
