Narendra Modi expresses ‘pride’ in canonization of Sr. Mariam Thresia
Pope Francis will elevate the religious to the altars of the saints on October 13th. The Indian nun is the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Of noble origins, she dedicated her life to the poor. The prime minister's positive comment is an opening towards the Christian minority, the target of the Hindu radicals especially since he is in power.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - For every Indian "“It is a matter of pride for every Indian that, on the coming October 13, his holiness Pope Francis will declare sister Mariam Thresia a saint”, announced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly radio broadcast "Mann Ki Baat" ["voice of the heart", ed.].
The Indian religious is the founder of the congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family and will be canonized on October 13 in St Peter’s Square.
Speaking to AsiaNews Sr. Lissy, a member of the congregation, says: "We are grateful to the prime minister for recognition towards our foundress. It was nice to hear the words of the Hon. premier, we are really happy ”.
A native of Kerala, Sister Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan was a mystic. Of noble origins, she spent her life in penance, prayer and fasting. She is known for her charitable works, especially for her favorite love for the poorest of the poor. For this reason, many see in her a marked resemblance to Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Sr. Mariam Thresia was declared venerable on June 28, 1999 and beatified April 9, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Born in Puthenchira (Kerala) on 26 April 1876, the blessed died in Kuzhikkattussery (also in Kerala) on 8 June 1926. On 12 February last Pope Francis authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the miracle attributed to her, thus paving the way for her canonization.
Sr. Lissy announces that at least 300 nuns will come to Rome for the canonization ceremony. Most come from Kerala, but there will be many others from different convents ". Together with the Indian religious, Pope Francis will also elevate Card. John Henry Newman, one of the greatest English thinkers of the nineteenth century, an Anglican pastor who converted to Catholicism.
The positive comment of the head of government is a sign of openness towards the Christian community. However, since he came to power, episodes of violence against the Christian minority have increased. According to "Persecution Relief", an association that monitors cases of aggression and harassment, in 2018 there were 477 episodes of violence, during which 10 churches were burned and 91 attacked; the state with the highest number of persecution cases is Uttar Pradesh, where a Hindu radical holy man of the same party governs the Prime Minister's Bharatiya Janata Party, with 129 episodes.
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13/10/2019 12:45
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