Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on 10 February 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala. At the age of five he began his studies in a village school called a Kalari.
When he was 13, he joined the seminary at Pallipuram for his priestly training. While he was in the seminary, his parents and his eldest brother died in an epidemic. On 29 November 1829, he became a priest.
Saint Chavara was instrumental in founding two Catholic religious congregations - one for men, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), and the other for women, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) - for the spiritual renewal and all-round development of society. Starting seven ashrams and a convent in different parts of Kerala, he initiated a spiritual movement among the people of Kerala.
He established the first Catholic Sanskrit school, a major seminary and a printing and publishing house at Mannanam. He directed that every church should start a school attached to it, and encouraged children of even the poorer sections to attend by supplying midday meals and clothing for them.
He founded a ‘Home of Charity’ to take care of the destitute, the beggars, the uncared-for sick and the old. He also organised the first voluntary charitable association in Kerala for self-help among the needy.
Even in the midst of such manifold activities, he found time to write several literary and spiritual books in prose as well as verse. Among them, Anastasyayude Rakthasakshyam is the first narrative poem, and Nalagamangal the first chronicle of history, in Malayalam.
A life of prayer and charity
Saint Chavara was a man of prayer and great charity. He lived for 65 years and died on 3 January 1871. His sanctity was officially recognised by the Church when Pope John Paul II declared him ‘Blessed’ on 8 February 1986. He was canonised on 23 November 2014 by Pope Francis.
Saint Chavara is the heavenly patron of all CMI institutions. Let us pray to him to intercede before God for all our needs, especially for success in our studies.
| 10 February 1805 | Born at Kainakary, Kerala |
| 29 November 1829 | Ordained a priest |
| 3 January 1871 | Died at Koonammavu |
| 8 February 1986 | Declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II |
| 23 November 2014 | Canonised by Pope Francis |