National

A role model for humility

St. Alphonsa was a poor Franciscan Clarist sister. While at home Annakutty’s eager desire was to join a poor congregation and she used to pray for it. Her desire to lead a hidden life in the service of the Lord was fulfilled when she joined the Clarist Convent at Bharananganam which was financially very poor at that time. She lived as a professed sister only for ten years and that too almost in sick bed. Alphonsa did not occupy any conspicuous position in the convent . She worked as a teacher only for one academic year. Though she was almost confined to bed and wanted to be unknown and hidden, her sanctity began to spread its fragrance even when she was alive.

Alphonsa compared herself to a little bird which is very light and hence can soar high up in the air. She said, “Little birds are light and can fly at high speed. Even the flapping of their wings will be noiseless. Like that little sparrow, I too will fly away. When my sacrifice is consumed, my sweet Lord will call me. Then I will run a race and sit in my Lord’s bosom. Nobody will know of it. My death will happen along with an ecstasy. As this painful ecstasy occurs very often, no one will take it seriously. I will run silently to my heavenly home and nobody will notice it.” Alphonsa loved and was loved by little children. They longed to play with her and often pulled impulsively at her habit to draw her into their games. A six-year-old little girl, who came to see Alphonsa with her family members, told her, “I have longed to see you ever since I have heard that you have received the last sacraments. Jesus is keeping you lovingly. He will come and take you away to heaven.”

Alphonsa’s room was very close to the school. She used to stand at the window of her room to see her little friends. When they saw her, they rushed up to her to see her charming innocent smile and also to request her prayers. Her little friends called her “our smiling sister.” After her death, it was the children of the convent school who started decorating her tomb and burning candles around it. Their small requests were granted and the little ones began to proclaim the good news of her powerful intercession. All the attempts of the elders to keep the children away from her tomb were in vain. Sr. Alphonsa’s own prayer is an example of her Franciscan littleness, humility and burning love. She prayed, “O Jesus hide me in the wound of Thy Sacred Heart.......Humiliate me until I am almost nothing; until I become a spark in the fire of the love burning in Thy Divine Heart.” Sr. Alphonsa wanted to lead a hidden life and remain unknown. Sr. Alphonsa gave a thought provoking piece of advice to the young sisters. She said “The leaves that lie at the foot of the plants rot away thus providing the food which makes the flowers grow. All see the flowers and rejoice but no one thinks of the decaying leaves that feed them. For us it is enough that we remain as those leaves for ever.” Her theology of littleness and humility is well expressed in the story of the decaying leaves, which allow the flowers to shine at the expense of its very existence.

Devotees unburden their needs anxieties and worries at the tomb of this humble sister who had cheered up the lives of many through her prayers, little acts of charity, small yet meaningful pieces of advice and her gentle smile during her short life. Now she is proclaiming to the world at large the greatness hidden in littleness.

Deep love and faith in Christ made Sr. Alphonsa consider her pain light compared to the perfect joy of heaven. Sincere suffering for Jesus and his Gospel will be rewarded a hundred fold. She lived for the future glory with God. She believed that in Him, who called her to this way of life, she” lives, dies and enters into eternal joy”. The Lord has raised her as His beloved daughter. Again the Lord has given us a good model in the person of St. Alphonsa

Let us follow her luminous example and seek her intercession to fulfil our needs

Sr. Bennet F.C.C