By Fr. (Dr.) Mathew Chandrankunnel, CMI –
Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1971) was a spiritual colossal figure who cannot be confined into a water tight compartment. He was an integral transformer who contributed immensely to the overall growth of the 19th century Kerala. He brought education into all parishes by instructing the churches to establish schools and thus got the nickname as ‘Pallikoodam”. He was at that time the powerful Vicar General of the Verapoli Diocese.
The first teacher the saint appointed was Warrier, a Hindu, and moreover — he brought the higher-caste and lower-caste children together and even provided them mid-day meal which is in vogue now! So for him education was for everyone and that indeed paved the way for transformation. Thus Saint Chavara introduced the education apostolate in Kerala and hence was instrumental in the cent percent literacy rate in Kerala.
Responsible Use of Media
Another of his apostolate was the responsible use of media. He acquired the technology to construct a printing press with so much ingenuity and from this press in Mannanam came out many spiritual treasures including the daily newspaper Deepika. He established a seminary to form priests who were intellectually, spiritually and humanly well equipped to lead the masses. Thus he was the first one to establish the instructions given by the Trent Council. He travelled the length and breadth of Kerala by a country boat and constructed monasteries to illuminate the spiritual life of Catholics. When there was schism, he clarified the situation with the highest authority in the Catholic Church – wrote to the Holy Father in Rome – and took remedial measures not to have a split. However after his death, the leadership vacuum created further divisions within the Catholic community. He codified prayers, translated more from Syriac and Tamil and empowered the clergy through liturgical spirituality.
For the spiritual renewal of the faithful, Saint Chavara introduced 13-40 hours Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, also introduced retreats in parishes and Sunday homilies during the Holy Mass. It was Saint Chavara who really ploughed the Kerala social environment where the other great transformers sowed the seeds of integral development.
In order to continue the legacy and vision, Saint Chavara established two congregations, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and the Congregation of Mount Carmel (CMC) for the men and women. Thus Saint Chavara was the first one to empower women when everybody discarded them and confined them to house-hold activities. Now these two congregations have taken up the challenges as social transformers, educationists, spiritual leaders, missionaries, by upholding justice and peace and through healing the wounds of humanity by dedicated and compassionate service.
Importance to Family
Another important aspect Saint Chavara highlighted was that of the family. Instructions for how to respect the parents, groom children, relationship with neighbours, discipline oneself, seek good friends, love of God and be rooted to the values of a peaceful harmonious society known as – Nalla Appente Chavarul – Good Father’s Final advice to his children.
On this anniversary, I would like to quote some of his pearls of wisdom so that it can light up the families! Saint Chavara is a radical and total transformer, not merely a saint confined to the Church and the Christian community, but who shed light and paved new paths for the wider humanity in general:
- Children, you are God’s investment in the hands of your parents
- Children who have the love of God and fear of God will love and respect their parents
- Trust your mother, God will hear a mother’s request like the baby’s request
- Wisdom and purity should be spiritual food like food for natural growth.
- Laziness fosters evil habits
- Let your friends be those who love God
- Good friends will make you good
- Keeping of bad books is like hiding fire in straw
- Regular reading of good books and meditating on it, will illumine the mind
- You angels will be turned to devils, if you fall into evil situation
- You ought to reach home before evening and take part in the evening prayers
- Let your ability be in piety regulating your life and controlling your senses
- You ought to love truth and justice
- What you earn by deceit and theft will melt like snow
- Let there be no day in your life in which you did no good to others
- Let not the insult and quarrels of others be a cause of hatred and enmity
- Do not insult or trouble the poor
- God decides your vocation and you choose it
- The humble man is the greatest among men
- Since you belong to God, you should be given back to God.