The beatification of Sr Rani Maria has resulted in the elevation of her original parish as a pilgrimage center of the Syro-Malabar Church. Perumbavoor: The beatification of Sr Rani Maria has resulted in the elevation of her original parish as a pilgrimage center of the Syro-Malabar Church. The St Thomas Church at Pulluvazhi near Perumbavoor has been declared a pilgrimage center by major archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alenchery on Sunday.
Sr Rani Maria was beatified by the Vatican in Indore earlier this month. The nun was stabbed to death 23 years ago by a goon hired by landlords peeved at her work among landless laborers in a Madhya Pradesh village. In a rare act of forgiveness, her family accepted the assassin as a member of the family.
Sunday’s ceremony started with a procession carrying the blessed nun’s relics. The cardinal received the relics at the altar before lighting a traditional lamp along with the other bishops. Sr Selmi Paul, Rani Maria’s sister who visited the assassin in his jail cell to accept him as a brother, read out the bible.
Pulluvazhi will be known as Rani Maria’s birthplace, the cardinal later told a public gathering. Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, bishop Dr Chacko Thottumarikkal, Mar Sebastian Edayanthrathu, Mar Jose Puthanveettil, Mar Thomas Chakiath, Mar George Punnakkottil, Mar Mathew Vaniyakizhakkel and Mar Ephrem Narikulam attended the program.
The church has organized a museum to house Rani Maria’s relics and personal belongings. The museum has documented the nun’s childhood, education, missionary activities and martyrdom. The church is located on the M C Road between Perumbavoor and Moovattupuzha.
The cardinal said that Rani Maria’s family had sent out a strong message by forgiving the assassin. The act would encourage people to adhere to Christian beliefs, he said.
Alenchery also said that the nun had worked to ensure justice for the poor and the exploited.
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