Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara - India

Co- Founder of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel.

Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara was the co-founder and first prior-general of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel.

Blessed Kuriakose Chavara was born on February 10, 1805, at Kainakary, Kerala, India. His parents were Iko (Kuriakose) and Mariam Thoppil. He was baptized on February 17, 1805, at Chennamkary Parish Church in Alappuzha. He attended the village school under the guidance of a Hindu teacher. There he studied language and elementary sciences. He entered the seminary in 1818 in Pallipuram where Palackal Thoma Malpan was the Rector. He was ordained on November 29, 1829, at Arthunkal and first celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Chennamkary Church.

The congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.) was started by Palackal Thoma Malpan, Thomas Porukara and the Blessed Chavara. The foundation for the first monastery at Mannanam was laid on May 11, 1831. Palackal Malpan and Father Thomas Porukara died in 1841 and 1846, respectively.

Blessed Kuriakose of Chavara became Prior General of the Congregation in 1855. He became Vicar-general for the Syro-Malabar Church in 1861. He defended ecclesial unity which was threatened by schism due to the consecration by Thomas Rochos of Nestorian bishops. He worked to renew the faith in the church. He was a man of prayer with a devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary.

He died on January 3, 1871, aged 65, at Koonammavu of natural causes.

The Monastery at Mannanam has become a pilgrim centre. He was beatified, along with Saint Alphonsa on February 8, 1986, by Pope John Paul II at Kottayam, India. His memorial is celebrated on January 3.