St Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Word for the day

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Life

Kuriakose Chavara was born on 10 February 1805 at Kainakary near Alappuzha and was ordained a priest in 1829. With Fr Thomas Palackal and Fr Thomas Porukara he founded at Mannanam (1831) the first indigenous religious congregation for men in India, today the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). He took the name Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family and became its first Prior General.

He was a great reformer. He started a printing press at Mannanam, encouraged a school beside every church, began houses for the poor and the dying, renewed the liturgy and the retreats of the people, and with the Carmelite missionary Fr Leopold Beccaro founded in 1866 the first congregation of sisters of the Syro-Malabar Church, today the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC). As Vicar General, he defended the unity of the Church with the Holy See during the Rochos crisis of 1861.

He wrote poems, spiritual works and a famous testament to Christian families, the Chavarul. He died at Koonammavu on 3 January 1871. He was beatified at Kottayam on 8 February 1986 and canonised by Pope Francis on 23 November 2014.

Lessons

Holiness and service go together

Chavara's prayer produced schools, a press, homes for the poor and new religious communities.

Education is a work of faith

His call for a school beside every church shaped the literacy of Kerala.

Love for the unity of the Church

In a time of division he chose fidelity to the Successor of Peter.

The family is a school of heaven

His Chavarul gives simple, practical advice for parents and children.

Stories

A school beside every church (history)

Chavara encouraged parishes to open a school next to the church, so that poor children, of every caste and community, could learn to read. Many Kerala schools trace their origin to this movement.

The testament to families (history)

Before he died he wrote a letter of counsel to the families of his home parish at Kainakary, the Chavarul. It speaks of prayer, work, honesty, hospitality and the education of children, and is still read in Kerala homes.

Words of the saint

“A good Christian family is the image of heaven.”
St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, Chavarul (Testament of a Loving Father), in translation

“The day on which you have not done any good to others will not be counted in the book of your life.”
St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, Chavarul, in translation

Homily · The saint's life and message

1. A priest who served

Ordained in 1829, he lived for his people.

2. Founder and reformer

CMI congregation (1831), CMC with Fr Leopold Beccaro (1866), printing press, schools, care for the dying.

3. A school beside every church

Education as a work of faith for every child.

4. A good Christian family is heaven

His testament to families.

Dear brothers and sisters, St Kuriakose Elias Chavara lived in the nineteenth century, a time of change and difficulty for the Church in Kerala. He was a priest, a religious founder, a teacher and a reformer, and he did everything out of love for God and for his people.

With two fellow priests he founded at Mannanam the first indigenous religious congregation for men in India, today the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. Later, with the Carmelite missionary Fr Leopold Beccaro, he founded a congregation of sisters, today the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. He started a printing press, encouraged a school beside every church, opened houses for the poor and the dying, and worked for the unity of the Church in difficult times.

His desire for a school beside every church changed Kerala. He understood that faith and education go together, and that every child, of every caste and background, deserved to learn. Today our schools are fruit of that vision. Teachers, you continue his work.

Before his death he wrote a testament to families, saying that a good Christian family is the image of heaven. Let us take this to heart: pray together, raise children with love and discipline, care for the poor. And let us ask St Chavara to help us let our light shine so that others may glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Homily option 2 · In the light of the Word: let your light shine

1. The light of the world

You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

2. Good works that point to God

So that they may glorify your Father (Matthew 5:16).

3. The lamp on the stand

Faith is not hidden under a basket (Matthew 5:15).

4. Light in dark times

Chavara's reforms in a difficult age.

Dear friends, Jesus said to His disciples: you are the light of the world; let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14–16). St Chavara lived this Word.

His good works were many: schools, a press, houses for the destitute, renewal of prayer and liturgy. But notice the purpose Jesus gives: so that people may glorify the Father. Chavara did not seek his own glory. Everything he did pointed to God. His congregation took the name of Mary Immaculate, and he took the name of the Holy Family.

A lamp is not lit to be hidden under a basket. Faith is personal, but never private. Chavara brought the light of faith into education, the press and social care. Christians today must bring that light into politics, business, media and technology, with honesty and service.

Chavara lived in difficult times, with confusion and division in the Church. He did not curse the darkness; he lit lamps. In our own time of difficulty, let us not only complain. Let us light one lamp: help a poor child study, reconcile a quarrel, pray for unity. That is how saints change history.

Homily option 3 · For young people and families: a good family is heaven

1. Study is service

His schools say: learn well, to serve.

2. Family prayer

The rosary and evening prayer in his testament.

3. Respect for parents

Honour and obedience as virtues.

4. Care for the poor

His houses for the dying.

Dear young people and families, St Chavara cared especially about two things: schools and families. He wanted a school beside every church so that every child could learn, and he wrote a famous testament with advice for families.

Young people, your study is not only for marks or a job. Chavara saw learning as a way to serve God and society. Study honestly, help classmates who struggle, respect your teachers. If you have opportunities that your grandparents never had, use them to serve.

Parents, Chavara said that a good Christian family is the image of heaven. That does not mean a perfect family. It means a family where God is at the centre: evening prayer, Sunday Holy Mass / Holy Qurbana, forgiveness, discipline with love, and care for elderly parents. Do not let the phone or television take the place of family prayer.

Finally, Chavara opened houses for the poor and the dying. A family that is closed on itself is not yet heaven. Let your family do one good work together this month: visit a sick neighbour, help a poor student, share food. Then your home will be a little heaven, as Chavara hoped.

Prayer

Lord God, you made St Kuriakose Elias Chavara a man of prayer, a builder of the Church and a teacher of families. Through his intercession make our homes images of heaven and our parishes places of learning and charity. Amen.