Not being
able to lay his foot on the ground, he used to walk with the upper
part of his foot. The doctor had told that his right leg needed
operation."
Due to financial
problems we didn't dare to perform the operation. It was Fr. Abraham
Panamkatt, the parish priest at Adimaly who brought Gilson to
Kunjachan's tomb at Ramapuram. He said "It is what I have
directly seen, understood and experienced. 'Come, let us pray', I
told him. After returning from Ramapuram, Gilson, together with the
other members of the family prayed together to Kunjachan for the
recovery of the clubfoot, after the daily evening prayer. Besides
Gilson prayed alone everyday for the cure.
Gilson himself spoke about the instantaneous recovery happened on
25 June 1991. He spoke hilariously:
"I was recovered when I was at home. When I went to bed at
night my leg was still cured. When I woke up early in the morning
and stood up I saw that my right foot was completely straightened.
The little inclination, which my left foot had, also been cured. I
could put both my feet straight on the floor. I was very
happy." It was only two or three days after his return from
Ramapuram.
Within a few days after the recovery, Gilson went to Ramapuram
and reported the matter to the Vice-Postulator, Fr. Kurian Mathothu.
He interviewed several persons, including the members of his family,
his teachers, neighbors, doctors, parish priest and so on. After
collecting first hand testimonies from the respective persons, the
matter was presented of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,
in Rome.
Satisfied
with the documents presented, the Congregation authorized the
Vice-Postulator to conduct the diocesan process regarding the
miraculous cure.
Since
Gilson was a member of the diocese of Vijayapuram, the diocesan
Tribunal had to be set up by the Bishop of Vijayapuram.
According to the norms of Canonization, diocesan investigation on a
miraculous cure must be conducted in the diocese where the miracle
happened and under the Bishop of that diocese. Accordingly Dr. Peter
Thurithikonam, Bishop of Vijayapuram, constituted a Tribunal in
1997, with a presiding judge, Promoter of Justice, Notary, Cursorand
Medical expert. The Tribunal examined 18 persons including 6 doctors
and registered their testimonies. The reports were sent to Rome in
1998.
The
documents were thoroughly studied and evaluated by a group of seven
doctors authorized by the Congregation. They gave their approval
unanimously. Again it came before a Commission of seven Theologians.
They also approved the miraculous cure. Finally a commission of
Cardinalsand Bishops examined the matter. The final approval has to
be made by the Pope himself.
On
Monday 19th December 2005, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Prefect
of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva
Martins, the promulgation of the decree on the miracle attributed to
Venerable Servant of God Augustine Thevarparampil (Kunjachan), thus
opening the way to Beatification.
Venerable
Kunjachan was Beatified by His Em. Card. Varkey Vithayathil, Major
Arch Bishop of the Syro - Malabar Church on 30th April 2006 at the
very same village Ramapuram where he was born, worked, died and
buried.
The
feast of blessed Kunjachan is celebrated on the 16th of October
every year.
Now
let us pray that Blessed Kunjachan may be elevated to Sainthood in the Holy Catholic Church in the near future.
This
miraculous cure was approached by the commission of doctors,
theologians and cardinals in Rome. On 19th December
2005 Pope Benedict XVI approved it and promulgated the Decree of
approval.
|