Part 3
Indian Christianity Portal
In 1916 she started school in Arpookara. She received
First Communion on
November 27,
1917. In 1918 she transferred to the school in Muttuchira. In 1923 Anna was badly burned on her feet when she fell into a pit of burning
chaff. This accident left her permanently
disabled.
She arrived at the
Poor Clares convent at
Bharananganam on
Pentecost 1927. She received the
postulant’s
veil on
August 2,
1928 and took the name
Alphonsa. In May 1929 she entered the
Malayalam High School at Vazhappally. Her foster-mother died in 1930.
On
May 19,
1930 she received her religious habit at Bharananganam. Three days later she resumed her studies at
Changanacherry, while working as a temporary teacher at the school at
Vakakkad. On
August 11,
1931 she joined the
novitiate. She took her permanent vows on
August 12,
1936. Two days later she returned to Bharananganam from Changanacherry.
She taught elementary school, but was often sick and unable to teach.
Health declines
In December 1936 she was reportedly cured from her ailments through the intervention of
SaintThérèse of Lisieux and Blessed
Kuriakose Elias Chavara, but on
June 14,
1939 she was struck by a severe attack of
double-pneumonia, which left her weakened. On
October 18,
1940, a thief stumbled into her room in the middle of the night. This traumatic event caused her to suffer
amnesia, and weakened her again.
Her health continued to deteriorate over a period of months. She received
extreme unction on
September 29,
1941. The next day she regained her memory, though not complete health. Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused
vomiting.
[4].
