22 years after stabbed to death, Kerala nun Sr Rani Maria cleared for beatification


Vatican, Mar 25 (Agencies) : Sister Rani Maria, professed sister of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, who died of 54 stab wounds from as assassin in central India 22 years ago, has been cleared for beatification. by the Vatican.

During an audience on Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, among others, to promulgate the decree of the martyrdom of Servant of God Regina Mariam Vattalil (née Rani Maria), killed in hatred of the faith on 25 February 1995.

Beatification is the penultimate stage in the four-phased canonization process in the Catholic Church. Rani Maria’s cause of canonization began in 2003 and she was declared a Servant of God four years later.

The nun was 41 when Samandar Singh, hired by some landlords, stabbed her inside a bus on February 25, 1995. She was on traveling to Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh state, en route her native place in Kerala, southern India. The attacker followed her when she ran out of the crowded bus and continued to stab her. She died on the roadside at Nachanbore Hill, near Indore.

She was buried at Udaingar in Dewas district where she had worked among poor landless agricultural laborers and others to fight for just wages and other rights. This upset the landlords.

As part of her beatification process, on November 18, 2016 Bishop Chacko Thottumarikal of Indore supervised the opening of the slain nun’s tomb and shifted the mortal remains to a church.

Rani Maria was born on January 29, 1954, as the second of seven children of Paily and Eliswa Vattalil at Pulluvazhy, a small village near Kochi, Kerala’s commercial capital. She was baptized on February 5, the same year and was given the name Mariam.

She joined Franciscan Clarist Convent at Kidangoor near Palai in 1972 and made her first profession on May 1, 1974, and chose the name Rani (queen) Maria. She began her mission in northern India in Bijnore in 1975 and then came to Udainagar in 1992.

The slain nun’s family made international headlines when it accepted Singh as a member after forgiving him. Rani Maria’s young sister Selmy Paul, also a member of the same congregation, accepted Singh as her brother by tying “rakhi,” a sacred thread, on the festival of siblings Rakshabandan. Some people, though not born of the same parents, tie the “rakhi” and accept each other as brothers and sisters. Sister Paul’s gesture helped Singh to regret his action. He now leads an exemplary life in his village in central India after serving his life term.

A documentary, “The Heart of a Murderer,” which depicts the murder and subsequent repentance of Singh, won an award at the World Interfaith Harmony Film Festival in 2013.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints granted the “nihil obstat” (‘nothing against’) to the cause. The subsequent diocesan process took place in Indore from June 29, 2005, to June 28, 2007. It received the congregation’s validation on November 27, 2009.

The C.C.S. received the Positio in 2014 and passed it onto consulting theologians who on February 11, 2016, voiced their approval to the cause. The congregation’s website says the saintly nun’s courageous sacrifice and martyrdom has helped sow “the seed of love and justice and brotherhood in many hearts.”
It also says the nun, during her initial years in the mission, showed keen interest in educating children through formal and non-formal methods. “This slowly gave way to a much wider field of development of the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized,” the website says.

Once she was asked why she had chosen the saffron shawl she replied, matter becomes red hot when it absorbs heat. This is true for human soul also. He developmental programs among poor tribals went against to the vested interests of unscrupulous moneylenders and social exploiters, it explains.

The congregation hails Rani Maria’s martyrdom as “the most glorious event in the history of Udainagar as well as of Amala Province.”

  

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Comment on this article

  • ßryan, ßahrain

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    @Sri, A missionary has a great duty. They have to perform beyond the expectation of the people, but when you judge them, you do not define them, you define your own self. The job is not easy it is tough than it looks to you, and mistakes are inevitable, I would say to you, reach out to one another in love, in faith and in kindness. Don't grow old by judging others...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    I have studied in a school run by a church with which i have a deep relation even after so many years, though none of my teachers are there at present. Most of my teachers were nuns whom i rspect the most.

    Growing up and opening up my mind to a little liberal thinking, i end up having a confused, conflicting emotions --respect and pity. I will not elaborate 'why pity', because i do not think that fellow readers are so liberal in thoughts.

    I feel the 'sister's' who taught me deserve beatification more than Sister Maria coz they did everything without expecting anything in return. Sr.Maria fought for just wages and other rights for the poor labors, wearing a SAFFRON SHAWL!! Intention is crystal clear.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chris, Tel Aviv

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Chaddi and jihadi always running to Christian nations for greener pastures , yet they are so insecure when Christian missionary's come to India ,chaddi missions only for gow matha ,even though their own matha is rotting in the streets , cows come first to them .

    DisAgree [3] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, Udupi

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Who can forget the murder of Graham Stains and his two kids by RSS goons and still under India Judicial system go unpunished...Fascism has reached its peak in India.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Thank you Father for having made known to the world.We will pray Jesus to raise her to Sainthood for having shed blood for Christ. A faithful follower, so also her family for their forgivenss and accepted him as their family member.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Michael Noronha, Mysore

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    "The slain nun’s family made international headlines when it accepted Singh as a member after forgiving him. Rani Maria’s young sister Selmy Paul, also a member of the same congregation, accepted Singh as her brother by tying “rakhi,” a sacred thread, on the festival of siblings Rakshabandan. Some people, though not born of the same parents, tie the “rakhi” and accept each other as brothers and sisters. Sister Paul’s gesture helped Singh to regret his action. He now leads an exemplary life in his village in central India after serving his life term." -THIS ACT OF FORGIVENESS IS EXEMPLARY. THE PRIEST WHO INITIATED THIS ACT OF MERCY IS NO MORE. THE INITIATIVE OF THE FAMILY OF SR. RANI MARIA TO ACCEPT THE PERSON WHO MURDERED THEIR FAMILY MEMBER DESERVES PRAISE. A GOOD WITNESS TO THE MOST DIFFICULT GOSPEL VALUE - FORGIVE THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU & LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    India is a soft target for missionaries.

    "she had worked among poor landless agricultural laborers and others to fight for just wages and other rights"

    Missionaries working for the above subject is something unnecessary.

    DisAgree [62] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • steev, Udupi

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Dear Sri,

    People like you do not see the good work done by Christians and Christian institutions. Even though Christians are only 2 % in India the educational institutions run by them educate 20% of the Indians. And in most cases these schools are top ranked and everybody including Hindus , Muslims and Christians want get into schools run by these institutions , Because these schools have long history of producing good students who have taken top positions in all sectors.

    But still you have only hatred in your heart . True Christians do not want conversion . They lead life as per their good work. In this case you can see that this Nun's family has forgiven and that is great act. In undivided DK you can lot of top class schools and colleges run by Christian institutions. That is one of the reason why DK is educationally forward.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    @steev-I am not neglecting or undermining Christians work in modern India. Only my point was missionaries should not go for help as mentioned unless help was sought. I hope you got my point.
    If they poor people approached her for help then well and good. No objections.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sampath, Mlore/ Blore

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Yes Rightly said..... Why dont you give them the justice?.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amigo, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Dirty minded Chaddis need the education for their children from Convent school and wanted to migrate to western countries, but NOT Gorakhpur Ghoshalas.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • H.A.Dsouza, Damoh

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Dear Sri,

    If you don't want Christian services then you should also boy caught Christian Technology. You may always using Bus,Train,Aeroplane , Mobile who invented this ? You Say that India is soft targets for Missionaries Why not our country converted during British rule. A true Christian always fight for injustice either by action or prayer.Lord Jesus said to his followers that They are light and salt of the earth.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sun, Mar 26 2017

    @sri karkala,you seem to be a notorious hater of missioners?why?without missioners our India would have be a really poor in every aspect.Social,health and many things.Just compare health dept.Where does health care is better,in Govt hospitals or missionary hospitals?Better education in govt.schools or private?How about street children or homeless are find a home ?Does anyone from other shrines take People like Mother Theresa or st Antony,care them without looking to which Religion he /she belongs?Of course People give donations or pay for it,but does only Money care without personnel presence.This Nun did till that time noone did,to care People who had less payment from landlords ,.May be without her it would have gone further so.because they made Money and poorone worked hard,but their lives and children had less Chance and Money to live.we can discuss so Long,but no end.so sometimes we have to accept the matter.That was her end .Dont we know previously People who worked in coffee estate went without trace sometimes?either killed .raped ,paid less?

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 25 2017

    Praise the Lord ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: 22 years after stabbed to death, Kerala nun Sr Rani Maria cleared for beatification



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