SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE CONCLUDING FUNCTION OF THE BIRTH CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF ST. ALPHONSA

Bharananganam, Kerala, 12th August 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to be participating in the grand finale of the Birth Centenary celebrations of Saint Alphonsa, the first Indian saint of the Catholic Church, who is a woman. She showed deep spiritual strength and an immense capacity to go through suffering uncomplainingly, with an unshakeable faith in the Divine.

Living a life of simplicity, in a short life span of 36 years, Saint Alphonsa achieved great spiritual heights. Soon after her death in 1946, the process of her beatification was initiated, and it was in 1986 that her beatification was announced by His Holiness Pope John Paul II at Kottayam. Her canonization took place on 12th October 2008, which was greeted with great rejoicement throughout the country, with thousands of Indians, alongwith a Government delegation, participating in the ceremony at the Vatican. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Saint Alphonsa's life as one of extreme physical and spiritual suffering while recalling, "her heroic virtues of patience, fortitude and perseverance in the midst of deep suffering."

In the last Century, Mahatma Gandhi, the Apostle of Peace, taught us about the strengths of truth and non-violence. He also said that a saint living in seclusion can perform service by thought alone and that there is only one such person in a million. Saint Alphonsa was one such rare person who showed tremendous piety, patience and forgiveness as she lived within the confines of her convent. She was often afflicted with physical disease and illness, but she accepted it cheerfully, not showing pain on her face, or in her emotions. Infact, children of a school located close to her convent fondly called her 'our smiling sister'. Our greatest homage to the memory of Saint Alphonsa is to emulate the ideals of love and compassion which she constantly adhered to.

Saint Alphonsa had an ability to reach out to those in difficulties and to console them, speaking to them gently and affectionately. She did not exclude anyone from the circle of love. In her eyes, everyone was good and she prayed for everybody. Meditation and prayers are very essential for reflection. Prayers are not an end, but a means by which we can search for the divinity that is within each one of us. Prayers can make us more generous and more compassionate. They prompt us to become more patient, and bring peace and contentment. They give us strength to live in the midst of trials and tribulations, with the capacity to face failures and pain. As Saint Alphonsa toiled in adverse circumstances, her solace was faith in prayers. The Rig Veda, our ancient scripture, clearly states that God befriends none but those who toil. Therefore, each one of us in whatever capacity we work; and whatever we are doing, must put in our best efforts and work hard. This is possible if we are disciplined in our lives. We must also understand the importance of human existence and try to enrich the human spirit.

Often, success is measured in terms of material gains and in this race for success; we forget human relationships. We, sometimes forget, that in little things like loving smiles, friendly conversations, in words of encouragement, in sharing our joys and sorrows, there is meaning. A meaningful life can also be one of living for others. Saint Alphonsa had once given the example of leaves that lie at the foot of the plant and rot away, thus providing food for flowers to grow. She said, "All see the flowers and rejoice but no one thinks of the decaying leaves that feed them. For us it is enough that we remain as those leaves." Today, a certain degree of selfishness has crept into our societies. Our visions have got limited. These attitudes are detrimental for a healthy social setup. We must inculcate a broader vision, where we look at the universe as one world and at all fellow beings as belonging to the one human race. We must return to the essence contained in all religions.

Every religion seeks the same goal, emphasizing the importance of working for peace and for promoting a feeling of universal brotherhood. All religions extol people to adopt a compassionate and tolerant approach. Love and affection are the cardinal principles underlying all religions. There is no religion that promotes disharmony.

India can also be described as a land of religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism germinated on its soil. Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Zoroastrianism came to India, adding to the diversity and richness of the country. India is India, not because it merely tolerates, but it accepts diversity. The social, religious and cultural diversities of India are the pillars, alongwith democratic traditions, that hold our secular heritage together, protecting every section of society. In this way, India's unique position has evolved. The ethos of co-existence and secularism has taken deep roots here. Christianity came to India soon after its founding. Since then, the Christian community has grown and made its effective presence felt in India. It has been contributing to the nation building process, participating in its various fields. Specifically, I would like to mention their work, in the past and at present, in the fields of education and healthcare.

Today, as we gather here in Bharananganam, where Saint Alphonsa lived, it is an occasion to remember, a great soul who was born in India, and whose life contains a profound message for humanity. On this occasion, I am happy to unveil the foundation stone of the Saint Alphonsa Hospice - a palliative care centre and to launch the Saint Alphonsa Foundation - a financial assistance scheme for poor patients suffering from heart and kidney diseases and cancer. These are a befitting tribute to her. I am confident that guided by her spirit, these institutions will work to remove the pain of the suffering. I also take this opportunity to pay my homage to Saint Alphonsa.

May God bless you all.