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Blessed Kuriakos, co-founder and first prior
general of the congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, was born
at Kainakary in Kerala, India on February 10, 1805. He entered the
seminary in 1818 and was ordained priest in 1829. He made his religious
profession in 1855 in the congregation he had founded. In 1861 he was
named vicar general for the Syro-Malabar church; in this capacity he
defended ecclesial unity threatened by schism when Tomas Rochos was sent
from Mesopotamia to consecrate Nestorian bishops. Throughout his life he
worked for the renovation of the church in Malabar. He was also co-founder
in 1866 of the congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel. Above
all, he was a man of prayer, zealous for the Eucharistic Lord and devoted
to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. He died at Koonammavu in 1871.
Prayer
Lord God,
you raised up Blessed Kuriakos Elias your priest
to strengthen the unity of the Church.
Grant that through his intercession
we may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit
to read the signs of the times with wisdom
and spread the news of the Gospel
by both word and example.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. |
