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'''Servant of God Rev.Sr.Rani Maria'''
[[Servant of God]] Sr. Rani Maria Vattalil (1954-95) was a Catholic martyr,Catholic religious and a [[missionary]] [[social worker]] in the [[Franciscan Clarist Congregation]], who sacrificed her life for the sake of the poor and the destitute.She is a martyr and a [[social reformer]] who had sown the seeds of selfless love and kindness in the hearts of poor and oppressed people she served.
She was canonised as
“Servant of God Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, FCC, martyr per testimonium caritatis fortis, uti fertur who died at Nachanbore Hill, India on 25 February 1995, of knife wounds inflicted on her by an assailant angry at her efforts to empower the poor in her role as Provincial Councillor of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation with charge of the Department of Social Services of the Diocese of Indore.”
Life
Birth and Childhood
Sr.Rani Maria was born on 29 January 1954 as the second child of Paily and Eliswa of Vattalil, an ordinary peasant family. Her Baptism was on 5 February 1954 at St.Thomas Church Pulluvazhy and she was given the name
’
Mariam
’
after Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus. The godparents were her uncle Varkey and grandmother Mariamma. Her God fearing parents brought her up in Christian faith and charity along with their six other children - Stephen, Annie, Varghese, Thressiamma, Celine and Lusy. Celine would later followed her elder sister Rani Maria and joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, assuming the name Selmy Paul.
Our Mary kunju completed her Christian initiation by receiving the first Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation on 30 April 1966. From her infancy her parents and grandparents made her understand the importance of prayer. Even at the young age, she regularly attended the Holy Mass and took part in the popular devotions. She frequented catechism lessons and practiced what she learned in her day today life.
Her brother Stephen speaks about her childhood, "She was a girl of few words; she needed only very simple clothes and did not show any interest in wearing ornaments. She never did anything to hurt anyone. If something unpleasant happened she felt sorry about it." Her mother recalls, "She was different from other children and was exceptionally obedient child." Her parents had reason to be proud of her.
Her schooling started with the
’
Kalari
’
(the traditional form of pre-primary education), in which she spent two years. She was then sent to the Government Lower Primary School at Pulluvazhy where she was enrolled as V.P.Mary. After her primary schooling, she joined Jayakeralam High School Pulluvazhy. She also found time to help her father in the work of the fields and her mother in her domestic duties. She showed keen interest in and special love towards the servants and found time to chat with them.
In view of a good result in Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination, her parents sent her to St.Joseph
’
s High School Tripunithura. Under the supervision and the guidance of the nuns, her life in the school and in the boarding turned out to be very conducive to her spiritual and intellectual growth. She completed her studies successfully.
Native Place
[[Kerala]] is a small state, a fairly narrow strip of land, 38, 863 sq. km. in area in southwest India, washed by the Arabian Sea in the west and protected in the east by a range of high mountains. Beautiful seawaters, high mountain ranges, and green forests and wavy coconut trees, Kerala has been called God
’
s own country. Its population according to the 2001 census was 31,838,679. Kerala ranks first among the states of the Indian federal union with a literacy of 90.92%.
Having received Christian faith in the first century from the Apostle St. Thomas, Kerala
’
s population today is about 19% Christian. Having three different rites, the Catholics belong to the particular Churches: the Syro-Malabar Church (to which Sr. RAni Maria belongs) Today, with the end of the foreign missionaries who once came to India in the wake of the western colonial expansion, it is mostly Kerala, and in particular the Syro-Malabar Church that supplies the missionary personnel all over India, especially to northern and central India
Pulluvazhy is a small tranquil village of Kerala where spirituality, elegance of nature and cultural prosperity join hands. This religiously oriented little village is today proud of its chosen daughter Rani Maria. In her honour and to perpetuate her memory St. Thomas parish has constructed a museum named after her. This parish church acts as the pivot of the spiritual, social, and cultural advancement of the people.
Religious Vocation
During the final year of her school, studies P. V. Mary felt the call of the Lord to embrace the consecrated life .She shared her inner promptings with her cousin Cicily (Sr.Soni Maria FCC) who too had the same desire. The frequent visit to the nearby convent and acquaintance with the FCC nuns enabled them to make a decision to enter the Franciscan Clarist Congregation. Mary had some anxiety about the reaction of her parents and relatives. One day she plucked up courage and openly expressed her desire to join the convent. Her brothers and sisters put up a very strong resistance. They asked their father not to give her permission to join the convent. But he replied, "But if she insist what shall I do? If God so desires, how can we go against it?" Hearing this conversation the grandmother intervened, "Why do you oppose
’
Marykunju
’
("Little Mary," pet name) joining the convent? Is she not going for a noble cause? How many parents desire that their children become priests and nuns? Do they always obtain that? The vocation to the religious life is not given to all. God gives it only to some." All remained silent at these words of wisdom from the grandmother.
On 3rd July 1972 Mary and her cousin started their aspirancy in the Franciscan Clarist Convent, Kidangoor. After various phases of formation consisting of Aspirancy (3.7.1972 to 30.10.1972), Postulancy (1.11.1972 to 29.4.1973) and Novitiate (30.4.1973 to 30.4.1974) Mary, almost 20 years of age, made her first profession in Franciscan Clarist Congregation on 1st of May 1974 under the new name Rani Maria, the first word Rani having the meaning "Regina" or queen.
Her mistress during Aspirancy and Postulancy, Sr.Gladys testifies as follows about Mary: "She always had a smiling face and was a smart girl. She did everything with perfection and had no complains about anything. She did not need any corrections. Holding fast to what is true and just, she always spoke out things very openly." A fellow novice, Sr.Alze Maria has described her thus: "During the period of formation, we were busy with various assignments .We had to do everything by ourselves in groups. All wanted to have Sr. Rani in their group. We used to clean the house, the cattle shed, the toilets, and bathrooms. She was always the first for these humble works. Sr.Rani Maria was accustomed to sanctify every hour reciting and humming ejaculatory prayers and sacred tunes. During her hours of work, her favourite ejaculatory prayer was "Jesus." She kept up this habit of uttering the name "Jesus" till her very last breath. In fact she was heard repeating "Jesus, Jesus" right up to the end of her death agony.
Social Work and Missionary Life
[[India]] is a land of diversities of religions, languages, and cultures. It is the cradle of different religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The vast majority of population are Hindus 81.66%; then come the Muslims 12.5%, Christians 2.18%, Sikhs 2.01%, Buddhists 0.85%, Jains 0.34%, and others 0.44%. .
Indian society is structured on the caste system. There are four primary castes Brahmins, Kshatryias, Vaisyas, Sudras. A caste is a group of families bound to each other by special rules for the observance of ceremonial purity, especially as regard to marriage and food. Traditionally the Brahmins are the priestly caste and used to keep the highest positions of honour in society. The Kshatriyas make up the ruling group and are professional warriors. Engaging in agriculture and commerce, the Vaisyas form the producer ans consumer sections of society, while the Sudras are consigned to the lowest rank and their lot is to do the menial work and serve the higher castes. Those with out any castes like Tribals are gradually marginalized and relegated as
’
outcasts.
’
They used to be exploited in many ways by the upper-castes. This social system has also brought extreme disparity among the people of India, divided into the highly rich and the desperately poor. One may note that the cast system is slowly breaking down under the impact of modern life, although modernity is slow to penetrate into the remote villages.
It is mostly Hinduism that has shaped India and constitutes the most prominent religion in the northern parts of India, where most people do not know Jesus and his gospel. Assessing this situation and urgent missionary need, FCC sent missionaries to North India in 1960, where they worked as the first Indigenous women missionaries. It was the knowledge that there are millions of people who have not even heard of Jesus Christ that led Sr. Rani Maria to the northern missions.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Lk.4: 18)". This Gospel verse was the motto Rani Maria, who wrote it down in her personal recordings. She was convinced about her missionary call. For greater efficiency in her work as a missionary she realized that she has to master the language of the place. Accordingly she bid farewell to the mission fields on 9th July 1975 and engaged in language study at the Provincial House of Sisters of Notre Dame, Patna.
4.1. Bijnor
After her language study Rani Maria arrived at St. Mary
’
s Convent in diocese of Bijnor on 24th December1975. Bijnor will be the cradle of her missionary life. She used to say, "I was born and brought up as a [[missionary]] in Bijnor." Owing to the lack of qualified local teachers, Sr. Rani Maria was appointed as a teacher in St. Mary
’
s School Bijnor, in spite of her desire to serve the poor in the villages. She served as a teacher for two years from 8th September 1976 to 7th August 1978. During this period after the teaching hours, she was engaged in social ministry. After two years of teaching in the school, she got fully involved in social service until 21st July 1983. To make herself competent for better service to the poor villagers, she did her higher studies in Sociology. Along with her studies, she continued her social ministry without any failure. On May 22, 1980 she made her final profession at St. Hormis Church, Ankamaly.
Although she did not spend many years in Bijnor, she could reach out to every little child, every sick and weak person in the interior villages and huts. Rev. Fr. Varghese Kottoor CMI the then Parish Priest of Bijnor writes, "The Franciscan simplicity and cheerfulness of Sr.Rani captured the hearts and minds of all with whom she came in contact". Sr. Infant Mary too testifies: "The biting cold, heavy rains, intense heat irregular meals, lack of water, and journeys through dangerous moments, lonely moments of helplessness… nothing was a hindrance to Sr. Rani Maria." On hearing of her untimely death of Sr. Rani Maria Fr. Kottor recalled her words, "I would die for these poor people."
4.2. At Odagady
On 21 July 1983, Sr.Rani Maria was transferred to Odagady in the diocese of Satna. She arrived there on 25th July 1983 and was appointed coordinator of the social activities. She worked to uplift the poor and downtrodden. She was firmly convinced that no sacrifice would be too much in order to secure the total liberation proclaimed by Christ. She organized educational programmes for the children, the young, and the aged. She conscientized the poor about their exploitation and enabled them to realize their rights and duties as citizens of India. As a result, she became the object of the displeasure of their oppressors, who looked upon her work to uplift the poor as attempts to convertthem to Christianity. Her life was at times under threat. Threats only Made her more enthusiastic and zealous. From 1st June to 31st July 1985, as a woman of prayer in the midst of heavy responsibilities she found two months time to spend in silence and solitude at the Prayer Bhavan Portiuncula, FCC Generalate, Aluva. From 30th May 1989 to 15th May 1992 Sr. Rani Maria served as Local Superior. Meantime she took Master
’
s degree in Sociology from Rewa University. She served as the Provincial Social Service Department Consultant of the FCC Amala Province, Bhopal from 8th Sept.1991 to 15th Dec.1994.
Observing the life of Sr.Rani the then Provincial Superior, Rev Sr. Marianna stated during an official visitation: "Oh! What a missionary zeal! What courage! How can she do so much? Oh! This is an extraordinary personality. I would have be extremely happy if I got a little of this charism. If she carries on this manner, Sr.Rani Maria would surely fall victim to murderers." During the nine years of service in Odagady, Sr.Rani Maria changed the face of Odagady through the developmental activities carried out with the cooperation of the people of the locality. Fr. Mathew Vattakuzhy, the then Social Work director, remarked: "At Odagady a few Christian Families had settled down before the mission station was started. Sr.Rani helped them to grow in Christian faith by regularly visiting them and teaching them catechism. Many Adivasis
[
poor natives
]
and Harijans
[
outcasts
]
were attracted to Christianity by her sincere concern and love for them, effective developmental activities, selfless works for the people etc. Bishop Abraham Mattam recollects: "Sr. Rani Maria was convinced that an evangelizer should be interested in the life of the poor to give them Christ, his love and his redeeming message, there by helping them to attain special growth and material welfare".
4.3. At Udainagar
On 15 May 1992, Sr.Rani was transferred to Sneha Sadan, Udainagar. She arrived there on 18th May. As an experienced Social worker she made a thorough study of the tribals of the villages and realized that they had unconsciously fallen into the debt trap laid very cunningly by the Baniyas (tradesman) of Udainagar. Those villagers had become over dependant on the scrupulous money lenders who devoured their meagre earnings and property. The poor were not aware of the grants that government had allotted for their socio-economic development. Through various conscientization programmes Sr.Rani Maria made them aware of their rights and injustice perpetrated on them. Thus, poor of Udainagar became active citizens and started to free themselves from the bondage to their heartless moneylenders. She would often approach the government officials for the sake of the poor, often only to meet with refusal and rejection. They even laughed at her interest for the uplift of [[low cast]] people. A novice, who once accompanied Sr. Rani Maria to the Bank Manager, narrates what she saw.
Holding in her hand the [[crucifix]] hanging from her neck, Sr. Rani humbly told the officer, "Sir, we have accepted this way of life and come here not because we have no means of livelihood at home, nor is it because our parents have pushed us out of our families. Look! We have accepted this way of life, a life of sacrifice, in order to work for Christ in the poor." Gradually her gentle manners, sincere dealings, unselfish way of actions, and above all her pleasant way of speaking won over admiration even of the officials.
She drew upon the Franciscan Charism, she dedicated herself totally to the oppressed and marginalized without ever hating their oppressors. It was in prayer that she found strength to face all challenges and difficulties. Sr. Liza Rose recollects, "Sr.Rani Maria used to get up everyday early morning at 4 o
’
clock. She spent a lot of time in personal prayer. Afterwards she took part in the community prayer in a very active way .She was enthusiastic and creative in leading the community prayer."
In 1994, Sr.Rani Maria was elected as the Provincial Councillor of the Social Service department, in which she had to coordinate the social service activities of the Province. As a result of developmental works in Udainagar, the marshy places were converted into agricultural land. The men folk were engaged in small-scale business. Those capable of going for higher education were given the opportunities. She chose a few youngsters and gave them training to become animators. She taught them how to help the poor and themselves by getting financial assistance from the government and private banks of Udainagar and Indore. Thus she could eradicate the evil of poverty to a certain extend from Udainagar. Sr.Liza Rose who was then superior of Sneha Sadan Convent, Udainagar remarks: "Sr.Rani Maria mostly worked among the Adivasis and among those who were marginalized by the society. They loved her as a mother because this was for the first time that they saw a person, who shared their life, lived with them and acted in their favour. Her life was set apart for the poor. It was her nature not to run away from difficulties and oppositions." Since the developmental programmes for the poor tribals went counter to the vested interests of the unscrupulous moneylenders and social exploiters, she became the object of their hatred, which grew steadily in step with the progress of the poor. And her enemies decided to get rid of her. They waited for an opportunity. They did not have to wait long.
Eight days before her death during her last visit to the Provincial House, on the occasion of the Canonical Visit of Mother General Henry Suso, Sr. Rani said, "We should not seek safety and comfort in our mission work, with Courage and trust in God more and more sisters should get ready to risk themselves in serving the poor and needy in the undeveloped villages of the missions." On the same occasion she confided to her Novice Mistress Late Sr. Infant Mary, the continuous death threats she was receiving. And she disclosed to her, "I would desire to die a martyr for the love of Jesus and for my poor downtrodden brethren."
Sr. Infant Mary who was her Novice Mistress has written in the biography of Sr. Rani Maria: "she was unique and exemplary in her prayer, studies, in the observance of the rules, in the responsibilities entrusted to her; in short, in everything. She was never annoyed about others or with others. She was impartial when called up to point out the defects of others, and she did so with precision. She was always much concerned about the will of God." As Provincial Councillor of Missions in North India, Sr. Infant Mary used to visit the missions and share her experiences with her novices, thus conveying to them the urgency of spreading the Good News among the millions of illiterate and ignorant people of North India. Thus, the seed of missionary vocation was sowed in the heart of novice Mary. Hearing the experiences of missionaries, her missionary zeal inflamed .She used to repeat: "I too want to go to North India, to serve the poor and die for them".
Death
As usual on 25th February 1995 Sr.Rani Maria rose early in the morning. She had to take the first bus to Indore and from there go to the Provincial House, Bhopal and then proceed down to Kerala. The late Sr. Liza Rose describes, "When I reached the Chapel for the morning prayers Sr. Rani Maria had already reached the Chapel before everybody else. After the morning prayers we assembled in the refectory while Sr. Rani was having her breakfast. As it was her custom, before leaving the house she picked up the bible to read word of God. She got the Word
’
Do not be afraid. I have carved your name on the palm of my hands
’
(Is.49: 16).
Accompanied by two sisters Sr. Rani reached the bus stand only to be told that the bus trip was cancelled. While they were returning, they saw the bus by name
’
Kapil
’
by which she was to travel. Sr. Liza Rose told the conductor to reserve one seat for Sr. Rani Maria. He replied, "The bus will leaves at 8.15 a.m. You may board the bus in front of the convent."
The bus arrived in front of the convent. Sisters bade her farewell. Sr. Liza helped her to get into the bus with her handbag. A young man dressed in white, kept her bag near the driver and asked her to sit in the back seat. This was something unusual in Udainagar. The sisters were always given the front seat in the bus. Among the fifty or so passengers there were three, seated in different parts of the bus, but united in one thing: the determination to murder Sr. Rani. Jeevan Singh, the leader of the group was seated in the back seat of the bus together with Dharmendra, his bodyguard. The third man was Samundar Singh, a youth of 28, who took his seat near Sr. Rani Maria. Jeevan Singh began to insult her saying: "Why have you come here from Kerala? Have you come to convert these poor tribal people to Christianity? We will not allow that."
The bus reached a jungle about 20 kms from Udainagar. Samundar rose from his seat and asked the driver to stop the bus. He got down from the bus and broke a coconut against a rock on the road side: it was a pooja or sacred rite offered to their divinities. With pieces of the broken coconut in his hand e re-entered the bus and distributed them among the passengers. He offered a piece to Sr.Rani Maria but suddenly withdrew it as if to fool her. She asked him, "Why are you so overjoyed today?" Drawing out a knife he said, "Just for this," and thrust it into her stomach. Repeatedly he stabbed her. Then the bus stopped. Deaf to her cries, he dragged her out of the bus and stabbed her to death. The post-mortem registered 40 major injuries besides 14 bruises. Unto the last she kept on saying "Jesus! Jesus!" None of the passengers dared to come to her rescue. Most of them ran away. One of them would later narrate the incident to Sr. Liza Rose.
The whole scenario was well planned in advance. In the beginning of December 1994, just before the Panchayat elections, there was a clash between the people of Kannad village and the people of Semli village, in which Jeevan Singh also was wounded. Among those arrested and imprisoned by the police, there were also many innocent people. Sr.Rani Maria intervened in their favour and bailed them out. This incensed Jeevan Singh and his partisans. It has been reliably reported "they met together on the previous evening in the residence of a prominent person of the place in order to plan out the murder."
At about 10.45 a.m. the police informed the sisters of the convent of Udainagar: "Your sister is murdered by someone.The body is lying on the road .You may go and take the body." Since the sisters had no conveyance they informed the Bishop
’
s house in Indore and the Provincial House in Bhopal. Shocked by the news, the bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. George Anathil SVD along with some priests reached the spot by 2 o
’
clock in the afternoon and found the body lying on the side of the road, socked in blood, close by the bus. He saw to all the legal formalities and got the body and laid in state in the Bishop
’
s House.
The news of her assassination spread rapidly provoking sadness and dismay. Thousands of people including Non-Catholics came to render her homage. The following day body was taken to the Cathedral Church of Indore and Bishop George Anathil celebrated the Holy Mass with several priests. The Church was packed with people. After the mass a protest rally was taken out and memorandums were presented to the government authorities. On 27th morning seven bishops and nearly a hundred priests concelebrated the Holy Mass. In a grant funeral procession of 125 vehicles Rani Maria
’
s body was taken from Indore to Udainagar, a distance of 102 kms. The air rang with the praises of Sr. Rani Maria, who had died for the poor. Udainagar became a human sea of mourners, irrespective of caste or creed. At a condolence meeting in the parish yard many eminent personalities spoke about her life and works at Udainagar, hailing her as a martyr. "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one
’
s life for one
’
s friends (Jn: 15:13)." Quiet significantly, this saying of Jesus has been carved on her tomb.
Canonization
She was canonised as
“Servant of God Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, FCC, martyr per testimonium caritatis fortis, uti fertur who died at Nachanbore Hill, India on 25 February 1995, of knife wounds inflicted on her by an assailant angry at her efforts to empower the poor in her role as Provincial Councillor of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation with charge of the Department of Social Services of the Diocese of Indore.”
Her name stands in the the [[canonization]] list of people for [http://jceworld.blogspot.in/2011/02/asia-india-vatican-official-at-death.html beatification] by the catholic church.Capuchin Father Giovangiuseppe Califano, [[postulator]] general for the Beatification Causes of Saints, had visited Udainagar in Madhya Pradesh as part of her canonization process in 2010.She is also known as [http://jceworld.blogspot.in/2011/02/asia-india-vatican-official-at-death.html “Rani [queen] of Udainagar."].
An article on sister Rani Maria says as following:
''Sister Rani Maria, who, fifteen years ago became a martyr for the faith that led her to always help the poorest of the poor, "encourages us to move forward. Her example of life and death are a stimulus for us who are still her today, we have a powerful intercessor before the Lord".''
''This is what Fr Cherian, spokesman for the Diocese of Indore and director of the local society for social services who accompanied the religious in her humanitarian work and who oversaw the collection of documents for her beatification, tells AsiaNews. The diocesan inquiry on the life and works of the religious was completed two years ago. The results are now been studied by the Vatican. The priest today presents his testimony on the life of the religious.''
Sister Rani Maria While working for the people and for the Lord-she sacrificed her life. Like Jesus, she died on the Cross -while she was faithfully and selflessly carrying her work among the people among the people. Sr Rani Maria
’
s life and her death has become an inspiration and hope for us- to continue to do good, to work and serve the people even at the cost of ones life- to be another Christ and this has brought graces for us.
The priests of Indore Diocese have a powerful intercessor and this year is a grace filled year as it is the Year for priests. While I was deeply pained by her murder, we are sure Sr Rani Maria is alive in heaven, interceding for us to continue working to establish the Kingdom of justice, peace and truth.
Throughout her life, Sister Rani Maria worked tirelessly to help the villagers - mostly poor tribal - to establish self-help groups by obtaining financial credit and other forms of economic support. She made sure that they were granted to the villages in order to improve the welfare and earning potential. She worked tirelessly to help this often oppressed sector of society.
At the same time, she always ensured that these movements were popular in nature, without external influences: she preferred to act as a catalyst of humble people. In this she strengthened the panchayats (village councils) urging them to consider and be aware of their rights and their responsibilities, providing assistance through planned and systematic development programs.
In December 1994, in the run up to the village council elections, a fight broke out between Catholic tribal families( Barela sub-caste) and a right wing candidate. Police arrested some of the Catholics and Sr. Rani hired a lawyer and had them released. This created a lot of hostility and a false impression that Sr Rani Maria was instigating people against them.
Left to themselves, the tribal would not be so emboldened as to stand up to any pressure from a powerful political force or even engage the services of a lawyer to fight their legal battle. On February 25, 1995, a farmer was who was hired to kill Sr Rani Maria, entered the bus in which Sr Rani Maria was traveling, and stabbed Sr. Rani her repeatedly. The bus stopped, and the people left out of fear. Then, he dragged Sr. Rani outside the bus and continued stabbing her until she died.
After serving a ten year prison term this man was released and now this man is undergoing a complete transformation of heart, he expresses deep sorrow and remorse for his deeds and proclaims on public platforms Christ and His forgiveness, and he owes his conversion of heart to Sr Rani Maria.
Sr Rani Maria continues to help us, and especially in moments of crises, her life and also her death are an encouragement to us to persevere. I know, left to ourselves, we are not strong, but we are given Strength and heavenly blessings by the Lord, by her constant intercession.
Life
[[category: Servant of God]]