A Catholic archdiocese in the southern Indian state of Kerala has started the documentation on Ajna George, tagged an “Apostle of the Eucharist” for her service to the Church.
Ajna, a member of the Jesus Youth Movement and an assistant professor, died of cancer on January 21 in Kochi, the commercial capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala. She was 27.
“The Archdiocese of Verapoly has informally begun the documentation,” said Father Sojan Mathew Maliyekal, archdiocesan spokesperson.
He told Matters India that the initiative was “with the knowledge and guidance” of Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil.
The priest said several people and groups, including the Jesus Youth Movement, met with the archbishop to request him to take up the cause of Ajna.
The archbishop, however, explained the need for a waiting period of at least five years after the candidate’s death before a cause can be initiated.
Immediately after Ajna’s death the archdiocese began to receive requests to take up her cause.
Father Jean Felix Kattassery, Ajna’s spiritual director, said the girl showed love and longing for the Eucharistic Lord despite indescribable pain and suffering.
Father Kattassery said Ajna’s life “proclaims the redemptive value of sufferings as shown by Jesus.”
The priest said that like Blessed Carlo Acutis, Ajna had set apart her life for “devotion to the Holy Eucharist from a very early age, forbearing acceptance and offering of the excruciating pains of cancer for the glory of God, embracing the Eucharistic Lord with a smile even as death drew close.”
Read the full story on Matters India
