St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Christ School, Bengaluru is born out of the educational vision of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the 19^th century Saint and social reformed.  He was born on 10th February 1805 at Kainakary, Kerala.  At the age of five he began his studies in a village school, called Kalari.  When he was 13, he joined the seminary at Pallipuram for his priestly training.  While he was in the seminary, his parents and his elder brother died of an epidemic.  On 29th November 1829, he became a priest.

St. Chavara was instrumental in founding two catholic religious congreations - one for men, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), and the other for women, Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC), for the spiritual renewal and all round development of the society.

Starting seven ashrams and a convent in different parts of Kerala, St. Chavara initiated a spiritual movement among the people of Kerala.  He established the first Catholic Sanskrit School, a major seminary and printing a publishing house at Mannanam.  He directed that every church should start a school attached to it and encouraged children from even poorer section to attend the schools by supplying mid day meal and dress for them.  He founded a home of charity to take care of destitute beggars, the uncared sick and the old.

Even in the midst of such manifold activities, he found time to write several literary and spiritual books in prose as well as verse.  Among them, 'AnastasyayudeRakthasakshyam' is the first narrative poem and 'Nalagamangal' the chronicle of history in Malayalam.  He knew seven languages - Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit, Syriac, Latin, Italian and Portuguese.

Essentially St. Chavara was a man of prayer and great charity.  He lived for 65 years and died on 3rd January 1871.  His Sanctity was officially recognized by the church, when Pope John Paul II declared him 'Blessed' on 8th February 1986.  St.Chavara is the heavenly patron of all CMI Institutions.  Let us pray to him to intercede before God for all our needs, especially for success in our studies.

On 23 November 2014, he was canonized at Saint Peter's Square, Vatican by Pope Francis in the prayerful presence of thousands of religious and the laity at Vatican and all around the world bringing joy and celebration to the church in Kerala and India.

Important sayings of St. Chavara

1.        Children, you are God's investment in the hands of your parents.

2.        The Children who have love of God and fear of God will love and respect their parents.

3.        Trust your mother.God will hear the mother's request like the  baby's request.

4.        Wisdom and purity should be spiritual food like food for natural growth.

5.        Go to school regularly and recall to mind what is taught during the week.

            6.         Laziness fosters evil habits.

            7.        Let your friends be those who love God.

            8.        Good friends will make you good.

            9.        Keeping of bad books is like hiding fire in straw.

10.      Regular reading of good books and meditating on it, will illumine the mind.

            11.      Attain punctuality by means of a regular time-table.

            12.      You, angels will be turned to devils, if you fall into evil  situation.

13.      You ought to reach home before evening and take part in the evening prayers.

            14.      Your attire and sanctity ought to be according to your age.

            15.      Immodest attire will only lead you to evil.

16.      Let your ability be in piety regulating your life and controlling your senses.

            17.      You ought to love truth and justice.

            18.      What you earn by deceit and theft will melt like snow.

19.      Your profession must be according to your knowledge and age.

20.      Let there be no day in your life in which you did no good to  others.

21.       Let not the insult and quarrels of others be a cause of hatred and enmity.

            22.      Do not insult or trouble the poor.

            23.      God decides your vocation and you choose it.

24.      When you choose your partner in life, choose one who has a good character and good manners.

25.      Even if you are grown in age and maturity you have to accept your parents and submit to them.

            26.       Do not hate your own brethren.

            27.      It is the duty of children to look after their parents.

            28.      Do not be the cause of your parents shedding tears on account  of you.

            29.      The humble man is the greatest among men.

            30.      Since you belong to God, you should be given back to God.