A thanksgiving mass for St. Devasahayam, India’s first layman saint was celebrated at Kattadimalai on Sunday, June 5. The mass was celebrated as a thanksgiving mass by the Catholic Church in India for the saint.
The main celebrant for the Holy Mass was Archbishop George Antonysamy, the archbishop of Madras and Mylapore and the homily was given by Bishop Susaimanickam, the former Bishop of Shivgangai. Along with them, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop Filippe Neri Ferrao, and Archbishop Thomas Netto also were a part of the celebration.
St. Devasahayam is the first Indian layman and martyr of the Catholic Church. He chose the name Devasahayam (the Malayalam translation of ‘Lazarus’), after his conversion in 1745. After years of torture, he died in 1752 at Kattadimalai. He was canonized on 15 May 2022 by Pope Francis.
(Image Source: East Coast Daily English)
