INTRODUCTION
“Martyrdom is the voluntary suffering or acceptance of death because of
faith in Christ or (because of) another virtue related to God”. This is
how Pope Benedict XIV, defines “martyrdom” as applicable to a Cause of
Declaration of Martyrdom.1 At the time when the Pope
was defining the importance elements of martyrdom, Devasahayam Pillai
was executed at Aralvaimozhy, thus perhaps providing the Church an
immediate example of a Cause!
Two elements must be proved so that a Servant of God may be declared a martyr: First, that the Servant of God was really killed by an action provoked or carried out by the persecutor. The tortures and suffering may add more merit to martyrdom, but it is necessary to prove that a killing took place and that the Servant of God really died.
Secondly, it is also necessary to establish with moral certainly that the killer acted out of hatred for faith in Christ.2 The purpose of this section is to establish the first among these two, namely, historical facts as they happened in connection with the death of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai, in order to prove the historicity of his death and the way it was inflicted on him. Our purpose, in other words, is to answer the question: What are the historical events connected to the persecution and the killing of Devasahayam Pillai? Chapter 1 will explain the phases of persecution until death. In Chapter 2 the kinds of tortures suffered by the Servant of God will be described.
Two elements must be proved so that a Servant of God may be declared a martyr: First, that the Servant of God was really killed by an action provoked or carried out by the persecutor. The tortures and suffering may add more merit to martyrdom, but it is necessary to prove that a killing took place and that the Servant of God really died.
Secondly, it is also necessary to establish with moral certainly that the killer acted out of hatred for faith in Christ.2 The purpose of this section is to establish the first among these two, namely, historical facts as they happened in connection with the death of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai, in order to prove the historicity of his death and the way it was inflicted on him. Our purpose, in other words, is to answer the question: What are the historical events connected to the persecution and the killing of Devasahayam Pillai? Chapter 1 will explain the phases of persecution until death. In Chapter 2 the kinds of tortures suffered by the Servant of God will be described.
Process
The Bishop issued a mandate on 17 August 1911 for the
canonical opening of the tomb of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai
in 1913, on the occasion of the repairing of the pavement of St. Francis
Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar.
H.E.Dr.ALOYSIUS MARIA BENZIGER,O.C.D,
Bishop of Quilon, 1905-1931
Bishop Lawrence Pereira wrote to the Jesuit Provincial who was
then residing at Tiruchy, with a view to "bring to light the hidden
documents" connected with the life and death of Devasahayam Pillai.
There is no record of any reply received from the Jesuit Provincial.
H.E.Dr.LAWRENCE PEREIRA
First Bishop of Kottar
1930-1938
During tenure as Bishop of Kottar, he was interested to
canonically begin the process of the Cause. With this in mind he
published a circular letter read throughout the diocese probably in the
year 1964. It is the same Bishop Agniswamy who published the first
prayer for the Canonization of Martyr Devasahayam Pillai.
H.E.Dr.T.R.AGNISWAMY,S.J.,
Second Bishop of Kottar
1939-1971
H.E.Dr.M.Arokiasamy
Third Bishop of Kottar
1971-1987
The Servant of God Devasahayam was a layman and it seems quite
fitting that the first move in our times for efforts towards his
beatification was taken by a group of laity of the diocese of Kottar.
After a meeting of the representatives of the laity of diocese, a group
of them consisting of 1) Mr. Amalagiri Anthonimuthu (a fifth-generation
family member of Poet Thomman Thiru Muthu, who was in prison with
Devasahayam Pillai), a member of beatification committee of Bl.
Alphonsa and the one to initiate the process among the laity, 2) Mr.
Antony Thamburan, a Tamil scholar and a recent convert and 3) Mr. P. J.
Dhas, a deputy director of All-India Radio, Thiruvananthapuram, met
Bishop M. Arokiasamy, and requested him to initiate the process for
beatification in a canonical manner, by an appointment of Beatification
Committee: The Committee consisted of six persons under the name
"Beatification Committee" to take concerted efforts towards the
beatification of Devasahayam Pillai. He also nominated Rev. Fr. Leon A.
Tharmaraj (who later became the fourth bishop of Kottar) as "the
spiritual guide" of the first Official Beatification Committee.
The first version of the prayer for beatification of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai was written by Bishop. M. Arokiasamy, himself and it was released on 05 Jan. 1985
Presentation of Souvenir to Pope John Paul II with Inscription of Devasahayam Pillai: His Holiness Pope Blessed John Paul II visited Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) on 05 Feb. 1986. Bishop M. Arokiasamy and some representatives from the diocese of Kottar presented a souvenir to the Holy Father at the Public meeting, with an inscription on the Servant of God Devasahayam on one side, and the other side that of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of the Diocese.
The first version of the prayer for beatification of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai was written by Bishop. M. Arokiasamy, himself and it was released on 05 Jan. 1985
Presentation of Souvenir to Pope John Paul II with Inscription of Devasahayam Pillai: His Holiness Pope Blessed John Paul II visited Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) on 05 Feb. 1986. Bishop M. Arokiasamy and some representatives from the diocese of Kottar presented a souvenir to the Holy Father at the Public meeting, with an inscription on the Servant of God Devasahayam on one side, and the other side that of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of the Diocese.
The Most Rev. Leon Tharmaraj initiated the diocesan phase by appointing
Rev. Fr. A. Gabriel as Postulator (in the diocese) on 01.01.1993
The Bishop of Kottar presented the Cause at the meeting of the Regional Bishops of Tamil Nadu at Nagercoil on 01 March 1993. The cause was discussed in detail and the chairman of Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council issued a Nihil Obstat (norms 11a, 1983). The Bishops of Tamil Nadu marked the occasion by a Solemn Concelebration in St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar.
The Bishop Leon Tharmaraj constituted a tribunal for the cause on 03 Dec. 1993, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. The Presiding Judge Msgr. Paul Leon, the Promoter of Justice, Fr. I. Kulandaiswami, and the Notary, Fr. George Ponnaiah took oath in the presence of the Bishop on 14 Dec. 1993.
A Historical Commission was also constituted, consisting of 13 persons on 08 -12- 1993. The commission worked, but without taking the canonical oath and after nine meetings, placed its findings in a report to the tribunal on 18 -04- 1995
In the meanwhile, on 14 Nov. 2003, Bishop Leon A. Tharmaraj appointed Rev. Fr. George Nedungatt, S.J., Professor of Oriental Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, as the Postulator in Rome for the Cause. A copy of this appointment order was also presented to the Congregation for Saints for its approval
By a decree dated 5 July 2004, the Bishop Most Rev. Leon A. Tharmaraj constituted a historical commission consisting of Fr. J. Rosario Narchison (Convener), Fr. Elias John Kulandai (Secretary) and Mr. Varghese Antony (member). All the three members took Juramentum immediately and started working in a formal way.
Since the first tribunal for the Cause, constituted in 1993, ceased to function, the Bishop constituted a supplementary tribunal for the Cause on 03 March 2006, with Fr. Solomon, as the Presiding Judge, Rev. Dr. I. Kulandaiswamy, as the Promoter of Justice and Rev. Fr. M. Soosai as the Notary. The new tribunal assumed charge by taking oath on 11-03- 2006.
The Bishop of Kottar presented the Cause at the meeting of the Regional Bishops of Tamil Nadu at Nagercoil on 01 March 1993. The cause was discussed in detail and the chairman of Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council issued a Nihil Obstat (norms 11a, 1983). The Bishops of Tamil Nadu marked the occasion by a Solemn Concelebration in St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar.
Constitution of the First Tribunal
The Bishop Leon Tharmaraj constituted a tribunal for the cause on 03 Dec. 1993, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. The Presiding Judge Msgr. Paul Leon, the Promoter of Justice, Fr. I. Kulandaiswami, and the Notary, Fr. George Ponnaiah took oath in the presence of the Bishop on 14 Dec. 1993.
Preparatory Historical Commission
A Historical Commission was also constituted, consisting of 13 persons on 08 -12- 1993. The commission worked, but without taking the canonical oath and after nine meetings, placed its findings in a report to the tribunal on 18 -04- 1995
Appointment of a Postulator in Rome
In the meanwhile, on 14 Nov. 2003, Bishop Leon A. Tharmaraj appointed Rev. Fr. George Nedungatt, S.J., Professor of Oriental Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, as the Postulator in Rome for the Cause. A copy of this appointment order was also presented to the Congregation for Saints for its approval
Historical commission
By a decree dated 5 July 2004, the Bishop Most Rev. Leon A. Tharmaraj constituted a historical commission consisting of Fr. J. Rosario Narchison (Convener), Fr. Elias John Kulandai (Secretary) and Mr. Varghese Antony (member). All the three members took Juramentum immediately and started working in a formal way.
Supplementary Diocesan Tribunal for the Cause
Since the first tribunal for the Cause, constituted in 1993, ceased to function, the Bishop constituted a supplementary tribunal for the Cause on 03 March 2006, with Fr. Solomon, as the Presiding Judge, Rev. Dr. I. Kulandaiswamy, as the Promoter of Justice and Rev. Fr. M. Soosai as the Notary. The new tribunal assumed charge by taking oath on 11-03- 2006.
The Most Rev. Leon Tharmaraj initiated the diocesan phase by
ap-pointing Rev. Fr. A. Gabriel as Postulator (in the diocese) on
01.01.1993
Rev. Fr. A. Gabriel
Vice Postulator
Msgr. V. Paul Leon while he was Vicar General fostered
devotion to the Martyr Devasahayam Pillai, preached about his life of
Faith during the Patronal Feast Celebrations in different places in the
diocese, took people to various places of pilgrimage of Devasahayam
Pillai, prepared a historical explanation about his life and martyrdom
and submitted to the Most Rev. Dr. Leon Tharmaraj who forwarded it to
the Apostolic Nuncio in New Delhi.
Msgr. V. Paul Leon
Vicar General
Msgr. Cruz Hieronymus while he was Vicar General presided over 48
meetings of the Beatification Committee in five years, visited the
places known for devotions to martyr Devasahayam Pillai in different
places in Tamil Nadu, arranged for the construction of an altar in
remembrance of the tome of Devasahayam Pillai.
Msgr. Cruz Hieronymus
Vicar General
Msgr. E. John Kulandai
Vicar General
The Most Rev. Dr. Leon Tharamaraj established a new Historical
Commission consisting of Rev. Dr. J. Rosario Narchison as convener,
Msgr. Dr. E. John Kulandai as Secretary and Mr. Varghese Antony as a
Member. They visited various Archives and Libraries in Kerala and Tamil
Nadu. A special mention is to be made that Fr. John Kulandai when he
went to the Secret Archives of Vatican, discovered the “Quinquennial
Report” of the Most Rev. Dr. Clemens Joseph, Bishop of Cochin, written
in 1756.
During the Roman Process Rev. Fr. Dr. John Kulandai was appointed as an
“External Collaborator to the Cause” to work with the Relater Very Rev.
Fr. Zdzislaw, OFM, Conv. To prepared the “Positio” a book of 870 pages
containing various documents of Martyr Devasahayam Pillai. His
extraordinary work was much appreciated in the Congregation.
Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius,
Bishop of Kottar
The Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kottar, sent out a circular
and it was read out on the 24th of August in all the Churches and
institutions, Bishop inviting all the faithful to participate in the
Solemn Closing of the Diocesan Enquiry. Archbishops and Bishops of Tamil
Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala were also invited for the function.
The Solemn Conclusion of the Diocesan Enquiry regarding the Cause of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai was celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Kottar, at 5.30 P.M. on the 7th of September 2008, in the fourth year of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The Prefect of the Congregation, His Eminence Cardinal Angelus Amato, and S.D.B. bought the conclusions of the Roman Process to His holiness Pope Benedict XVI who signed on the 28th of June 2012, the decree of Beatification of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai and declared him a Martyr. This was communicated to the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kottar. The function of Beatification of Martyr Devasahayam Pillai is kept on the 2nd of December 2012 in the diocese of Kottar and it will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., the Prefect of the Congregation for Saints, Rome.
The Solemn Conclusion of the Diocesan Enquiry regarding the Cause of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai was celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Kottar, at 5.30 P.M. on the 7th of September 2008, in the fourth year of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The Prefect of the Congregation, His Eminence Cardinal Angelus Amato, and S.D.B. bought the conclusions of the Roman Process to His holiness Pope Benedict XVI who signed on the 28th of June 2012, the decree of Beatification of the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai and declared him a Martyr. This was communicated to the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kottar. The function of Beatification of Martyr Devasahayam Pillai is kept on the 2nd of December 2012 in the diocese of Kottar and it will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., the Prefect of the Congregation for Saints, Rome.
Rev. Fr. Elphinston Joseph
Rev. Fr. Elphinston Joseph in Rome deserves our hearty appreciation for
his continuous and tireless work all through the Roman Process by
approaching different persons connected with the process and did all
things to speed up cause of the beatification of Martyr Devasahayam
Pillai.
This group started off the process with the observance of "Martyr Devasahayam Day" on 14 Jan. 1985 by a concelebrated Mass in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Kattadimalai, presided over by Mgr. V. Soosaimarian, the Vicar General.
Mgr.V. Soosaimarian
Vicar General
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