Early Appeals to Rome
The path to the canonization of Devasahayam Pillai began not long after his martyrdom. On November 15, 1756, Bishop Clemens Joseph Ray of Cochin submitted a detailed report to Pope Benedict XIV during a personal audience in Rome, which included a moving account of Devasahayam's death. This document was archived in the Roman Secret Archives.
In 1763, Bishop Joseph Kariyatil of the Syrian Catholic Church formally petitioned Pope Clement XIII to consider Devasahayam for sainthood. Later, in 1794, Paulinus, a Carmelite monk visiting Travancore on behalf of the Pope, forwarded further information to Pope Pius VI. Continuing this momentum, in 1896, Archbishop Selesky submitted a comprehensive report on Devasahayam’s martyrdom to Pope Leo XIII.
Reopening the Tomb and Renewed Advocacy
A major development came on April 16, 1913, when Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger of the Diocese of Kollam requested the opening of Devasahayam’s tomb at St. Xavier’s Cathedral, Kottar. His remains were discovered inside a casket, which was carefully reinterred in a new iron box.
Decades later, in 1946, Bishop Thomas Roach Anjiswamy of Kottar Diocese issued a heartfelt eulogy that highlighted Devasahayam’s heroic virtue and called for his canonization.
Formal Steps Toward Canonization
The modern phase of canonization began on November 28, 1984, when Bishop Arockia Swamy appointed Fr. Leon Dharmaraj to lead the cause. On January 5, 1985, a diocesan prayer for canonization was released, and January 14, the day of Devasahayam's martyrdom, was officially designated as Devasahayam Pillai Day.
Subsequently, on January 14, 1993, Fr. Gabriel was appointed as Deputy Petitioner. On December 3, 1993, Bishop Leon Dharmaraj formed a historic 13-member committee, which included priests and laypeople, to advance the cause.
On October 25, 2003, Bishop Dharmaraj submitted a formal petition to Cardinal Joseph Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, seeking to have Devasahayam declared a martyr. This was followed by an endorsement letter signed by 17 bishops from Tamil Nadu on November 10, 2003.
Official Recognition and Title “Servant of God”
On November 14, 2003, Fr. George Nedungatt, S.J., a professor of Oriental Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, was appointed as the Postulator. With approval from the Dicastery, Devasahayam was granted the title “Servant of God” on December 22, 2003.
Fr. Nedungatt visited the Diocese in July 2004, leading to the formation of a Historical Commission composed of Fr. J. Rosario Narchison (Convener), Fr. Elias John Kulandai (Secretary), and Mr. Varghese Antony to collect and verify supporting documents.
On July 3, 2006, the Diocesan Inquiry Committee was formally inaugurated at St. Xavier’s Cathedral. It concluded on September 7, 2008, with a solemn ceremony attended by multiple bishops and the Postulator. During this event, relics from Kollam were handed over to Kottar Diocese.
Submission to Rome and Beatification
On September 24, 2008, the official box of documents was presented to Cardinal Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Vatican Ambassador in India. On October 5, 2009, these documents were opened in Rome, leading to an 850-page report being submitted on June 26, 2011.
On February 7, 2012, the Dicastery’s theologians approved the reports, and by May 8, 2012, the bishops and cardinals recommended beatification.
Pope Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree of martyrdom on June 28, 2012, officially titling him “Venerable.” On December 2, 2012, Devasahayam was beatified during a grand ceremony at Nagercoil in Kottar Diocese, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Papal Delegate and Prefect of the Dicastery.
Over 400,000 faithful participated. Prominent Church leaders at the altar included Cardinals Oswald Gracias, Telesphore P. Toppo, George Alencherry, and Baselios Cleemis, along with Bishop Peter Remigius. That day, Pope Benedict XVI, in his Angelus message, praised Devasahayam's faith and example for the world.
Miracles and Final Approval
A miracle attributed to Devasahayam—the inexplicable healing of a fetus with severe abnormalities—was investigated rigorously. On February 14, 2016, medical reports and theological analyses confirmed its authenticity. On December 5, 2019, the Dicastery's theologians affirmed that this healing occurred through Devasahayam’s intercession.
In 2019, Bishop Nazarene Soosai of Kottar requested that the saint be referred to only by his baptized name, dropping the caste-based title "Pillai." This was approved.
On February 18, 2020, a Council of Bishops and Cardinals ratified his canonization. The final approval came on February 21, 2020, when Pope Francis set the canonization date.
A Saint for the World: Canonization
On May 15, 2022, in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, Pope Francis canonized Devasahayam Pillai, declaring him Saint Devasahayam, India’s first layman saint. This historic ceremony was attended by global pilgrims, Indian dignitaries, and Church representatives. It marked the culmination of centuries of devotion, uniting early believers who wept at Kattadimalai with today’s faithful who venerate him worldwide.
The canonization highlighted the universal call to holiness. Saint Devasahayam, a lay convert and martyr from 18th-century Travancore, now stands as a beacon of justice, courage, and fidelity to Christ.
A Legacy Sanctified
The canonization of Devasahayam was not a political gesture but a divine affirmation of a life offered for Christ. From the first appeals in 1752 to the formal recognition in 2022, his journey testifies to the Church’s discerning process and the enduring faith of the people.
Today, his feast on January 14 draws multitudes to Kottar and Aralvaimozhy, where his life and martyrdom inspire strength, unity, and deep spiritual commitment. As a layman, convert, and martyr, Saint Devasahayam shows us that holiness is possible for all, regardless of caste, status, or origin—a timeless saint for a global Church.
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