History of the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God, Thatipathri Gnanamma Inniah

The spirit of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah is blended with the life and ministries of the sisters even after a century. It was held high during the leadership of Rev. Mother Leema Rosario SSAM as the Superior General of the Congregation of St. Anne’s, Madras. Inspired by the holy and virtuous life of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah and in response to the demand of the sisters and of the laity who believed in her intercession the Superior General Rev. Mother Leema Rosario SSAM initiated the process of Canonization for Mother Gnanamma. A meeting was organised under her guidance at St. Anne’s Generalate, Madavaram on 30 September 2011 to discuss about the initiation of the Cause. The General Councillors, Provincials and the Regional Superiors participated in the meeting and they unanimously gave their consent to start the Canonization process for Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah.

A discussion was held with Rev. Mother Fatima Mary Boyapati, CSSA, the Superior General and the Provincials of the Sisters of St. Anne, Phirangipuram at St. Anne’s Generalate, Madavaram on 09 December 2011. Rev. Mother Leema Rosario SSAM, the Superior General of the Sisters of St. Anne, Madras explained to them the process of the cause and presented the expectations of the Congregation from the sisters of St. Anne, Phirangipuram to collaborate with the Sisters of St. Anne, Madras in the Canonization process of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah. The Superior General promised to help the Congregation of St. Anne, Madras in searching for the documents and books.

Rev. Mother Leema Rosario, SSAM, the Superior General of the Sisters of St. Anne, Madras presented a petition on 29 January 2013 to Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore after many years of persisting spontaneous demand from the Sisters of the Congregation and from the faithful of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore to begin the process of Canonization for Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah.

Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore replied favourably to the petition of Rev. Mother Leema Rosario, SSAM, the Superior General of the Sisters of St. Anne, Madras on 02 February 2013.

Rev. Mother Leema Rosario, SSAM, the Superior General of the Sisters of St. Anne, Madras nominated Rev. Fr. N. A. Charles Kumar as Postulator for the Cause of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah on 20 April 2013 and sent the letter of Nomination to the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.

Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore approved the appointment of Rev. Fr. N. A. Charles Kumar from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore as Postulator by the Superior General of SSAM for the Cause of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah on 03 May 2013 and entrusted him the ministry of undertaking all proceedings with regard to the proposed Cause.

Rev. Fr. N. A. Charles Kumar, Postulator for the cause nominated Rev. Sr. Agnes Catherine SSAM as Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah on 21 June 2013 and sent the letter of Nomination to the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.

Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore approved the appointment of Rev. Sr. Agnes Catherine, SSAM as Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah by the Postulator on 03 July 2013 and entrusted her the duty to collaborate with the Postulator in the ministry of undertaking all proceedings with regard to the proposed Cause.

Rev. Fr. N. A. Charles Kumar, the diocesan postulator, made a request to the the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore on 21 September 2013 to open a Diocesan Inquiry to examine the witnesses in order to discover the truth about the life and virtues, reputation of holiness of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah.

Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, the Bishop competent by the Norms of the Congregation, sent the petition to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 22 September 2013 requesting the Nihil Obstat with all the necessary enclosures.

The Archbishop having consulted with the Holy See and the Bishops of the Region of Tamilnadu made public the petition of the Postulator of the Cause of Mother Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah. He declared the Instruction of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah on 21 Oct 2013.

The Tamilnadu Latin Bishops Council which was held in June 2013 discussed on the request of the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore for Nihil Obstat for the Cause of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah. The Most Rev. Peter Remigius, the President of TNLBC, Bishop of Kottar gave the Nihil Obstat on behalf of the Regional Bishops of Tamilnadu on 09 November 2013.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued the Nihil Obstat to Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore on 21 January 2014 with the Prot. N. 3129 –1/13.

The Archbishop having accepted the petition of the Postulator considered his request and issued a Decree constituting a Diocesan Board of Inquiry on 13 August 2014. He appointed the following members in accordance with the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister of January 25, 1983 and issued a decree of appointment to them.

A decree was published by the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore to establish a Historical Commission on 13 August 2014 to collect the writings of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah and to make research on the life and mission of the Servant of God and gather the documentary sources. He appointed the following members for the Historical Commission:

• Rev. Dr. Leonard Nevis Fernando S.J. (Convenor)
• Rev. Fr. M. Arulraj (Secretary)
• Rev. Sr. Sahaya Mary SSAM (Member)

The Archbishop appointed the following priests as Theological Censors on 13 August 2014 to examine the writings of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah:

• Rev. Fr. G. A. Arulappan
• Rev. Dr. Raj Irudaya S.J.

The inaugural session of the Archdiocesan Inquiry for the Cause of Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah took place on 27 August 2014 at Archbishop’s House, Santhome. The Archbishop in accordance with the canonical provisions made to him and the authority conferred on him, formally constituted the Diocesan Board of Inquiry in order to undertake the formal inquiry of witnesses to the sanctity, virtuous life and mission of the Servant of God.

1. During the Opening Session the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, the Diocesan Postulator, the members of the Board of Inquiry and Historical Commission took their oath and began their ministry on 27 Aug 2014.

2. In the second year of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis, on 27 Aug 2014 at 11.00 a.m. His Grace Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, the Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore presided over the Opening Session of the said Archdiocesan Inquiry, held at Archbishop’s House, Santhome in which the following persons were present:

1. Rev. Fr. N. A. Charles Kumar – Diocesan Postulator

2. Rev. Fr. S. J. Anthonysamy – Episcopal Delegate

3. Rev. Fr. C. M. Joseph – Promotor of Justice Delegate

4. Rev. Fr. H. Joe Balasamy – Notary

5. Rev. Sr. Selva Pratheeba SSAM – Vice-Notary

6. Rev. Dr. Leonard Nevis Fernando S.J. – Convenor of the Historical Commission

7. Rev. Fr. M. Arulraj- Secretary of the Historical Commission

8. Rev. Sr. Sahaya Mary SSAM – Member of the Historical Commission

9. Smt. I. Annammal Arputhamary – Translator

10. Rev. Sr. Joyce Teresia SSAM – Copyist

11. Smt. M. R. Benedict Kumari – Copyist

3. The Sisters of St. Anne, Madras and the Sisters of St. Anne, Phirangipuram participated in large number during the inaugural session. The Archdiocesan priests and also other religious priests working in the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore participated in the first session and in the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration thereafter. There were also other religious sisters and brothers who took part in the celebration. The lay faithful from various parishes of the Archdiocese especially from Kilachery where the Servant of God served as a missionary, attended the inaugural session at Archbishop’s House, Santhome.

4. The Episcopal Delegate and the Promotor of Justice prepared a questionnaire on the life of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah to inquire the witnesses who knew about her. They prepared the questions focused on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God and her fame of sanctity. The questionnaire was prepared both in Tamil and in English and it was submitted to the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore on 27 Aug 2014.

5. The members of the Historical Commission having visited the parishes in Tamilnadu and in Andhra Pradesh collected the names and addresses of the witnesses who knew about the Servant of God and were inspired by her life of virtues and sanctity. They gathered the list of witnesses through interview who had received many favours through the intercessory prayer of the Servant of God. The list of witnesses was handed over to the Postulator by the members of the Historical Commission. All the relevant information about the witnesses were collected and submitted to the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore on 27 Aug 2014.

Rev. Fr. S. J. Anthonysamy, who was appointed on 13 August 2014 as the Episcopal Delegate for the Archdiocesan inquiry of the Beatification of the Servant of God Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah, passed away unexpectedly on 28 May 2021. Hence, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy appointed Rev. Fr. T. Anthony Raj as the Episcopal Delegate on 14 June 2021 to preside over the tribunal and conduct the inquiry.

The Archdiocesan inquiry was conducted after the commencement of the Archdiocesan Process officially. Eleven sessions were conducted by the Board of Inquiry in the Archbishop’s House, Santhome. Totally 31 witnesses gave their testimony on the life of virtues and fame of sanctity of the Servant of God.

1. Session on 24-01-2022 – 3 witnesses

2. Session on 25-01-2022 – 3 witnesses

3. Session on 26-01-2022 – 3 witnesses

4. Session on 31-01-2022 – 3 witnesses

5. Session on 01-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

6. Session on 03-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

7. Session on 07-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

8. Session on 08-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

9. Session on 09-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

10. Session on 11-02-2022 – 3 witnesses

11. Session on 14-03-2022 – 1 witness

The witnesses to the sanctity of the Servant of God are also residing in the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh apart from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore. Hence the Archbishop wrote to the Archbishop of Hyderabad on 01 February 2022 and obtained his permission to conduct the inquiry of the witnesses in Hyderabad.

The Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore sent a letter on 07 February 2022 to the Bishop of Guntur for permission to conduct the inquiry in Guntur for the witnesses living in Phirangipuram.

Permission from the Archbishop of Hyderabad on the request of the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, Most Rev. Dr. Poola Antony, Archbishop of Hyderabad sent a reply on 10 Feb 2022. He gave permission to conduct the inquiry of the witnesses in the Archbishop’s House, Hyderabad

Most Rev. Ch. Bhagyaiah, Bishop of Guntur wrote to the Archbishop of Madras – Mylapore on 15 February 2022 granting permission to conduct the inquiry of the witnesses in the diocese of Guntur.

Having obtained the proper permission from the Archbishop of Hyderabad the inquiry of the witnesses was conducted in the Archbishop’s House, Hyderabad. The inquiry in Hyderabad consisted two sessions and 4 witnesses gave their testimony on the life of virtues and fame of sanctity of the Servant of God.

The Board of Inquiry conducted the investigation on 23 February 2022 for the witnesses who are residing in Phirangipuram, Guntur and registered their testimony.

Rev. Fr. Leonard Nevis Fernando S.J., Convenor of Historical Commission informed the Archbishop about the absence of the writings of the Servant of God on 06 June 2022 he requested him to declare by a decree the absence of the writings of the Servant of God, Gnanamma.

Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore having accepted the request of the Convenor of Historical Commission for the declaration of the absence of the published and unpublished writings of the Servant of God.

The documentary process was completed and the reports were prepared for the closing session on 22 July 2022.

1. Petitioner: His Grace Most Rev Dr. George Antonyswamy, Archbishop of Madras-Myapore

2. Relatore: Very Rev. Mgr. Paul Pallath – Roman Dicastry for Cause of Saints

3. Roman Postulator: His Excellency Rev. Dr. Leo Michael Arokiaraj, Roman Rota

4. External Collaborator: Rev. Sister Dr. Leema Rosario – SSAM

5. Administrator: Rev. Fr. Dr. H Joe Balasamy

Positio

Submission of chapters on the Servant of God.