Fifteen years after the martyrdom of the religious, murdered
for her commitment to the poor and for her Christian faith, the priest who
oversaw the diocesan investigation tells AsiaNews life about her life and her
work. The conversion of her murderer, a Hindu farmer, due to her intercession.
Udaya Nagar (AsiaNews) - Sister Rani Maria, who, fifteen years ago became a
martyr for the faith that led her to always help the poorest of the poor,
"encourages us to move forward. Her example of life and death are a stimulus
for us who are still her today, we have a powerful intercessor before the
Lord".
This is what Fr Cherian, spokesman for the Diocese of Indore
and director of the local society for social services who accompanied the
religious in her humanitarian work and who oversaw the collection of documents
for her beatification, tells AsiaNews. The diocesan inquiry on the life and
works of the religious was completed two years ago. The results are now been
studied by the Vatican.
The priest today presents his testimony on the life of the religious. Sister
Rani Maria While working for the people and for the Lord-she sacrificed her
life. Like Jesus, she died on the Cross -while she was faithfully and
selflessly carrying her work among the people among the people. Sr Rani
Maria’s life and her death has become an inspiration and hope for us- to
continue to do good, to work and serve the people even at the cost of ones
life- to be another Christ and this has brought graces for us.
The priests of Indore Diocese have a powerful intercessor
and this year is a grace filled year as it is the Year for priests. While
I was deeply pained by her murder, we are sure Sr Rani Maria is alive in
heaven, interceding for us to continue working to establish the Kingdom of
justice, peace and truth. Throughout her life, Sister Rani Maria worked
tirelessly to help the villagers - mostly poor tribal - to establish self-help
groups by obtaining financial credit and other forms of economic support. She
made sure that they were granted to the villages in order to improve the
welfare and earning potential. She worked tirelessly to help this often
oppressed sector of society.
At the same time, she always ensured that these movements
were popular in nature, without external influences: she preferred to act as a
catalyst of humble people. In this she strengthened the panchayats (village
councils) urging them to consider and be aware of their rights and their
responsibilities, providing assistance through planned and systematic
development programs. In December 1994, in the run up to the village council
elections, a fight broke out between Catholic tribal families( Barela
sub-caste) and a right wing candidate. Police arrested some of the Catholics
and Sr. Rani hired a lawyer and had them released. This created a lot of
hostility and a false impression that Sr Rani Maria was instigating people
against them.
Left to themselves, the tribal would not be so emboldened as
to stand up to any pressure from a powerful political force or even engage the
services of a lawyer to fight their legal battle. On February 25, 1995, a
farmer was who was hired to kill Sr Rani Maria, entered the bus in which Sr
Rani Maria was traveling, and stabbed Sr. Rani her repeatedly. The bus stopped,
and the people left out of fear.
Then, he dragged Sr. Rani outside the bus and continued
stabbing her until she died. After serving a ten year prison term this man was
released and now this man is undergoing a complete transformation of heart, he
expresses deep sorrow and remorse for his deeds and proclaims on public
platforms Christ and His forgiveness, and he owes his conversion of heart to Sr
Rani Maria.
Sr Rani Maria continues to help us, and especially in moments of crises, her life and also her death are an encouragement to us to persevere. I know, left to ourselves, we are not strong, but we are given Strength and heavenly blessings by the Lord, by her constant intercession.