Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (19 August 1910 – 28 July 1946), born as Anna Muttathupadathu, was an Indian Catholic nun and educator.

Hagiographies recount her childhood as being difficult, characterized by the strict discipline of her aunt and foster mother, as well as teasing from her schoolmates.

After completing the initial cycle of schooling in 1920, she was transferred to Muttuchira, where she lived with her aunt Anna Murickan, as her mother had requested before her death.

Raised in the prominent Murickan family, Alphonsa was exposed to stories of saints, prayers, and Christian songs by her grandmother.

[2] This conviction was reportedly reinforced by a vision of Thérèse of Lisieux, a figure whom Alphonsa admired and considered a role model, and who she believed foretold her future sainthood.

[1] On August 2, 1928, she received the postulant's veil and took the name Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of Alphonsus Liguori, whose feast day fell on that date.

She briefly taught at St. Alphonsa Girl's High School, but her poor health often prevented her from fulfilling her duties.

[8][7] In December 1936, it was claimed that she recovered from her ailments due to the intercession of Kuriakose Elias Chavara, though she continued to experience health issues.

On October 18, 1940, an intruder entered her room at night, causing her to experience shock and temporary amnesia, which worsened her condition.

He expressed hope rather than sorrow, suggesting that Alphonsa was now an intercessor in heaven, and speculated that her grave might become a site of pilgrimage.

On 2 December 1953, Cardinal Eugène Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared a Servant of God.

In 1985, Pope John Paul II formally approved a miracle attributed to her intercession and on 9 July she became "Venerable Sister Alphonsa".

[13] Alphonsa was beatified along with Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kottayam, on 8 February 1986 by Pope John Paul II during his apostolic pilgrimage to India.

... She wrote to her spiritual director: "Dear Father, as my good Lord Jesus loves me so very much, I sincerely desire to remain on this sick bed and suffer not only this, but anything else besides, even to the end of the world.

Bishop Sebastian reported: About ten years ago, when I was in a small village in Wayanad outside Manatavady, I saw a boy walking with some difficulty, using a stick.

Among them was a 10-year-old Kerala boy Jinil Joseph whose clubfoot – a birth defect – was, in the judgment of Vatican officials, miraculously healed after prayers to Alphonsa in 1999.

Celia was accompanied by Vice Postulator Francis Vadakkel and former Kerala minister K. M. Mani, all holding lit candles.

This exceptional woman ... was convinced that her cross was the very means of reaching the heavenly banquet prepared for her by the Father, , By accepting the invitation to the wedding feast, and by adorning herself with the garment of God's grace through prayer and penance, she conformed her life to Christ's and now delights in the "rich fare and choice wines" of the heavenly kingdom.

"(Her) heroic virtues of patience, fortitude and perseverance in the midst of deep suffering remind us that God always provides the strength we need to overcome every trial," the pope stated before the ceremony ended.

[17] The grave at St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam where the Franciscan Clarist Sister was buried had a chapel built there, which houses her mortal remains.

Novena on the name of Saint Alphonsa is being conducted here on every Friday evening[18] Thousands of people converge on the small town of Bharananganam when they celebrate the feast of Saint Alphonsa from 19 to 28 July each year; her tomb has been designated as a pilgrimage site with numerous miracles being reported by pious devotees.

[18] In 2008, Sibi Yogiaveedan directed a documentary series about Alphonsa, titled Vishudha Alphonsama: The Passion Flower, for Shalom TV.