Between Faith and Power: The Construction of Saint Alphonsa in Bharananganam

Abstract

Christianity is a religion which conceives and celebrates saints. The process of
canonisation began to take a formal turn in the catholic church around the 10th
century. However, the veneration of saints dates back much earlier in the history
of Christianity. This research explores the intersection of prophecy, sacredness,
and institutional power in the canonisation of St. Alphonsa, India’s first
Indigenous saint. The paper examines how religious institutions construct
sainthood, legitimise supernatural claims, and shape devotion. A critical analysis
of the posthumous manufacturing of sainthood by drawing on Foucault’s theories
of subject, power, and objectification is conducted.