ATTACHAKKAL THE CRADLE OF HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE

Attachakal, a flourishing countryside of present day district of Pathanamthitta was a predominantly Christian area with a majority of Orthodox believers. The patron saint of the parish is Mar Philoxenos. The church, a beautiful edifice, stands in the center of the village. The young priest Fr. P.I. Mathews was cordially received by the then Vicar Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Pulimukhathu Attachakal was no strange station to Fr. Mathews.

Mr. K. K. Mathai Kochirethu who had long year’s co-operation with Dn. Mathews’ activities testifies: “A lean fair young man of a Deacon used to visit Mar Philoxenos church Attachakal during the passion weeks, stay there and lead prayers and deliver sermons. I was far young than deacon. I think it was in 1932 or 33that the young priest Mathews Velasseril came to Attachakal. There was no residential facility at Attachakal, so he stayed at Konnappara and used to come to Attachakal to say the holy mass on Sundays. In course of time the parishioners constructed a lean to the church building where the young priest was lodged. As there was a resident priest in the church we young boys spend evenings in the church learning songs and Bible and some Syriac lessons from him. He was a priest, a spiritual father, teacher and guardian to us. In these regards he commanded our respect. His life was simple and illustrious. He had only very meager income. The parishioner’s love served his needs in cash and kind. He was loved by the people of the place without prejudice of caste or creed, religion or denomination. As days and weeks, months and years passed, a new building in the form of a parsonage was built across the northern courtyard of the church. He moved to that building.

By that time his fame as a man of prayer spread far and wide. Many from different places, regardless of religion or creed approached him for help through prayer. He used to visit the sick. He consoled them with kind words, comforting prayers and where ever possible materially too. I have been fortunate to visit many houses with him. He was very punctual in saying canonical prayers, and even while traveling he prayed the obligatory ‘hours’ without fail. While traveling in a car, when the hour of prayer falls he would say “Let us pray” and lead. On odd occasions he practiced oral prayer over and above regular canonical prayers. He diligently said prayers of intercession for all he cultivated a habit of prayer in us children and even after many decades we practice it. I remember an incident of these days, a stay with a doctor’s family in Konny estate. During the day we used to go into the neighboring forest and say the canonical prayers, intercessions, and perform meditative exercises. This routine lasted till 1 ‘O’ clock in the afternoon. The doctor family served us with all facilities.

His sojourn to solitude was soon begun. His monastic life and habit of prayer attracted many towards him. He was desirous of propagating the Gospel among the gentiles. He visited the houses of the downtrodden, prayed, and spoke the Gospel message to them. By that time Rev. Fr. M. P. Pathrose Mookancheril from Mulanthuruthi visited Attachakkal and extended his missionary activities to there also. He sent young men of the order of the servants of the cross he founded, into the field opened by Rev. P.I. Mathews. The mission field of Attachakkal parish became training ground for the servants of cross. The result of the work was encouraging: many Harijan families were converted and baptized from Attachakkal, Nadukani, Thekkumala, and Kaithakunnu; and they became regular attendants in church activities. I still remember our visit to the forest areas with songs, prayers, and the words of our saviour upon our lips”.

The food production areas of the Second World War days, Thannithodu, Thekkuthodu, and Manneera etc. agriculture settlements in the midst of forests abounding in wild beasts. Those places lay to the east of Konny, kilometers away. To reach there people had to have recours to spoors as there were no reads and the government did not allow to cut any through forest.

Father Mathews was concerned about his brothers and sisters in the jungle and accepted their spiritual care as a challenge. He went o those places and established churches. He did pioneer work in consolidating stray immigrants from places far and near forming parishes and building churches. The good shepherd following the folk of his fold went through hazardous paths of wild animals. Even the spoors were over grown by shrubs, which had to be hewrn down to clear the way. The presence of wild elephants and other animals were not infrequent on the routs. We had to shout and make such wild cries to shoo them. I remember on one occasion the elephants after watering from the mountain stream were grazing in herds. They were driven by holding up the cross to their eyes. When the missionaries reach the valley and slopes their day ends. They are fed with course food. After prayes they are put to sleep upon tree top shelters into which they climb up by the help of makeshift laders. The Rev.Father once narrated a memorable incident. On one occasion he was going to the folk of his fold in the midst of the forests. They were miles away from their destination. They hastened their steps and on their harried move they met with a herd of elephants on their way. They were grazing after watering from the near by mountain stream. Father Mathews asked his friend to keep quiet. He prayed for a minute and raised the cross he wore on his chest towards the herd. The leader of the herd trumpetting ran into the forest, others following him. It was a dangerous point where they experienced “the vesry present” help of God. The difficult yet triumphal missionary journeys. Rev.Fr. P. I. Mathews conducted along the promontories and ravines of the mountain ranges have proved to be very inspiring to successive evangelists who laboured there. It is worth while to note that he had proved himself a physician to those who have been victims of various maladie in the wilds.