We invite you to discover Venerable Augustine John Ukken through his words, which beckon us to place love at the very heart of our lives.

Augustine John Ukken (1880–1956), Syro-Malabar Indian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, was a radiant witness of God’s mercy. Born in Parappur, Kerala, he was orphaned at the age of six, an experience he transformed into total trust in God as Father and Mary as Mother. After formation at the Papal Seminary in Kandy, he was ordained in 1907 and devoted his life to the poor, especially in Chowannur, where he became a father to orphans, a comforter of the sick, and a friend of exploited farmers. His spirituality centered on the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart, and humble self-giving. His constant motto was: “To love is your duty; let no one surpass you in loving.” In 1944 he founded the Sisters of Charity to continue his charism of merciful service. Both mystical and active, he was contemplative before the tabernacle and tireless in action, accepting trials as a way of sharing in Christ’s passion. He died in Chowannur in 1956, leaving behind a legacy of limitless love and unwavering trust in divine providence.

Text of Augustine John Ukken:

[The leper] is not ashamed to show his leprosy to Jesus and to all those who were with him. He acknowledges Jesus’ divinity by prostrating himself before him. He believes he is able to effect the cure! Do I acknowledge my leprosy, my internal corruption and believe in the power of Jesus? Mother of hope and fair love, incline to me and teach me and instruct me in all!” The letper believed that the God who created him has complete power over him  … He was completely God’s own.

—Augustine John Ukken, Lights from Heaven, November 7, 1904.

Commentary:

In reflecting on the healing of the leper—Matthew 8—, Augustine John Ukken uncovers a truth that reaches to the core of Christian discipleship: only when we acknowledge our wounds can Christ heal us. The leper in the Gospel did not hide his disease. He showed it openly to Jesus and to those around him. His vulnerability became the channel of grace.

Augustine writes: “He is not ashamed to show his leprosy to Jesus.” In the culture of his time, leprosy was not only a physical illness but a social stigma. Lepers were excluded, avoided, and treated as unclean. To step forward and display this condition was an act of courage and faith. Augustine interprets this as a model for us: do we acknowledge our own “internal corruption,” our sins, our wounds? Or do we hide them, fearing shame?

In the Vincentian tradition, we are called to recognize Christ in the poor, the sick, the marginalized—and also to recognize our own poverty before God. St. Vincent de Paul often reminded his followers that humility begins with truth: to see ourselves as we are, without illusion. Augustine echoes this, urging us to bring our sins honestly to Christ.

The leper’s faith is not passive. He prostrates himself before Jesus, acknowledging his divinity. He believes that Jesus can cure him. This faith is both humble and confident—childlike trust that the one who created us has power to heal us. Augustine asks himself and us: “Do I acknowledge my leprosy, my internal corruption, and believe in the power of Jesus?”

This question pierces through self-deception. To believe in Christ’s power means to stop relying on our own strength. It means surrendering to God’s love as ointment for our wounds. Augustine adds a Marian dimension: “Mother of hope and fair love, incline to me and teach me and instruct me in all!” He sees Mary as the mother who teaches us how to bring our wounds to Christ without fear.

At the conclusion, Augustine affirms total surrender: God, who created him, has full power over him. “Let God use him in whatever way He wanted. He was completely God’s own.” This radical trust defines his life. As an orphan, a priest, a founder, Augustine lived convinced that his life was not his own but belonged entirely to God.

For us in the Vincentian Family, this text is a profound invitation. Mission begins with humility: acknowledging our leprosy. Only then can we authentically accompany others in their wounds. The poor teach us honesty, vulnerability, and courage. Like the leper, like Augustine, we too are called to kneel before Christ and believe: he is able to cure.

In a world that prizes appearances, Augustine shows us a countercultural path: do not hide your wounds. Bring them into the light of Christ’s mercy. There, shame is transformed into healing, and weakness becomes strength.

Suggestions for personal reflection and group discussion:

1. Do I have the courage to show my “leprosy”—my sins and wounds—before Christ without shame?
2. Do I trust in Christ’s power to cure me, or do I still rely mainly on my own efforts?
3. How can Mary, “Mother of hope and fair love,” guide me in bringing my wounds to Jesus?
4. What does it mean for me, in my daily life, to be “completely God’s own”?

Let us pray:

Lord, here are my wounds,
I no longer wish to hide them.
You know my weakness,
and only in your presence
can my shame be turned into trust.

Teach me to kneel before you,
to recognize you as my only Lord,
to believe that your power can heal
what in me seems beyond repair.

Let my scars become a channel of grace,
my poverty a doorway to your love,
and my whole life wholly yours,
offered without reserve to your heart.

Amen.