TESTIMONY 32

TESTIMONY 32

Name: Mariamma 

Surname: Pulleli 

Address: Kesarapally Village, Gannavaram, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh State 

Relationship: Direct Witness 

Date of Written Witness: 01-01-1968 – Interviewed by Fr. Avito Pottukulam OFM Cap. 

As far as I have understood, the Servant of God had great fortitude in facing dangerous situations. Once, in Avutapally, Brother Joseph Thamby was sitting in a Jeep. There was a snake under the Jeep. It bit him. He tried to kill the snake. But he could not do so. Then he chewed the leaves. The poison didn’t spread. It did not do any harm. He felt as though an ant bit him. He himself revealed this incident. 

I have witnessed that the Servant of God had many extraordinary gifts. He had the gift of multiplying food and giving to people who were in need. Once, a feast was celebrated in Avutapally. Some people came from Kesarapalli for the feast. Brother Joseph Thamby cooked Teegalu and gave to many people (one or two to every person). He cooked only a few. All the people praised him as he was miraculously giving to many people those few. Also he cooked (solid) half kilo rice. Nine members … (he heard other say); that rice could be enough to one or two persons only. But all the nine members ate it. He did it miraculously because such was his faith in God. This mater spread throughout Avutapally. 

I have also witnessed that Br. Joseph Thamby had stigmata and shedding blood. One Friday my mother was searching for me in Church compound. At the same time, Brother Joseph Thamby was coming from the Church. The doors of the Church were kept open. So my mother peeped through the door. My mother saw Joseph Thamby at the door. The blood was coming out from his side. I saw him wiping his face and hands with his towel. 

Bi-location was another extraordinary gift of Brother Joseph Thamby. Once father Showry happened to go Chikkavaram and Kondapagu by cycle. He went separately. As he was starting to go from Avutapally in the evening, Brother Joseph Thamby asked “To which village are you going father. I too will come.” Father said, “Chikkavaram.” As soon as he got down from the cycle in Chikkavaram, he saw Brother Joseph Thamby coming from the Church after prayers. Then father asked, “How did you come faster than me? I didn’t see any lorry or any cycle going before me.” When father came there Brother Joseph Thamby came out from the Church and wished him. Father said above incident to many. 

Ms. Mariamma Pulleli 

Dated: 1/1/1968