Apostle of the poor and radiant messenger of the love of God, Lawrence Puliyanath was born on August 8, 1898, from Mary and Peter in Mundamveli, the diocese of Cochin which is the cradle of Catholicism in Kerala, India. In the Pontifical Seminary of Kandy in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), he obtained his doctorate in both philosophy and theology and was ordained a priest on October 3, 1926.

He became the parish priest of St. Lawrence Church in Edakochi, one of the oldest places in South Kochi (formerly Cochin), India, whose population derived its livelihood mainly from fishing and other traditional labor. Poverty was rampant. The poorest children were unable to attend school and those who had the opportunity withdrew after about a year.

Msgr. Lawrence understood that reaching out to the poor was his mission. He lived an ordinary life with an extraordinary love for the poor and the oppressed, not only in his parish, but wherever he met them. He was firmly convinced that the greatest treasure of the Church was the poor and did everything he could for them, to such an extent that the people of Edakochi called Msgr. Lawrence Puliyanath "the priest in action." 

Msgr. Lawrence was a prophetic man, ahead of his time, so for the Indian church, especially for the diocese of Cochin, he was a forerunner of the conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate, which tried concretely to demonstrate the need for unity, love and peace between people of different religious faiths who were in conflict. He was a committed priest, an intelligent guide and a popular figure among the people. Even faithful from other religions experienced the love of Christ through Msgr. Lawrence and still bear witness to it today with the many people who pray by his tomb and participate in the Catholic liturgy even if they are not Catholic. His life and pastoral work generated unity and love between people of different classes and faiths and his mission was to find common ground based on dialogue and collaboration with the faithful of other religions. Pope Pius XII granted him the title of "Domestic Prelate" in March, 1951, honoring his selfless service to the Church and society. Msgr. Lawrence Puliyanath refused to be appointed bishop of the diocese of Cochin, choosing to serve mankind outside any official position. His strong and great faith in God was the inspiration which led him to make the right decisions in difficult times and be the respected counselor of bishops, priests, and the poor.  He was firmly opposed to any discrimination based on class, skin color, belief or culture and always gave the utmost attention to human dignity in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Msgr. Lawrence Puliyanath, firmly rooted in the faith, extended Jesus' love to every man he met and his revolutionary fervor for the education of the poor is still remembered by many who have experienced his love. In every circumstance, he overcame physical and spiritual problems by relying on God's providence, never straying from his love for Jesus and for the poor, even when he was ill, offering his suffering to God. Msgr. Lawrence left his earthly life on February 20, 1961, and his tomb in St. Lawrence Parish in Edakochi is still a pilgrimage destination for thousands of people today. Loving the unloved, especially the poor and the sick, was a hallmark of his ministry. Today, the parish has been transformed into a "Pilgrimage Center" and, as a tribute to Msgr. Lawrence Puliyanath, thousands of candles burn next to his tomb every hour of the day and night.