Saint Mariam Thresia:

Feast day : 08 June

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan who lived in Kerala, India during the period 1876-1926. She was the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family (CHF) and was blessed with several mystical gifts including the stigmata. From a very young age of 8 years she had a keen desire to please God and often observed severe fasts and penances. She often meditated on the sufferings of Christ and longed to suffer like Him. She offered all her sufferings for the remission of sins of the world. Her life was devoted to serving the poor families, visiting the sick and praying for the needy. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000 and canonized by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019.

Early life:

Saint Mariam Thresia was born in Puthenchira, Kerala on April 26, 1876 into a rich and noble family that later fell into hard times. She grew up in piety and holiness under the loving guidance of her mother who was a devoted Catholic. From an early age she had a keen desire to please God and observed extensive fasts and penances. Her mother often tried to dissuade her from it but she continued a life in prayer and penances from as early as when she was 8 years old. She made a private vow of chastity in 1886. After her mother’s death in 1888, she discontinued her studies and dedicated herself fully into contemplative prayer in her local parish church. She wanted to leave home and live a life of penance in the hills but later abandoned the plan. She was blessed with several mystical gifts such as gift of prophecy, healing, an aura of light, sweet odour and frequent ecstasies and levitation. She longed to suffer like Jesus and offered all her sufferings for the remission of sins of the world. Our Lord blessed her desire to suffer like Him and she received the stigmata. She was also often tormented by the devil but endured the sufferings. During the period 1902 to 1905 she was subjected to several exorcisms by Venerable Joseph Vithayathil who became her spiritual director until her death. She also had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, wherein Our Lady asked her to add the name ‘Mariam’ to her name and accordingly she took the name ‘Mariam Thresia’.

Religious life & death:

In 1903 she requested Mar John Menachery, Archbishop of Thrissur to build a house of retreat but it was not approved. He instead suggested that she join a religious congregation and encouraged her to join the new Congregation of the Franciscan Clarists but she did not feel called to it. Later she accepted to join the Carmelites at Ollur and for almost a year continued in it. Later she felt she was not drawn to any of the Orders and set up a house at Puthenchira where she continued to serve the poor, sick and needy in society. She was accompanied by three companions who joined her mission of prayer, penance and service to the poor. This small group later became the Congregation of the Holy Family on 14 May 1914 in which she was professed in and vested in its habit. She became the first Superior of the Order.

Death & Sainthood:

In 1926, a falling object struck her on the leg and owing to her diabetes, the wound festered and developed complications which led to her death on June 8, 1926 at the age of 50 years. Her final words were: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph; I give you my heart and my soul" – she then closed her eyes and died. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000 and canonized by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019.