Maria Theresa Chiramel
| Blessed Maria Theresa Mankdiyan Chiramel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 26, 1876 Puthenchira, Thrissur District, Kerala, India |
| Died |
June 8, 1926 Kuzhikattussery, Thrissur district |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | April 9, 2000 by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | June 8 |
Blessed Maria Theresa Mankidiyan (April 26, 1876 - June 8, 1926) is the fourth Syro-Malabar Catholic Church nun from Indian state of Kerala in Thrissur, beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000. She is the founder of the Holy Family Congregation.
Early life
Maria was born in Puthenchira in Thrissur district on April 26, 1876 as the third child of Thoma and Thanda Chiramel Mankidiyan. She was baptized as Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan on May 3, 1876. When she was 12 her mother died. This marked the end of her elementary school education and dedicated herself to prayer in her church.[1][2]
As nun
In 1903 she requested Mar John Menachery, Archbishop of Thrissur to build a house of prayer and retreat but it was turned down. Maria served several religious congregations and in 1913, she set up a prayer house at Puthenchira and in the next year she founded her Holy Family Congregation on May 14, 1914. During her life as a nun, she had mystical experiences such as receiving the stigmata and was also often tormented by diabolical attacks.[3] She died at Kuzhikattussery, Thrissur district on June 8, 1926.[4]
Canonization process
She was declared Servant of God on October 5, 1973; declared Venerable on June 28, 1999 by Pope John Paul II and was beatified on April 9, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Her feast day is on June 8.[5][6]
References
- ↑ "On the Way to Sainthood". Sathyadeepam. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
- ↑ "Blessed Maria Theresa Chiramel". Churches in India. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
- ↑ "Blessed Maria Theresa Chiramel". Missionaries of the World. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ↑ http://mariamthresia.org/?p=252
- ↑ "The four others Blessed from India". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
- ↑ "Mother Teresa is 5th beatified candidate from India". Rediff. Retrieved 2012-05-31.