Sister Mariam Thresia Conferred With Sainthood By Pope Francis

Kerala Nun Mariam Thresia was declared a saint by Pope Francis in the canonisation ceremony held at the Vatican City, Rome, this Sunday. She is the fourth person from Kerala to have been elevated to sainthood. Back in the year 2000, she was declared 'blessed' by Pope John Paul II. Along with Sister Thresia, English Cardinal John Henry Newman, Swiss laywoman Marguerite Bays, Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes, and Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini, were also conferred with sainthood by the Pope, according to The News Minute. 

Sister Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan is the fourth person from Kerala to have been elevated to sainthood.

Key Takeaways:

• Sister Mariam Thresia was declared as a saint by Pope Francis this Sunday.
• She is the fourth person from Kerala to have been elevated to sainthood.
• English Cardinal John Henry Newman, Swiss laywoman Marguerite Bays, Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes, and Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini, were also conferred with sainthood in the same ceremony.
• Sister Thresia was declared to be 'blessed' in the year 2000, by Pope John Paul II.

Founder Of The Congregation Of The Holy Family

Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan founded the Congregation Of The Holy Family in 1914 "with the determination of imparting Christian values to the families." On May 13, 1914, Rev Dr. John Menachery, Bishop of Trichur visited Mariam Thresia’s hermitage. The Bishop was satisfied with the four inmates of the hermitage and their ways of life. In consultation with Father Joseph Vithayathil, the Bishop decided to convert the Ekanta Bhavan to a new congregation of the Holy Family. On May 14, 1914, in the presence of Fr Joseph Vithayathil, many other priests and parishioners gathered at Puthenchira. Bishop John Menachery proclaimed officially the establishment of the Congregation of Holy Family (CHF). The Bishop appointed Sister Mariam Thresia as the Mother Superior of the new congregation and nominated Father Vithayathil as a chaplain.

Mariam Thresia was born in Puthenchira, which is a remote village in Kerala. She worked with families affected by alcoholism and domestic violence. The focus of her work was mainly poor families.

Worked with families affected by drinking, immortality, and violence

Sister Mariam Thresia was born in Puthenchira, a remote village in Kerala. She grew up in a poor family and worked with families affected by alcoholism and domestic violence. She was a social reformer. who worked at a time when women were not allowed to go out of their homes. She began social work at age 16 by working for patients affected by herpes. She became a nun at the age of 38. Mother Thresia took care of the poor and needy but she had to face a lot of objections by society. In the beginning, numerous people did not agree with her ideas, but Mother Thresia remained persistent in her approach towards her work. The focus of her work was mainly poor families. She passed away at the age of 50, on June 8, 1926 and was beatified on 9 April 2000.

Picture Credit-  Saint of The Day

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