A Living Saint

Death and Burial

Mother Mariam Thresia was very peaceful and calm at the moment of her death in spite of intense pain. This was generally attributed to be the fruit of her holiness. One of the written testimonies says, “She was suffering intense pain with exquisite calmness and extraordinary gentleness exhibiting no sign of impatience or dislike.” Sr.Susana recalls:

I knelt at the head side of the Mother and praying and watching carefully her death. Fr.Vithayathil, her spiritual father, was reciting ejaculations for her. Suddenly she raised her head, as if she was getting up. The spiritual father was reciting held her head and slowly laid it down. He recited the prayer “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.” She repeated it and closed her eyes forever.

It was a night of tears and sobs. Some of the sisters could not sleep. But the following morning the convent garden was all smiles. All the jasmines had blossomed together, I saw it with my own eyes”, said Sr. Susana (95 years old) on the occasion of Mother’s beatification, recalling the bright morning after the dark night. A jasmine wreath was placed on the head of the Mother lying in state in a wooden coffin. A twig from that wreath, bearing a leaf, a flower and a bud, would smile again from the grave fifty five years later during the canonical exhumation of the tomb of Blessed Mariam Thresia.

It is customary to wash a dead person’s body before it is laid in state for the dear ones and well wishers to pay their last respects and kiss it. However the following her strict instructions, Mother Mariam Thresia’s body was not washed. Why did Mother enjoin on her daughters this order? They believe that she wanted to hide from them her stigmatic wound at the side of the heart, a secret she had always tried to guard jealously and was only rarely betrayed during her ecstasy.

The next day, 9th June 1926, amidst great mourning and weeping of the Sisters and a large gathering of lay people, the funeral was conducted in a simple manner. Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Edakkulathoor, the Vicar General of Trichur Diocese, officiated at the funeral ceremonies. Fr.Joseph Kayalakam delivered the homily. Mrs. Teresa Varkey, one of those who were present at the function, has preserved an interesting detail from the homily, in which the preacher prophetically compared Mother Mariam Thresia with another Thresia, St. Teresa of Lisieux. The priest who gave the panegyric said, “Though the funeral is conducted in a simple manner, the time will come when another saint like the ‘Little Flower’ will rise up from this tomb”.

Witness 12, a laywoman, testifies to the tokens of popular veneration at the funeral of Mother Mariam Thresia. The people felt that they were taking part in the funeral of a saint.

All of us took out our rosaries and other religious articles and brought them in contact with the body of the Servant of God. The people, who had come for the funeral, also did the same…The general public considered her death to be that of a saint. People came in great numbers, especially from places like Thuravoor, her mother’s native place, drawn by the fame of her sanctity. I remember that they were anxious t obtain something used by her. Fr.Vithayathil then told them that he had kept everything with him and he would give them in due time.

A bystander recalls: “A group photo of all the members of the Congregation was taken and a single photo of the beloved mother was also taken on that day”. Father Joseph Vithayathil wrote in a poetic vein, “That perpetual lamp died out immersing all in an ocean of gloom.” The sun had set.

Sacraments of The Sick

Mariam Thresia stayed in the diocesan building at Chalakudy because the medical officer of the Government Hospital, Chalakudy, wanted her to reside nearby, so that he could inspect and attend on her seeing that she had a very serious festering wound on her leg.

Though she was treated carefully, her condition worsened and the case was declared fatal. Fr.Joseph Vithayathil gave her the sacraments of the sick and the viaticum of Holy church on June 7, 1926. Then she was taken back to the convent of Kuzhikkattussery in a bullock cart. The sisters and boarders of the convents of Thumboor and Trichur came and joined those of Kuzhikkattussery and assembled around her. Sorrow filled their hearts and tears welled up in their eyes. Sr. Gemma states: “Even in such acute sufferings and pains she did not forget to console me for the sad demise of my mother on May 26, of the same year.” She forgot her own woes seeing those of others.

Prediction of death

Mother Mariam Thresia somehow knew that her death was imminent and told so to some sisters. Sr.Metilda, one of the junior sisters, wrote in her testimony:

While I was in Thumboor Convent, after the blessing of the convent one day Mother called me also when she went to the compound and showed me how to cultivate the vegetables. There was swelling on her leg. While we were returning from the compound, mother told me, “I shall not live long. This sickness of my leg is sent by God in order to take me from you.” I asked Mother, “Why do you say so? Because of this wound on your leg you will not die.” Then Mother said, “Not that I shall not live long, I will be gone soon. Don’t think that you are still young, but learn everything and do every thing well.” Hearing this I stayed behind and started to cry. Then Mother looked back at me and seeing that I was crying she held me close to her and tried to comfort me.

Sr.Kochuthresia, her niece also recalls that Mother had foretold her death: “Rev.Mother knew that her death was very near.”

Last illness

Two or three days after the blessing of the convent of Thumboor Mother Mariam Thresia returned to the convent at Kuzhikkattussery. As the days passed the wound on her leg became inflamed and it caused her acute pain. It was felt that a surgery was necessary. A doctor was called from the hospital at Chalakudy. After examining her, he wanted her to be moved to the hospital. But she told her spiritual father that it would be of no avail. However, it was decided to follow the medical advice that she should be taken to the hospital. A bullock cart was arranged for the journey as automobiles were a rarity in those parts. Father George Chirapanath was a schoolboy then and was on the scene. He narrates in a written account:

Our teacher had communicated the news of her illness to us. The pupils were all anxious to see her. After a few days the illness was reported to be very serious. So the pupils were given permission to see her while she was leaving for the hospital at Chalakudy. The bullock cart in which she was taken was ready and it was brought close to the door of the convent. I remember seeing the Mother dragging herself to the bullock cart with great effort. We got the impression that she was suffering intense pain. We were so attached to the mother that we are all felt grieved to see her in such severe pain.

The patient was given an injection. Before the operation the doctor noted that the inflammation on the leg spread upwards. Her condition was further complicated by diabetics. She suffered unbearable pain with much patience and serenity. Fr.George Chiramel, who was the assistant parish priest of Chalakudy, submitted the following in a written account: “I had the happiness of giving Holy Communion to her (when she was in Chalakudy). She was suffering intense pain with exquisite calmness and extraordinary gentleness, showing no sign of impatience or dislike. It would seem that she was fully resigned to God in her suffering”.

Sacrament of the sick

Mariam Thresia stayed in the diocesan building at Chalakudy because the medical officer of the Government Hospital, Chalakudy, wanted her to reside nearby, so that he could inspect and attend on her seeing that she had a very serious festering wound on her leg.

Though she was treated carefully, her condition worsened and the case was declared fatal. Fr.Joseph Vithayathil gave her the sacraments of the sick and the viaticum of Holy church on June 7, 1926. Then she was taken back to the convent of Kuzhikkattussery in a bullock cart. The sisters and boarders of the convents of Thumboor and Trichur came and joined those of Kuzhikkattussery and assembled around her. Sorrow filled their hearts and tears welled up in their eyes. Sr. Gemma states: “Even in such acute sufferings and pains she did not forget to console me for the sad demise of my mother on May 26, of the same year.” She forgot her own woes seeing those of others.

Last words

The Mother called the sisters to her and spoke to them words of comfort and advice: “My beloved children, why are your hearts troubled like people of little faith? You know just like me that I shall not be relived for this illness. If it is the will of the heavenly Bridegroom that I leave you very soon in answer to his invitation. Let it be fulfilled. Our congregation is still an infant. You should not forget that it is your personal responsibility as members of this congregation to foster and rear it. Deal with the superiors sincerely and lovingly. Love one another, help one another”

On the morning of June 8, 1926 she was still conscious and gave her blessing to everybody around her. As the day advanced, her condition worsened and became more and more critical. At her own request, she was laid on the floor on a mat, while her spiritual father and sisters knelt down and prayed for her. She kept repeating the ejaculatory prayer “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I entrust my heart and my body into your loving hands.” The soul left for the heavenly abode at 10 pm in the presence of her Spiritual Father.

Death and Burial

Mother Mariam Thresia was very peaceful and calm at the moment of her death in spite of intense pain. This was generally attributed to be the fruit of her holiness. One of the written testimonies says, “She was suffering intense pain with exquisite calmness and extraordinary gentleness exhibiting no sign of impatience or dislike.” Sr.Susana recalls:

I knelt at the head side of the Mother and praying and watching carefully her death. Fr.Vithayathil, her spiritual father, was reciting ejaculations for her. Suddenly she raised her head, as if she was getting up. The spiritual father was reciting held her head and slowly laid it down. He recited the prayer “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.” She repeated it and closed her eyes forever.

It was a night of tears and sobs. Some of the sisters could not sleep. But the following morning the convent garden was all smiles. All the jasmines had blossomed together, I saw it with my own eyes”, said Sr. Susana (95 years old) on the occasion of Mother’s beatification, recalling the bright morning after the dark night. A jasmine wreath was placed on the head of the Mother lying in state in a wooden coffin. A twig from that wreath, bearing a leaf, a flower and a bud, would smile again from the grave fifty five years later during the canonical exhumation of the tomb of Blessed Mariam Thresia.

It is customary to wash a dead person’s body before it is laid in state for the dear ones and well wishers to pay their last respects and kiss it. However the following her strict instructions, Mother Mariam Thresia’s body was not washed. Why did Mother enjoin on her daughters this order? They believe that she wanted to hide from them her stigmatic wound at the side of the heart, a secret she had always tried to guard jealously and was only rarely betrayed during her ecstasy.

The next day, 9th June 1926, amidst great mourning and weeping of the Sisters and a large gathering of lay people, the funeral was conducted in a simple manner. Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Edakkulathoor, the Vicar General of Trichur Diocese, officiated at the funeral ceremonies. Fr.Joseph Kayalakam delivered the homily. Mrs. Teresa Varkey, one of those who were present at the function, has preserved an interesting detail from the homily, in which the preacher prophetically compared Mother Mariam Thresia with another Thresia, St. Teresa of Lisieux. The priest who gave the panegyric said, “Though the funeral is conducted in a simple manner, the time will come when another saint like the ‘Little Flower’ will rise up from this tomb”.

Witness 12, a laywoman, testifies to the tokens of popular veneration at the funeral of Mother Mariam Thresia. The people felt that they were taking part in the funeral of a saint.

All of us took out our rosaries and other religious articles and brought them in contact with the body of the Servant of God. The people, who had come for the funeral, also did the same…The general public considered her death to be that of a saint. People came in great numbers, especially from places like Thuravoor, her mother’s native place, drawn by the fame of her sanctity. I remember that they were anxious t obtain something used by her. Fr.Vithayathil then told them that he had kept everything with him and he would give them in due time.

A bystander recalls: “A group photo of all the members of the Congregation was taken and a single photo of the beloved mother was also taken on that day”. Father Joseph Vithayathil wrote in a poetic vein, “That perpetual lamp died out immersing all in an ocean of gloom.” The sun had set.