Pope declares Sister Mariam Thresia as saint

Vatican City: Pope Francis on Sunday elevated late Indian nun Mariam Thresia and four others to sainthood at a grand ceremony at the Vatican City.

Mariam Thresia, who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family (CHF), was raised to the glory of the altar during a solemn Eucharistic Celebration held at St Peter's Square in the the papal enclave within Rome.

The nun from Kerala was canonised along with English Cardinal John Henry Newman, Swiss laywoman Marguerite Bays, Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes and Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini.

Mariam Thresia is the fourth person from Kerala to be canonised after Sister Alphonsa, Sister Euphrasia and Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan led the Indian delegation to the ceremony.

Early life

In the first half of her life Saint Mariam Thresia was called simply Thresia, the name given to her at baptism on May 3, 1876. Since 1904, she wanted to be called Mariam Thresia as she believed that she was asked to add "Mariam" to her name by the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision.

And it was as Mariam Thresia that she was professed in 1914 and became the foundress and first member of the Congregation of the Holy Family.

Recognition by Church

The Church had declared her as one of the rare holy persons who moved constantly and consciously among the inhabitants of this world as well as with visitors from the world above and below. "In imitation of Jesus, she helped the poor, nursed the sick, visited and comforted the lonely people of her parish. She was also blessed with the stigmata but kept it secret to avoid attention.

She received several mystical gifts like prophecy, healing, an aura of light, sweet odour and frequently had ecstasies and levitations.
Her entire existence was tormented by demons and she offered her sufferings for the remission of the sins of the world," the Vatican News said.

Sister Thresia died on June 8, 1926 at the age of 50 and was declared Blessed by Pope Saint John Paul II on April 9, 2000.

On February 12, Pope Francis had authorised a decree recognising a miracle through her intercession, which cleared her for sainthood, and on July 1, the Pope decided on October 13, as the canonization day.

In his 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme on September 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to Sister Mariam Thresia.

Referring to Sister Thresia, Modi had said it is a matter of pride for every Indian that, on the coming October 13, Pope Francis will declare her a saint. "Sister Thresia, in her short lifespan of 50 years, worked for the good of humanity becoming a noble example for the entire world.

Whatever task Sister Mariam Thresia undertook and accomplished, she did so with utmost dedication and devotion," Modi had said.

She rendered service in the fields of education and social service and has built many schools, hostels and orphanages, he had pointed out.

(With PTI inputs)