അനുദിന വിശുദ്ധർ (Saint of the Day) June 8th – St. Medard & Bl. Mariam Thresia Chiramel

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അനുദിന വിശുദ്ധർ (Saint of the Day) June 8th – St. Medard & St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel

St. Medard
St. Medard , Bishop, born in Salency, Picardy, he was ordained at thirty three, attained fame as a preacher and missioner, and became bishop of Vermandois in 530. Feast day June 8

St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel
Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan was born in Puthenchira in the Thrissur district, Kerala on 26 April 1876 as the third of five children of Thoma and Thanda and was later baptized on 3 May 1876 at the church of Saint Mary; she was named in honor of Saint Teresa of Ávila. Her paternal uncle, Antony Chiramel Mankidiyan was her godfather and his wife Anna was the godmother. Her family was once rich though became poor when her grandfather married off seven daughters after selling property for each costly dowry; this led to her brothers and her father taking up drinking. Her mother was her father’s second wife; her father’s first wife Mariamkutty died during childbirth in 1872. She had two sisters and two brothers and were in exact order: Porinchu, Mariamkutty, Ouseph and Ittianam – she was born in between Mariamkutty and Ouseph.

In 1884, her mother tried in vain to dissuade the pious girl from her severe fasts and night vigils. Her mother died on 2 March 1888 after blessing her children who gathered at her deathbed. Her mother’s death marked the conclusion of her studies and she instead dedicated herself to contemplation in her local parish church. She made a private vow to remain chaste in 1886. In 1891 she hatched a scheme to sneak from home to lead a life of penance in the hills but soon decided against this and instead returned home. Since 1904, she desired to be called “Mariam” under the belief she had a vision from the Blessed Virgin Mary in which she was instructed to add it to her name. From 1902 to 1905, she was subjected to several exorcisms from Venerable Joseph Vithayathil – under the orders of the local bishop – and from 1902, it was Vithayathil who became her spiritual director until her death. In 1903 she requested Mar John Menachery – the Archbishop of Thrissur – to build a house of retreat but it was turned down. This happened after she had formed a group with three other friends and engaged in apostolic work with poor families. Menachery instead suggested she make an effort to join a religious congregation and encouraged her to join the new Congregation of the Franciscan Clarists but left since she didn’t fell called to it. Mankidiyan later accepted the Mar’s request in 1912 to join the Carmelites at Ollur and was there since November 26, 1912 until she left on 27 January 1913 because she did not feel drawn to them either. In 1913, she set up a house at Puthenchira and on 14 May 1914 founded the Congregation of the Holy Family to which she was professed in and vested in its habit; she was the first superior of the order. She was said to have had a range of spiritual experiences such as receiving the stigmata and hid this from public view; she first had this in 1905 though became more visible on 27 January 1909. She also purportedly suffered a series of demonic attacks.

In 1926, a falling object struck her on the leg and the wound soon festered. Mankidiyan was admitted to the local hospital though doctors deemed her condition fatal and she was moved by bullock cart back to her convent where on 7 June 1926 she received the final sacraments and the Viaticum.

She died at 10:00pm on 8 June 1926 from her leg wound that her diabetes exacerbated. Her final words were: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph; I give you my heart and my soul” – she then closed her eyes and died. On the morning of her death she was laid on the floor on a mat at her request with her spiritual director and fellow religious huddled around her. Her funeral was celebrated on 9 June and in accordance with her wishes her remains were not washed prior to her funeral.