PANAJI: Pope Francis on Tuesday approved the canonisation of Blessed Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family.
According to Vatican reports, Pope Francis on Tuesday received in audience Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Congregation to promulgate the decree regarding the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan.
Blessed Mariam Thresia will be the sixth saint of Indian origin after St Gonsalo Garcia, St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, St Euphrasia, St Alphonsa and St Joseph Vaz.
Blessed Mariam Thresia was born in Puthenchira-Kerala on April 26, 1876 and died in Kuzhikkattussery-Kerala on June 8, 1926.
The Congregation of the Holy Family (CHF) was founded by Blessed Mariam Thresia, in the remote village of Puthenchira-Thrissur in 1914 with the determination of imparting Christian values to the families.
Servant of God Fr Joseph Vithayathil is the co-founder of the Congregation. It is an indigenous Congregation of Pontifical right of the Syro-Malabar Church.
In 1998, Mother Mariam Thresia was called Venerable and in 2000, she was beatified. The congregation, which was raised to pontifical status on August 1, 1978, is presently spread across nine Provinces and two Regions.
