Edification Letter

"Our hearts are restless until it rest in God."

"Let Thy will be done, Lord in all the moments of my life."
"The life of man is but a shadow, that vanishes from the earth."
O Lord of light kindly lead her out from the gloomy night, lead her to heaven, to enjoy Your bliss, the most loving mother whom she loved on earth as the dearest among all, thank you, father St. Joseph who was her protector. Above all to you Lord whom her soul longed for, the omnipotent God.
With deep sorrow I have to conform you that our dear Sr. Maria Teresa passed away on 20th October 2015 at the age of 88 spent in Carmel. She lived a very exemplary and inspiring life in Carmel. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to God for this simple soul to this community of St. Joseph Thiruvalla, by her gracious presence
"The clay by which one is made, so the product. People differ from each other as the quality of the clay. Some are made of clay that make them so strong that they are not waved at the heaviness of the tempest in their life on earth. Our dear Sr. Maria Teresa was shaped with such clay that she was so strong when the waves of the earth tormented her.
St. Maria Teresa - Penniamma as she was called - was born in the year 1927, June 10th, in Palai, of Mr. Abraham and Elizabeth in the ancient wealthy Kallivayalil family as the 8th child. At her birth her mother became seriously ill. The child was neglected in their emergency to save the life of the mother. An Aunt came to her sense and remembered the infant and began to take care of it. She was fed by her eldest sister who was already married and had a child. To this sister she had an attachment of a mother. She grew up as the fondled child of the family. She used to say, "If I was not taken care of in time by that Aunt, I were to sing the praises of God in heaven with the angels." Her parents were very serious in nature, yet they loved their children dearly. She grew up enjoying the caress of her parents and her brothers and sisters loved her. All throughout her life she was deeply attached to her family. School life mainly her primary class, she was not a bright student, but very religious minded. She had a dominant character; and managed to keep others under her command. Since she was very religious minded, won the favor of all the religious into whose care she was entrusted. She was also very brave and determined.
After attending a retreat preached by her spiritual director Rev. Fr. Eliseus O.C.D. she came out a transformed person. May be it was an unforgettable days in which God worked miracle. Those days of retreat might have been a luminous night for her soul. Penniamma was no longer the same. Jesus had changed her heart. It might have been the second or third period of her life. The work which we cannot do in many years God does with a single moment. When God wants to make a visit in the life of one individual He does it so in a manner worthy of Himself. "You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it,(Ps.65:9) The river of God is full of water, He Provides His chosen people with grain that He may reap the harvest in full. The cry of Christ on the cross "I thirst" increased her desire to enter Carmel for the sake of consoling Christ by gaining many souls for Him; remuneration for his thirst for her soul.
When she decided to enter religious life, she needed to get the consent of her parents, which was a difficult task. She approached her mother first, as all the children normally do. Mother's reply instead of supporting her was to ask the father, which was still heavier for her. It was a narrow circle, through which she had to pass. With the courage God gave, she approached that man, her father, for whom everyone had that awestruck respect. In her own words "when I told my father he was lying on an easy chair, He jumped out of it, but soon became calm, but did not give any answer. The next day early morning he took his car and went to his uncle and spoke about it and got counseling, that uncle made him convince that if his daughter wants to enter Thiruvalla Carmel, do not oppose her.

Once she decided for Carmel, she even didn't want to study any more. We have heard that she didn't even go to exam, but was longing for the day of her entrance to Carmel. The sisters in the boarding wanted her for their Congregation. But She had one dream 'Carmel". The sisters from Kottayam had just come to Thiruvalla , and had not even built the convent. They were staying in a house owned by the Diocese which used by the priests. Her entrance was fixed on the day of the laying of the foundation stone for the Carmel of Thiruvalla; on September 8th 1948. It was an historical event for the community. From the time of her entrance she proved to be a perfect Carmelite in all that she was engaged. She did keep the rule of silence in a most perfect manner. The sisters who lived with her in the novitiate remember her how hard working and self-controlled she was in the time of formation and after. The hard work of the community at that time was much, she did not think of the prestige of her family, but was engaged m every mean work, and most of all she was the first for any humble work.
1949 March 19th Sr. Maria Teresa received the Carmelite habit and took her vows on March 20th 1950. She celebrated her golden jubilee of her profession on 20th March 2000 and the diamond jubilee on 20th March 2010.
Her life can be summarized in one word as the perfect Carmelite.

All throughout her life she was in preparation for heaven and strongly believed the life on earth is a journey towards the home land. She was so recollected that we never saw her head raised. Sr. Maria Teresa was a person who prayed constantly; one could always see her saying ejaculations, rosary, praying novenas, even when she is on her duties. If she was in her cell to work she used to have small box with beads to count her Hail Marys and a picture of her mother as she called our Lady.
She had particular devotion to our Lady and St. Joseph, and enjoyed talking to them, to sit and pray near their image; and had a collection of pictures. She had assumed a clear shape for her peaceful nature from her distinct that prompt her quality to be humble. Her life was excessively self-sacrificing; that prompt her to be diligent to be first for everything. She had a broad mind to encourage others. Whenever an act of encouraging was needed, she did it with love. "Whatever you do to the least of this, you did it to me. ". Our sister had a special ability to help others. When she was entrusted as infirmarian, she did it; with most perfection and love. She was fully dedicated for many years with this duty, since she had such a virtue of patience towards the sick. With her skill in doing this, she was entrusted many times to take care of the sick. Also she did it with a desire to be unnoticed by others. She believed that the Father Who sees in secret will reward her. She had reached that state of self-control; was content with what she is. She was an ideal novice mistress who showed a motherly affection towards her novices. She was also once the assistant Mother, Portress, Store room keeper and linen keeper.
She left us all with a living example of perfect Carmelite life that can be remembered all through. She bore intensive pain of her sickness with patience, for many years. In 2008 she had to undergo with cruciating mental and physical agony when her leg from below knee had to be amputated. Those days the sister who was with her shared with the community even at that painful time she practiced the virtue of charity to take care of the one who was with her in the hospital forgetting herself.
From 2013 she was unable to walk. From that time onwards if she sat long tis remained long hours unconscious. From this year September 30 she was fully bedridden. She was not even to take food properly and noted herself that time is nearing to go from this world.
Our Rev. Fr. Laiju our chaplain and Rev. Fr. Francis our confessor came to see her on 30th September and prayed for her. She slowly began to be tormented in spirit. She who was longing for going home began to be attached very much to her dear ones and wanting to see them all. About this she said a day late; "it was a temptation and now I am ready to go and added When God wants it".
On 2nd October she received the anointing of the sick from our Fr. Chaplain. On the 3rd she fell again unconscious. As she was not able to consume the food herself we had to feed her through tube. Again on the 7th she opened her eyes, came to her sense and asked for Fr. Laiju our chaplain; he came at once and sister wanted to confess and asked him to pray for her. For three days more she remained with her sense, responding and answering to whatever we asked. On 6th morning she embraced every one and thanked each one for whatever help they had rendered to her and bid farewell to all, promising that she will pray for each one in heaven.
From that time she became calm, closed her eyes, no response; but was aware of what was happening. The community in those days prayed the rosary in her cell; the one she most cherished in her life. So also on 20th while the community was in her cell reciting the rosary, noticed some change in her breathing, then all came around as she had desired and requested earlier; the community continued the prayer, she very calmly took her last breath at 11 a.m.. Sr. Maria Teresa commended her soul into the hand of God. Our confessor Fr. Francis was present and doctors were informed and arrived; after 15 minutes her death was confirmed. Her head was leaning to the right as she always walked, a mysterious, smile on her lips, and looked beautiful. The life of this nun, Sr. Maria Teresa though no more with us, but has begun her life.
We prepared her body and was laid in the Choir. The people around us came to pay their last homage to our sister at the grill. On 21st morning our confessor Rev.Fr. Francis said the first requiem mass. His Grace Thomas mar Kurilos, the Arch bishop of Thiruvalla, Mar Mathew Arackal, the bishop of Kanjirapally, several priests and religious belonging to all three rites came and offered prayers and condolence. Our very Rev. Fr. Prasad, our Delegate General gave his condolence as he could not be present for the funeral. A large crowd of relatives and family members also poured in offering their prayers.
On 21st at 9 a.m. Rev. Fr. Francis and Rev. Fr. Isaac our parish priest came inside to take the body out to the chapel. The community gathered around the body and prayed with the priests before taking it out. After the prayers the sisters carried the body to the enclosure door and gave to the family and it was laid in the chapel. There all the priests who came, one by one prayed for the repose of her soul.
The funeral mass was officiated by Rt. Rev.Dr. Sebastian Thekkethechery , the bishop of Vijayapuram, and concelebrated by Rev.Fr. Thampy Arachal the councilor, Manjummel Province, The Forane Vicar Rev.Fr. Henry Kochuparambil Rev. Fr. Francis our confessor, Rev Fr. Isaac our parish Priest and several other priests. After the mass the door of the garden was opened and the bishop, priests and family members moved to the cemetery and mortal body was consigned to the grave.

Our special thanks to our chaplain Rev. Fr. Laiju O.C.D. who was very dear to our sister, who rushed in whenever she wanted him, and was very concerned about her. As she was not able to recall that he was absent, she was going on calling for him. His love and concern had impressed in her. We are also grateful to our provincial Rev. Fr. Prasad and all the fathers of the province who visited her when she was sick and prayed for her. Also Rev. Fr. Francis Thannipally and Gladwin Maliakal who did all that was needed for the funeral in the absence of our Chaplain. We owe a lot to the priests, sisters, doctors and staff of Pushpagiri medical college who took special care of her. Three persons whom we owe the most for the well-being of our sister is Dr. Dominic, Dr. Lizzamma Dominic and Dr. Susan. All we could say about them is that they looked after her as their own, coming thrice a day and whenever it was needed. May God reward their generosity.

Though we are confident that Sr.Maria Teresa is enjoying the beatific vision, we humbly beg you to add at your earliest convenience the suffrages according to our constitutions and whatever your generosity will inspire. Sr. Maria Teresa who was very grateful for the least favour done to her will surely repay you.


Humbly yours in Jesus and Mary
Sr. Mary of the Infant Jesus ,
Prioress

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