Edification Letter

My dear Rev. Mother and all our Sisters,

It is with deep sorrow and heartfelt feelings that I communicate the sad demise of our well-beloved sister Anna of the Incarnation on 121h May 1985 at 3.15 p. m. surrounded by all of us. She was 85 years old of which 57 she spent in Carmel. She was born on 11th December 1900 in a very holy Catholic family, from very pious parents, who educated her as such. She had several brothers and sisters of whom only one brother and one sister got married, all the others rm bracing religious life. So, she has two Jesuit brothers, two Franciscan fathers and one sister of charity now living. They are so well united that they had continuous communication with her.
She was born in Spain - Vidania, in the province of Guipuzcoa, a place abounding in religious vocations of both sex. As soon as she got her vocation she asked admission into our Mother house in Spain “Cerro de los Angles", as a lay sister, where she spent her life of real religious fervour doing the lowly but hard work which her call demanded; She made her profession on 17th March 1931 she was always longing for mission, though she could not come with the mothers in 1933. Yet after 3 years her superior making arrangements for her sent to Kottayam, thus joining us in 1936 to our great joy. From the first movement she offered herself for the then young diocese of Vjayapuram and in earnest spent hereself whole heartedly in this work of helping His Ex. the Bishop and the missionaries. She was a hard and untiring worker, inspite of the inclemencies of the weather, which affected her very much. She was as an angel to help us whenever there was an occasion forgetful of herself. In 1947 in our attempted foundation at Kai war she was with us. God in His divine providence brought us to Thiruvalla in 1948. She sacrificed herself for this new foundation by being a living example to all especially to the new comers, being first in all the humble and hard works of the house, where such occasions were in great abundance.
She had great interest to follow the liturgy of the day. As she could not understand the language of the readings. She used to prepare herself by reading the epistles and gospel of the Holy Mass on the previous day in Spanish.
She continued in her state as a lay sister with all enthusiasm. When the Declaration gave us the liberty to admit them as choir nuns, we proposed the idea to her, who in her great humility declared in the chapter that she had embraced the humble life of a sister of white veil and she is very happy and wished to die as such. It was with great difficulty she admitted the black veil and took the place in the community according to the profession.
When she was retired from the works of the lay sister, she was put as a helper to the infirmarian which she did with a mother's love and attention, being very delicate in her dealings with the sick. She was very careful to be with the sick and to send the infirmarian to the choir for the divine office etc.
She was greatly interested in the activities of the Missionaries especially the Carmelite missions all over the world. She was praying in a special way for the success of the general chapter and was over joyed that our father general is re-elected and our father provincial Rev. Fr. Athanasius D' Almeida is made one of the definitory generals.
In these last years she was spending her time in praying the rosary, and keeping continuous Company with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. She made great effort to be present with the community in the choir refectory and recreation. She had good humour and she liked to enjoy the recreation and made others also to enjoy. She was very particular to know about the current events of the Church and of the Holy father in order to offer special prayers and penance.
She was very devoted to our Blessed Mother and our holy father St. Joseph. She was very constant in all her devotions; even when she could not sec well, she was sitting near the window of her cell with her book in the sun in order to read. Even though she could hardly pull on in her last days, when doctor advised her to walk about a little she profited this occasion to make the way of the cross through the Cloister.
During the hot season she used to suffer terribly having her body one wound like. This year too it happened the same. In the first week of May the whole community was attacked by virus fever in which she also fell and was getting better but suddenly collapsed. On 7th at 10 p. m. we administered Viaticum and the anointing of the sick. Thus, she was fully prepared. In all through her sufferings which were almost continuous throughout her life she ever had a smiling face which made the doctors admire her great patience in suffering. She received holy communion till Saturday. Lingered on till Sunday, when our Chaplain Rev. Fr. Bonaventure 0. C. D. entered and made the recommendation of the soul surrounded by all her beloved sisters. We followed singing the Credo, the salve etc., praying for the agonizing when suddenly she slept in the Lord peacefully at 3.15 p. m. She remained with an expression of joy and peace which gave us great consolation. Soon she was prepared and laid in the choir for the public. Many were the religious, priests and seculars who came to pray for her.
The funeral and burial took place on 13th May at 10 a. m. The funeral Solemn Requiem Mass was presided by Very Rev. Fr. Peter Thuruthikooam Pro-Vicar general of our diocese as our bishop His Ex. Mgr. Cornelius Elengical was not keeping well. Nine fathers of whom six were Carmelites concelebrated. About seventeen priests entered the enclosure for the burial.
Deep in our gratitude to all the priests, religious and all those who co-operated with us on this occasion, to our Chaplain Rev. Fr. Bonaventure O. C. D. who attended to her spiritual needs with great abnegation, to Doctors Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Varghesese who treated her with great solicitude to the very end. Also, our deep gratitude is due to the sisters of Regina Mundi who helped us in everything to the utmost of their power.
Even though we hope in God that our good sister in enjoying the fruit of her well merited life, we humbly beg all our mothers and sisters to apply all the suffrages according to our constitutions and whatever your generosity will inspire for the repose of her soul. Our good sister who was always very grateful and could never be outdone in generosity will most certainly repay you from heaven.
With deepest sisterly love and gratitude
I remain humbly yours in Jesus and Mary
Teresa Margaret of S. Heart
Prioress

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