Edification Letter

With profound sentiments of joy and sorrow, we convey to your Reverences the Mercies of the Lord manifested in the life and death of our beloved sister Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart. She was so precious in the sight of our Lord that He watched over this faithful sister these 87 years that she lived on this earth.

Sr. Teresa Margaret was known in the world as Kochu Thressia. She was born on 17th August 1927 as the fourth child of the nine children to Udupp and Elizabeth. She did her schooling at St. Ann's kottayam. Under the guidance of holy and God-fearing parents, Kochu Thressia grew up to be a very pious and obedient girl. As a young girl she often visited her paternal aunt Sr. Margaret Mary who was a Carmelite cloistered nun at St. Teresa's Mount, Kottayam, in the company of her parents. She listened to her aunt with great admiration as she explained to her about the cloistered way of life. From then on she cherished in the depth of her heart the great desire to be a Carmelite like her aunt.

It was at that time in the year 1948 that she heard from her aunt about the laying of the foundation stone of a new Carmel at Thiruvalla on the 8th of September and about the solemn eventful entrance of a candidate Oil the same day. That was a turning point in Kochu Thressia 's life. She too longed to dedicate herself totally to God in that new Carmel. Thus, on the 17th of October, 1948 Kochu Thressia entered the Carmel at Thiruvalla. The community was then staying at Shanthi Nilayam as the monastery was not yet built.

Sr. Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart as she was called later and her companion as postulants and later as novices and temporarily professed sisters, courageously took upon themselves the whole burden of hard work of a new foundation. She was an example to all in leading a Life of austerity, strict silence and observance of the Rule and Constitutions. Certainly, it was Sr. Teresa Margaret's prayerful and exemplary life that influenced three of her younger sisters to enter Carmel.

Sr. Teresa Margaret had served our community as Prioress, 1st Councilor, Novice Mistress, portress and all the other offices. She was so thorough with the History of our Holy Order, the Works of our Holy Parents that it was proverbial in the community to say, 'Let us ask Sr. Teresa Margaret', whenever a doubtful question arose. She was a very prayerful sister. It was her pious practice to recite the whole Office of the Dead-on Sundays. She was faithful to it until she lost her sight. She was also very particular to keep the Sunday holy by avoiding all manual work and spending the time in prayer before the Lord. She was insistent that others did the same.

Sr. Teresa Margaret was greatly devoted to the Sacred Heart, our Most Holy Mother of Carmel and above all to our Holy Father St. Joseph. She used to pray the Triduum Novena to St. Joseph on the 17th, 18th and 19th of every month. That must be the reason why she was privileged to pass away on a Wednesday, the day of St. Joseph.

"but the Lord scourges those who are close to Him in order to admonish them" (Heb; 12:6). Being a chosen soul, Sr. Teresa Margaret had to suffer much during her life time. Occasional falls made her to undergo several painful operations for the hip, knees etc. Being a heart patient, she was living with the help of a Pace Maker. Glaucoma in the eyes was also a cause of suffering. Often, she was on the verge of death. Thus, she was given the grace of receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick thrice. She drank courageously the chalice of suffering offered her from the Lord.

Sr. Teresa Margaret was almost confined to bed after her hospitalization on 8th September, 2014, for a respiratory problem. From 23rd November onwards, her condition was fast deteriorating. We began nose feeding her as per the doctor's advise. Gradually Sr. Teresa Margaret lost her power of speech and the movement of her hands and legs. The doctors Dr. Dominic Anto, Dr. Lizzamma Dominic, Dr. George Koshy and Dr. Susan Thomas were coming by turns daily at 9:30 p.m after their rounds in the hospital. Sometimes they remained until 1:00 a.m. watching the condition of the patient after the medication. May God reward them abundantly for the great sacrifices they made our beloved Sister.
On 3rd December when the doctors Dominic Anto and Lizzamma Dominic came as usual at 9.30 p.m , they found her condition to be very critical.They left after giving us instructions on changing her position after every two hours. At quarter to eleven, the sisters who were keeping watch found her breathing to be very queer. They called Our Mother and all the sisters at once. All were by her side praying. Re. Fr. Laiju OCD, Superior of Ave Maria Home and Fr. Paul Kattiparambil OCD also arrived to give the final blessing, Sr. Teresa Margaret’s berating became lower and lower and by 11:00pm she finished her exile on this earth and flew away very peacefully to her Heavenly Home to be with her Beloved whom she served so well while on this earth. All the sisters and those who have seen her during illness especially the doctors testify that after death Sr. Teresa Margaret’s countenance had been transformed and emanated radiance, that was a sure sign that she is beholding the face of God now as the Psalmist says. “Look to Him and be radiant” (Ps 34:5)

The doctors came once again to confirm her death. They stayed with us for a long time giving us whatever help needed. Our Chaplain Rev. Fr. Laiju OCD took upon himself the responsibility of informing all the fathers and arranging everything for the funeral the next day.
On 4th morning at 2 a.m the body was carried in procession to the choir. At 6.30 am the four fathers of Ave Maria Home celebrated a Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Sr. Teresa Margaret His Lordship Mar Stephanose accompanied by a Jacobite Bishop, many people, sisters and priests came to pay their last tribute to our dear sister and to pray for her.
The funeral and the burial took place on 4th December at 3 p.m. The funeral Solemn Requiem Mass was presided over by His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Theckkathecheril bishop of Vijayapuram. Eighteen priests concelebrated with the Bishop. The Archbishop of Tiruvalla, His Excellency Thomas Mar Koorilose was also present towards the end of the Mass and led the final prayers for the deceased.
Even though we hope in God that our good sister is 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.
We are grateful to the Bishops, priests, religious and all those who co-operated with us on this occasion especially the C.T.C. sisters of Regina Mundi Convent and the Fr. Superior and Community of Ave Maria Home. A special word of thanks to the doctors and the Staff of Pushpagiri Medical College especially to Dr. Dominic Anto, Dr. Lizzamma Dominic, Dr. George Koshy and Dr. Susan Thomas who consider the inmates of this monastery as their own and are always ready to do us any service at any time. Our good sister who was very grateful and could never be outdone in generosity will most certainly repay you from heaven. Begging your prayers for this community and especially for me, that we may live and die following the example which Our Lord has set before us in our beloved sister.
Your humble sister and servant in Our Lord,
Sr. Mary of the Infant Jesus
Prioress

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