St Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan

Word for the day

“And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”” Matthew 25:40

Life

Thresia was born on 26 April 1876 at Puthenchira, Thrissur district. Her family had once been wealthy but became poor. As a young woman she gave herself to prayer and penance and, with a few companions, began to visit homes, care for the sick, nurse those with infectious diseases whom others avoided, and help families in crisis.

She experienced intense mystical graces and also long periods of spiritual trial. Her spiritual director, Fr Joseph Vithayathil, guided her carefully. In 1914, with the approval of the bishop of Thrissur, she founded the Congregation of the Holy Family (CHF), dedicated to the care of families, the education of girls and service of the poor.

She died on 8 June 1926 at Kuzhikattussery. She was beatified by Pope St John Paul II in 2000 and canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019, together with St John Henry Newman.

Lessons

The family is a mission field

Mariam Thresia went into homes, brought peace to quarrelling families and prayed with them.

Serve those whom others avoid

She nursed the sick and the dying, even those with contagious diseases.

Obedience to spiritual guidance

She submitted her extraordinary experiences to the Church's discernment.

The Holy Family as model

She named her congregation after the Holy Family because every home should resemble Nazareth.

Stories

Visits to troubled homes (history)

With her companions, Thresia went to houses where there was illness, poverty or conflict. She cleaned, cooked, nursed, prayed with the family and urged reconciliation. Many families were reunited through her patient presence.

Homily · The saint's life and message

1. Born into poverty

A once-wealthy family became poor; she learned compassion.

2. Serving those others avoided

Nursing the sick, even with infectious diseases.

3. Guided and obedient

Her director Fr Joseph Vithayathil.

4. Apostle of families

Founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family (1914).

Dear brothers and sisters, St Mariam Thresia of Puthenchira is called the apostle of families. In her time, many families were broken by poverty, illness, alcohol and quarrels. She went into those homes with prayer and practical love.

Thresia was born in 1876 into a family that had once been rich but had become poor. She knew hardship. With a few companions she began to visit homes, to nurse the sick, even those with infectious diseases whom others avoided, and to help families in crisis. Jesus said: just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40).

She received great spiritual graces and also went through long periods of trial. Through all of it she obeyed her spiritual director, Fr Joseph Vithayathil, and her bishop. In 1914 she founded the Congregation of the Holy Family to serve families, educate girls and care for the poor.

Today families face new storms: migration, debt, addiction, screens, broken marriages. Mariam Thresia teaches us to go to those families with prayer and help, not with gossip and judgement. Let us pray for struggling families in our parish, and ask her intercession for our own homes.

Homily option 2 · In the light of the Word: you did it to me

1. The judgement of love

We will be judged on how we treated the least (Matthew 25:31–46).

2. Christ in disguise

I was sick and you visited me.

3. Love that touches

Jesus touched the leper (Mark 1:40–42).

4. Without counting the cost

Mariam Thresia nursed those with contagious disease.

Dear friends, the word for St Mariam Thresia is from the judgement scene in Matthew: just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40). On the last day, Christ will not ask about our titles or wealth, but about the hungry, the sick and the stranger.

Jesus hides Himself in the poor and suffering. I was sick and you visited me. Mariam Thresia took these words literally. She went to homes where others would not go, nursed the dying, washed the sick, and comforted families in despair.

When a leper came to Jesus, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him (Mark 1:41). Lepers were untouchable, but Jesus touched. Mariam Thresia nursed people with contagious diseases when others kept their distance. Love is not afraid to touch the wounded.

Who are the least in our parish today? The sick person alone at home, the family drowning in debt, the alcoholic and his wife and children, the migrant worker far from home. Let us not pass by. When we serve them, we serve Christ.

Homily option 3 · For young people and families: building a holy family

1. The Holy Family as model

Prayer, work and love in Nazareth.

2. Healing family wounds

Forgiveness, speaking kindly, asking help.

3. Against addiction

Alcohol and drugs destroy homes; seek help early.

4. Young people as peacemakers

Children can bring peace at home.

Dear families, St Mariam Thresia gave her congregation the name of the Holy Family, because she believed every family can learn from Nazareth: Jesus, Mary and Joseph prayed together, worked hard, and loved one another.

Every family has wounds: quarrels, harsh words, money problems, old resentments. Mariam Thresia visited such homes and brought peace through prayer, patience and practical help. In your home, start with small things: speak kindly, apologise quickly, pray together every evening.

One great enemy of families today is addiction: alcohol, drugs, gambling, even the phone. If someone in your family is struggling, do not hide it in shame. Seek help early: from the parish, a counsellor, a de-addiction centre. Love sometimes means firm action.

Young people, you can be peacemakers at home. When your parents are tired or tense, help without being asked, avoid adding to the conflict, and pray for them. Ask St Mariam Thresia to make your home a holy family.

Prayer

Lord God, you gave St Mariam Thresia a great love for families and for the poor. Through her prayers bless our homes with peace, heal broken families, and make us servants of the sick and the lonely. Amen.