Mariam Baouardy to be canonised

Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified (Order of Discalced Carmelites) or Mariam Baouardy, will be canonised on May 17,  by Pope Francis in Rome.

Mariam Baouardy was the co-foundress of the Mangalore Carmel in Kankanady.

The Carmel of Mangalore is the first Cloistered Carmel in India, where the Sacred Heart Monastery is situated.

Briefing reporters, on Monday, Fr Pius James D’Souza said that spiritual celebrations will be held at the Carmel on May 17 and cultural programmes will also be held.

Prayers will be offered by the sisters of the carmel, to observe the pious occasion, he said.
 Mariam Baouardy was born to George Baouardy  and Mariam Chahine in a village called Ibillin located in the hill country of upper Galilee in Palestine, on January 5, 1846.

Six sisters, from Pau in France, came to India along with three Apostolic Carmelites but three of them died on the way.

Mary Baouardy, along with two other Carmelites, reached Calicut in India in 1870 and arrived at Rosario Church in Mangaluru.

The Apostolic Carmel Sisters were accommodated at St.Ann's Convent near Holy Rosary Cathedral, Mangaluru. Mary lived in Mangaluru from 1870 to 1872. At the time,  she initiated the work on the Carmel.

However, Mary Baouardy returned to the Carmel of Pau for another mission.

She died in Bethlehem on August 26, 1878. The 142- year-old Carmel is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 13, 1983.