Blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified to be canonized on May 17

Eucharistic celebrations will be held at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cloistered Carmel in Kankanadi, Mangaluru, on May 17 at 4.30 pm, following the canonization of Blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified.

The canonization will be done by Pope John Paul II at St Peter's Square in Vatican.

Briefing reporters at Sacred Heart Monastry, in Mangaluru, on Tuesday, Rev Fr Ravi Santhosh Kamath said Mariam Baouardy or blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified had been instrumental in the establishment of Sacred Heart Monastery.

Born in Ibilin in Palestine, Mary Baouardy lost her parents at a tender age and eventually moved to Alexandria in Egypt, along with her relatives, where a servant made an attempt to kill her. But, she  miraculously recovered to life and joined the Disclosed Carmelite order and entered the Carmel of Pau, to be accepted there.

Responding to an invitation from Bishop Marie Ehprem Pau Carmel, Mary Baouardy, along with other three other carmelites reached to Mangaluru on November 19, 1870. Mary took her vows on November 21, 1871. For two years, she stayed in St Ann’s Convent. She left to Pau in September 1875 and  helped to find a new monastery in Bethlehem. She died on August 26 1878 in Bethlehem.

Rev Fr Ravi said a triduum on May 14, 15 and 16 will be held at the Cloistered Carmel at 5.30 pm daily.

On May 17, the Eucharistic celebration will be held at 4.30 pm, which will be lead by Mangalore Catholic Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.

Also, there will be a light and sound programme on the life of Mariam Baouardy, by ‘White doves’ at the entrance ground of Fr Muller Hospital.

A symposium will be held on May 16 from 3 pm to 5 pm, for priests and nuns at St Ann's College of Education, he said. Valancia Church Parish Priest Rev Fr James D’Souza, Sr Shalini, Sr Olivia were present among others.