Mangaluru: The day of the yearly festival of St. Mariam Baouardy much awaited by all of us her Devotees, dawned on Wednesday the August 22 at the chapel of Cloistered Carmel, Kankanady. The preparations were begun much in advance and the devotees were informed and invited in time. On the evening of 22nd at 5.30 pm, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated by our Bishop-Elect Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldhana with other seven priests with him. The devotees filled the chapel rows much before the time so that they could fully participate in the Eucharistic celebrations. The inspiring sermon was preached by Rev. Fr. Maxim D’Souza, Professor of St. Joseph Seminary was very meaningful, explaining the life and virtues of the Saint. The choir was led by Mr Adolph Lobo of Gitanjali.
St. Mary of Jesus Crucified – St. Mariam as she is popularly known by all – was born in Abellin, a small village in Galilee, some 170 km away from Jesus’s birthplace. Giries and Mariam Baouardy her parents prior to Mariam’s birth had twelve sons who died in their infancy. The grief-stricken parents decided to go on foot to Bethlehem to ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for the gift of a baby girl whom they promised to name her after her and offer for the service of God a quantity of wax equal to her weight at the age of three. And thereafter, a baby boy too was born whom they named Paul. Sadly at the age of three, Mariam and Paul lost their parents one after the other. Paul was adopted by a maternal aunty but Mariam was taken by her paternal wealthy uncle. At the age of thirteen when she refused to get married, the uncle began to ill-treat her and put to work with slaves in his household. By the Providence, she was rescued from this situation. From then on she worked as a domestic servant to support herself and finally, she reached France to work for a family there. At the age of twenty, she entered the Carmelite Monastery in Pau and in 1870 she was one of the founding members who came to Mangalore, India to start a Cloistered Carmel at Kankanady.
But God destined that she should be the instrument to start a foundation of Carmel in her own native place. So after two years, she went back to France and from there in 1875 she went to Bethlehem. There she worked very hard in directing the building work. As a result, she fell sick and passed away on 26th August 1878 at age of 33.
During her lifetime there were extraordinary manifestations of Divine interventions in her life. People were healed of their sicknesses and received many favours through her prayer. After her death, she continued her mission of aiding all who sought her intercession.
To the Shrine of Mariam, which situated within the boundaries of Cloistered Carmel, Kankanady, people of all walks of life, flock to seek her help in their various difficulties, sicknesses and distresses and obtain favours and return with joy and thanksgiving.
Mariam is a Saint for all time, for all people, who understands the needs of each of her devotees.
May St. Mariam intercede for all of us.
