St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan
I'll be your candle on the water
Mariam Thresia was an Indian Syro-Malabar nun widely known for her visions and ecstasies. She would also levitate and received the stigmata. Unlike Padre Pio, Marian Thresia kept her stigmata hidden from the public, probably because so much else of her spiritual life was opened to public witness and speculation.
She was also subjected to many exorcisms, as the bishop thought Mariam Thresia to be a “plaything” for the devil. Lots can happen when you open yourself up to the spiritual life that looks odd or demonic to the outside world. Mariam Thresia opened herself to God and received many spiritual gifts because of this, but that also meant she was opened up to new kinds of torment by the devil. I’m not a fan of forced exorcisms but I can understand why the bishop was concerned.
People would gather on Fridays to watch Mariam Thresia levitate in the air in the form of the crucifix in her cell. Her visions and ecstasies were also public knowledge. When so much of you is made public, you’re under more scrutiny. The bishop had to be sure what was happening to Mariam Thresia wouldn’t cause scandal among the faithful. Was there a better way to do this? I don’t know! Because of the recent findings against Dave Morrier at Franciscan University where he used exorcisms to force the survivor into even more vulnerable states, exorcisms squick me out. But I also know that not everyone is preying on vulnerable people. I can only hope that Mariam Thresia was not preyed upon.
Mariam Thresia took everything life had thrown at her and gave it back to God. She knew He would light her way despite any darkness she would encounter. He was truly a lamp unto her feet and He can be that for us, as well.
St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan, pray for us!
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