Blessed Eliswa: Nun with a Daughter

Mother Eliswa of the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) was beatified on November 8, 2025, at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam, Cochin, of Verapoly archdiocese, Kerala. Pope Leo XIV had delegated Sebastian Cardinal Francis, Bishop of Penang, Malaysia, to preside over the ceremony.

She was the founder of the first indigenous Carmelite community for women in Kerala, the Third Order of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns (TOCD), which later became the Congregation of Teresian Carmelite Sisters. She established the first convent school, boarding house, and orphanage for girls in the State.

Eliswa  was born on  October 15, 1831, as the first of eight children to Thomman and Thanda in Ochanthuruth village of Cruz Milagres parish, Verapoly Vicariate. They belonged to the wealthy and  famous "Capithan" Vyppissery  family. Her parents  ensured Eliswa received education, which was uncommon for Catholic girls in the region at that time.  As a child, she showed keen interest in prayer and compassion to the poor.

As her parents wish,  the 16-year-old teenager was married to Vatharu Vakayil in 1847. A girl child was born to them on April 21, 1850, and they named her Anna. One and a half years after the child’s birth,  her husband died of sickness.

The widow was suggested for a second marriage. But Eliswa opted for a life of prayer and charity. She confided to the Italian Discalced Carmelite missionary Fr. Leopold Beccaro, in 1862, her desire to consecrate herself entirely to God. Serving as her spiritual director, he remained observant of her for four years. Influenced by her God-centered life, her sister Thresia and daughter Anna also joined Eliswa. Fr. Leopold informed their desire to his Archbishop Bernardine Baccinelli O.C.D, the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly.

Very happy to accept them, the bishop asked Father Leopold to construct a small bamboo-mat hut with three rooms on Eliswa’s property in Koonammavu. Here they began to follow the rule of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Carmelite bishop himself guided these three Latin-Rite women’s formation.

The three women were officially received into the Carmelite Order on February 12, 1866 by the archbishop.  Her inclusive vision led her to admit Syro-Malabar rite girls too into their Congregation. Since the bamboo-mat hut was not sufficient to accommodate the growing community, the bishop directed them to build a spacious two-storied convent building at Thalachuva Parambu, Koonammavu, on Mother Eliswa’s property. On  March 27, 1867, the sisters moved from the bamboo convent to St Teresa’s Convent at Koonammavu and they started their  novitiate. 

The first sisters made their religious vows in July 1868. They were known then the Third Order of the Carmelite Discalced (T.O.C.D.). It was the first indigenous convent in Kerala and the history of the TOCD is unique in the history of the Indian Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIII separated the Syrian Catholic Church from the Latin hierarchy in Kerala in 1887. An order from the Holy See on September 17, 1890 required the Latin sisters, including Eliswa, to leave the convent and its property to the Syrian sisters. It was separated from the jurisdiction of Verapoly Archbishop from April 18, 1890, and was placed under the Bishop of Trichur, the newly formed Vicariate for Syrians.

On  September 16, 1890, Syrian Bishop Adolphin Medillikot removed all the Latin Rite Sisters, including Mother Eliswa, from their authority, substituting  Syrian rite sisters in their place. Mother Eliswa and all the Latin rite sisters left the convent next morning, submitting everything to God’s will. Verapoly Archbishop made arrangements for their temporary stay for nearly two months in a small house in the convent campus of the newly  begun St. Teresa’s Congregation (C.S.S.T.) in Ernakulam.

The Latin branch re-established itself at St. Joseph's Convent in Varapuzha  (Verapoly) on November 11, 1890. They became known as the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC). Erected there in 1892, Eliswa served as their first novice mistress. Following this rite division, the Syrians later formed the Congregation of Mother of Carmel (CMC). Eliswa’s personal motto, "God alone suffices" mirrored that of St. Teresa of Ávila.

But the CMC nuns and the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) Fathers claim Father Kuriakose Chavara was the founder of both CMC and CTC, which the CTC nuns deny. Today the two branches of this TOCD Congregation form two independent Religious Congregations: The Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) for the Latin rite, and the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) for the Syrian rite. 

Mother Eliswa went to her eternal reward at the age of 81 on July 18, 1913 and was buried in front of the Basilica of  Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Joseph in  Varapuzha (Verapoly). Her mortal remains were later transferred to the tomb chapel called Smruthi Mandhiram at St. Joseph’s Convent of CTC at Varappuzha. Many pilgrims and faithful visit her tomb to seek her intercession to obtain favours.

The diocesan inquiry concluded on April 7, 2017. And Eliswa was declared a Servant of God by Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil. Pope Francis declared her venerable on November 8,  2023.

Blessed Eliswa’s feast falls on July 18, the day she was called to eternal rest.

(Fr. F. M. Britto is a diocesan priest belonging to the archdiocese of Raipur. He can be reached at : francismbritto@gmail.com)

Blurb

Pope Francis declared Mother Eliswa venerable on November 8,  2023. On November 8, 2025, she was beatified at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam, Cochin.