Blessed Mariam Thresia was born on 26 April 1876 as Thresia Mankidiyan in Kerala, India. Raised in the Syro-Malabar Rite of the Catholic Church, her parents named her in honour of St. Teresa of Avila, which would indicate the life of holiness and contemplation that Thresia would achieve.As a young child, she had an intense desire to love God, and she would fast four times a week and pray the Rosary several times daily. Seeing her daughter becoming very thin from all of her fasting, her mother tried without much success to dissuade her from this severe form of piety.Young Thresia’s home life was not easy. When her family fell into poverty, her father and brother often turned to drink to deal with their situation. And sadly, her mother died when Thresia was twelve years old, around the time her elementary school education also ended. So young Thresia began to discern her own vocation in life.She longed to live a life of contemplation, prayer, and penance in solitude, but she soon abandoned this plan, turning instead to a life of service. Continuing to attend her parish church with three companions, she helped to clean it and decorate the sanctuary. In her love for Jesus, she wanted to help the poor, nurse the sick, and comfort the lonely. By being involved in charitable services, she selflessly served the people of her neglected village, inspired by a deep devotion to Christ.