Eliswa Vakayil

Eliswa Vakayil TOCD, religious name Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the foundress of the first indigenous Carmelite congregation for women in India. She was the first religious sister from Kerala, the southern most state of India; she established the first convent school, boarding house and orphanage for girls in Kerala.

Early life
She was born as the first of eight children of Thomman and Thanda, in the noble family of Vyppissery in the Cruz Milagres parish of Ochanthuruth. She had a great devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Little Eliswa was exceptionally compassionate to the poor and the under privileged.

According to her parents' wishes, Eliswa married Vareethu Vakayil in 1847. A daughter was born to them on April 21, 1850, and she was named Anna. After one and a half years later, Vareethu suddenly fell ill and died. Even though Eliswa was suggested for a second marriage, she opted for a life of silent prayer and service.

Foundress of the Discalced Carmelite Congregation
Eliswa spent 14 years in silent prayer and meditation in a shed near her house, constructed by her family members as per her request. Thresia, her youngest sister and Anna, Eliswa's daughter, attracted to the lifestyle of prayer followed by Eliswa, joined her. Eliswa, with the assistance of her confessor and spiritual director, constructed a convent made of bamboo mats (Panambu madam). On 12 February 1866 they received the Carmelite scapular and made their religious profession on July 6, 1868 as members of the new Third Order of the Discalced Carmelite Congregation (TOCD).

Archbishop Bernardino Baccinelli, the then Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, officially recognized the congregation, issuing the Documentum erectionis. Later, members of the Syro-Malabar Rite were also admitted to the Congregation by Mother Eliswa.

Bifurcation of the congregation
The Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide decided to change the jurisdiction over St Teresa's Convent at Koonammavu from the Archdiocese of Verapoly to the Vicariate of Thrissur on 24 March 1890. All the sisters belonging to the Latin rite, including Eliswa, the Foundress of the congregation, had to leave the convent on 17 September 1890. They took shelter in St. Teresa's convent at Ernakulam, founded by Teresa of St. Rose of Lima, for some days after which they were brought back to Varappuzha by the Archbishop of Verapoly. At present, the two branches of the TOCD serve as two independent religious congregations: The Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) and the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC).

Beatification process
Eliswa lived an exemplary life of prayer and selfless service to the poor and the abandoned. As a pioneer in providing education for girls in Kerala, Eliswa made sure that they were taught values of life along with subjects of science, mathematics, arts and music as well as cooking, tailoring and handicrafts. She practiced a life of virtues and gratitude and nothing could change it even if what she received was pain and injustice from others.

"God alone suffices" - this motto of Saint Teresa of Avila was Eliswa Vakayil's motto, too, and her whole life was a reflection of this. Eliswa breathed her last on July 18, 1913, and was buried in a special place in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Joseph. Her mortal remains were later transferred to the tomb chapel called Smruthi Mandhiram at St. Joseph's Convent at Varappuzha. Many pilgrims and the faithful visit her tomb to seek her intercession and obtain favours.

Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary was declared a Servant of God on 30 May 2008, by Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil of Verapoly archdiocese. The diocesan inquiry was closed on 7 April 2017. On 8 November 2023, Pope Francis declared her to be venerable.