“Forward sisters, forward, and the nuns must take the lead.”
Early Life & Education
Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima, the Foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa (CSST), was born on January 29, 1858, to Peter D’Lima and Mary D’Lima at George Town in Madras, India. She was christened as Mary Grace and was nurtured by loving parents in a religious atmosphere.
She was educated in Presentation Convent School at George Town, Madras, where she received quality education. On completion of her General Education in 1875, she joined the staff of St. Xavier’s Free School, where her father served as the Headmaster.
Religious Vocation & Foundation
In 1879, she took charge of St. Joseph School in Alleppey, Kerala, under the leadership of Fr. Candidus OCD, the Parish Priest of Mt. Carmel Church. Expressing her deep desire to enter religious life, she entered Postulancy in 1882 under the guidance of the Carmelite Fathers. In 1885, she made her religious profession, taking the name Sr. Teresa of St. Rose of Lima.
At the behest of Rt. Rev. Leonard Mellano, Archbishop of Verapoly, Mother Teresa arrived in Ernakulam, Kerala, to start an English medium school for girls and establish a Convent for religious Sisters. The Congregation was officially founded on April 24, 1887.
Apostolates & Institutions Established
In a short period of 15 years, Mother Teresa established her convent on a sure foundation and launched out into various apostolates, working whole-heartedly in the service of the poor and illiterate:
Spiritual Legacy & Demise
Mother Teresa led a profoundly God-centered life. The values that nurtured our Foundress’ prayer life were her Faith, the Will of God, and Trust in the Providence of God. The Eucharistic presence of our Lord gave her hope in “troubled times” — a therapeutic remedy for her mind.
Considered by all in Ernakulam and Europe as “A Great Woman and Religious,” her life was abruptly cut short in a train accident at Mangapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, while traveling to Bombay on September 12, 1902. Today, her visionary mission continues across 122 convents spread all over India and abroad.