Sunday, 11 November 2018



St. Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582), one of the great Christian mystics, was moved by a vision of hell which she experienced in 1560, to do and undertake  everything in her power for the salvation of those who were heading for hell.

 “From this experience also flow the great impulses to save souls and the extraordinary pain that is caused me by the many who are condemned (especially the Lutherans, for they were through baptism members of the church) it seems certain to me that to free one alone from such appalling torments, I would suffer many deaths very willingly”  (Life32:6)

Prayer and penance were the weapons she believed with which she would embark  on her mission. First, she would keep the rule of her order with utmost perfection. Teresa realized quickly enough that she would need to gather around her generous persons with whom she would share her project of saving as many souls as possible from the dreadful torments that she had glimpsed.

On 24th  August 1562, the first Teresian Cloistered Carmel was ready for inauguration, and received its charter in the WAY OF PERFECTION, where we read “ news reached me of …. The havoc the Lutherans had caused ….the news distressed me greatly, and as though I were something , or could do something , I cried to the Lord …. That I might remedy so much evil . I resolve to do the little that was in my power, that is, to follow the evangelical counsels as perfectly as I could and to strive that these few persons who are here might do the same.” (WAY OF PERFECTION.)

The Holy Spirit aroused many precious persons to surrender themselves to this ideal of rescuing as many people as possible from the power of darkness. Teresa herself was to make 16 more foundations in Spain .
This holy flame enkindled by the Holy Spirit through Teresa, spread to India via Pondicherry and Mangalore in the 19th century ,  and today in the 21st century there are  in India more than 30 Teresian Cloistered Carmels, where the daughters of St. Teresa are unceasingly offering their lives and immolating themselves in union with the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of India and the world.

In February 2018 the Prioresses of all the Carmels in India gathered in Hydrabad along with Father General, Very Rev. Saverio Cannistra o.c.d and our Definitor General Rev. Fr. Johannes Gorantla o.c.d. to study the new document
COR ORANS, from the Holy See

                             (The 2 photos were taken during that Meeting.)