Foundress

Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion (1823-1906)

A young monk spent months at a Belgian monastery helping to weave a tapestry. One day he
rose from his bench in disgust I can’t do this any longer he explained, My directions make no
sense, I have been working with a bright yellow thread and suddenly I’m to knot and cut it short
for no reason, what a waste. My son said an older monk; you are not seeing this tapestry
correctly. He led the young man to the front of the tapestry. Seeing it the novice gasped. He had
been weaving a beautiful picture- his yellow thread was part of the gleaming halo around the
Christ Child’s head. What had seemed wasteful and senseless was magnificent.

- Catherine Lower O'Shea

As we take a cursory glance at God’s tapestried galaxy of His chosen band down the ages, one is held spellbound by their unique personality and rich legacy. Among the saints and sages, powerful leaders and fiery preachers, eminent educationists and evangelisers stands Mother Veronica née Sophie Leeves in the impressive Victorian era. The picturesque tableau interlocking a medley of progressive movements related to Christianity is the hallowed spot of the Anglican Leeves homestead. As God’s shaft of lights focuses on the individual members one is transfixed by the love, joy and warmth that lights up the members- Mr. Henry Daniel Leeves is the dignified, Oxford scholar, his wife boasts of nobility from the Haultain lineage and their children bear the stamp of grace and beauty, knowledge and culture.

Photos from the musical drama performed by the students of Holy Angels’ Convent Higher Secondary School for the Death Centennial Celebration of Mother Veronica at All Saints’ College in 2006.

On a closer observation one is captivated by their faith and knowledge, etiquette and discipline, indoctrination and induction is classics and multilingual skills. In keeping with the spirit of the age and trends of the elite society, they have the accomplishments in fine arts and musical recitals. Outdoor exercises, travel and travelogues, social awareness linked with acts of charity are a part of their upbringing. In this circle of love and the virtuoso merits of the children is the spiritual ray of light that touches seventeen year Sophie in 1840. On Easter Tuesday, something happened to me which made a deep impression on me…I was awakened by a sweet and clear voice that I had heard…Peace I leave you, my peace I given unto you… This priceless gift is the rock Sophie clings you when her life is beset with a series of stormy and heart- rending events. Peace of the Risen Christ helps her to maintain a stoic balance and take control of the crisis that follows when her beloved father passes away in 1845 on a trip to Holy land and the loss of her young sister Emily in 1846 and the brutal murders of her brother and family in 1854. With the power of Christ, she breaks off her betrothal with naval officers. God’s presence in her life provides a foretaste of the supernatural that share through the shades of gloom and sadness.

The flying shuttle of the Divine Master moves swiftlyand even though the design is inexplicable the strandsof action are clear. Treading cautiously is the footstepsof contemporary, Cardinal Newman, Sophie prays forthe kindly light and it is given in a full measure. The awlpierces through the stronghold of Anglicanism and it isnot just one step at a time but an irresistible pull in thedirection of the Real Presence towards the Cathedral ofValetta. The benign glow of joy raises suspicion aroundbut magnetically pulls them to the centre of truth. Thetorch – bearers Padre Guiliani, Mrs. Demech andespecially Fr. Seagraves leads the neophytes into theCatholic faith. February 2, 1850 is etched in gold and theburnished strands run through to the end. There’s areference to this ecstatic moment almost four decadeslater. Her happy refrain is – My beloved is mine and Iam His.

The loom gets crowded highlighting the Master’s absolute control in the destiny of Mother Veronica. The prismatic grace of God refracts on all those who encircle His choice and plan is salvation history. The mother’s staunch resistance and contempt for Papists is a feeble skein easily snapped by the finger of God, Mr. Leeves sidesteps to let God have His way and sway over her daughters, willy- nilly she collaborates with God’s plan is purchasing a house at Piracus in the vicinity of a Catholic Church. God’s elect need a congenial atmosphere for a deep foundation in prayer and commitment. Sophie’s internship is one of bliss, contentment. Her brother’s illness is another God incidence to place Sophie and Marie Anne is the convent of the sisters of St. Joseph of the apparitions. The enclosure is Sophie’s garden of delight, wrapped in His embrace; she is initiated in contemplative prayers. The methodology scripted in the life and works of St. Teresa is a new field of learning. It gives her an insight of the joys of mystical union. Faber’s book growth in Holiness and the Life of St. veronica Giuliani provide added enlightenment. In this holy, serene ambience, Sophie palpably hears the Divine invitation I want thee here. On September 14, 1851 Sophie is reserved into the Congregation as Sr. Veronica of the passion. Her overwhelming love for her Spouse is sealed with a series of mystical experiences. The radiant dyes splash through her multiple ministries at Piraeus, Tremorel,
Calicut, Rangoon and Marseiles

Her exemplary service as teacher, catechist, nurse and mother finds a testimony in the rich and the poor. The episodes with the Viscount de Serre and the Buddhist coolie are encounter of grace. They color her profile in action. There’s never a luxury of a permanent oasis for God’s elect. The fruitful hiatus at St. Joseph is a preparatory phase for a challenging mission in the near future. Like the prophets of old, Sr. veronica has to leave all that she held dear over the azure waters of the Mediterranean to sail the unchartered waters and anchor in the Indian mission. It’s a great leap from the one step to follow the trail of navigators, merchants, conquerors and missionaries like St. Francis Xavier. The drapes take a complete new hue and pattern – intimidating yet inviting. On March 25, 1862 Msgr. Marie Ephrem receives her into the Third Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The Call within the call spins a fascinating tale with permanent Indian dyes. The great zeal to educate and evangelise overrides the obstacles of climate change, alien culture, spicy cuisine, language hurdles, and hardships of adjustment to a completely different environment. God needs her presence and so He uplifts her from the temporary setbacks. In a swift passage of time, Mother veronica falls in love with the Indian natives with an ardent wish to pitch her test in the Malabar mission forever. In a moment of epiphany she realizes that this is God’s Promised Land and in a total surrender exclaims I think that is all my life I have not tasted sweeter consolation than at Calicut. The blissful moment resource with I want you in Carmel. Ever obedient and submissive, the call is cataclysmic. Humbly, like Mary, Sr. Veronica gives her consent aware that God’s vision was for superiors to her comfortable status. Redemption was a gift to mankind with Mary’s Fiat and the birth of the twin congregation a blessing with the sterling stamp of her acquiescence. The weft and warp depicts the struggle and triumph to establish a foundation. The flight into
the unknown is bleak and scary. Strong opposition from the members of her Order coupled with the resistances from Rome weighs her down Mother Veronica retraces her steps to her Generalate at Marcilles for dispensation. The congregation studies her request and gauges
the loss of a potential leader and the probable making of a Saint. She is held back temporarily and giver the role of a formator. The reward is the gift of Miriam the Arab; together they enter the portals of Pau, in 1867.

The loom holds a pall of gloom and coming events cast their shadows earlier, Sr. Mary of Jesus Crucified- Saint and stigmatist sees a cross hovering over Mother Veronica on her Profession Day. The cross that was branded over her heart with fire on an act of consuming love now becomes her cup and portion. She testifies to this fact He always keeps me on the Cross; that is my place till the end of my poor life. Her cross is the symbol of hope and edification for us. As mother Veronica embarks on this crucial journey, the landscape matches her spirits. The panel exhibits a solitary figure trudging on the snow on December 15, 1867, it strikes a stark difference from the colourful beginnings and one delves into the mystery and the mysticism of the Cross. She shares her Master’s cross and drops from the chalice of bitterness and desolation. In the wintry a darkness, Mother veronica moves from Savory to Montpellier and Annecy and finally La Roche. The encounter with her mother on this way of the cross is both a comfort and a shame as her sophiscated mother is shocked and displeased with her poverty and destitution, yet her maternal love and care acts as a spur to move on her fruitless sojourn to Geneva, Lyons back to Montepellier to Carcassonre, Agen, Bordeaux to Pau through the fertile circuitous route is the circle of faith that glows in the darkness and beckons her to the goal. The long – awaited and delayed mercies of the OCD General and Bishop Marie Ephraim to sanction the opening flash the all clear green signal for the foundation at Bayonne- this is a sacred site and cornerstone of the two Congregation. Resembling Bethlehem in its stark poverty, the order is born on July 16, 1868 – a venue and date of revered memory.

The long – cherished dream blooms a midst sacrifice and penury. Our valiant Foundresssingle – handedly keeps the flagship venture going. The incandescent glow on the littlecommunity radiates God’s presence and benediction. Overriding the customary set- backsin formation in choosing the best, Mother veronica ingrains the tenets of discipleship is theprophetic candidates. Their founding joy is at times curbed by the high handedness, flimsyalterations and the misguided enthusiasm to club the Sisters of St. Joseph with theCarmelites by Bishop Marie Ephrem. It is a disastrous step that affects nascent Order on theverge of extension. The unfavourable reports reach the Bishop of Bayonne. In an irrevocabledecision, His Lordship orders the dissolution of the little Carmel in his diocese on 1873.

Bruised and broken in body and spirit, she heads back to Pau- the centre of healing, revival and recoups within two years. In 1875 Mother Veronica and Sr. Mary of Jesus join the band of pioneer for a foundation at Bethlehem. The beginnings are full of promise with a Carmelite atmosphere of prayer and contemplation is the initial three years. With the untimely tragic death of Mr. Mary of Jesus crucified, peace and harmony varnish and a reign of terror invades the cloister. Hell seems to be let loose under the dictatorship of Fr. Estrate and Mademusello Dartegaux. The community is divided and chaos prevails. In human corporal punishment is meted out to some members especially those stand for justice and truth. Mother Veronica is the main target and treated like a grain of dust beneath their feet. In utter desolation, like the saints of yore she walks into valley of darkness and experiences the dark night of the soul. The glossy, gilded brocade of splendor and glory is a fading shroud of agony and pain. The strangest depression of food is nothing compared to the aridity of her soul with the absence of the Sacraments especially Holy Communion. Teras well- up in the eyes to see the women of name and fame reduced to a pathetic victim of abuse, stripped of all dignity, subject to flagellation and starvation. Her heart- rending cry for death pierces the heart and opens the door of liberation. The angel of mercy is the Patriarch of Jerusalem who escorts her to the healing waters of Pau.

The canvas simultaneously celebrations the fruits of her tears and toil in the southern tip of the Indian peninsular. Her agony is the ecstasy of her children. Amidst trumpet blasts of jubilation, for the laudable work by her child of grace – Mother M. Elias, the Maharajah along with the enlightened society of Trivandrum celebrate the dawn of a renaissance in learning, culture and faith. This is the promised God’s rainbow.

Pau is immortalized as the launching pad for mission, severe hospice and hall of great encounters. The Carmel of Pau is immortalized in the portrayal of her life. It is the Launching pad for mission, a welcome hospice in time of stress and strain, brokenness in body and spirit, a conference hall of momentous encounters, with the natural communication satellite. Their verbatim reports of events at Trivandrum and Mangalore are a reward to her wearied soul. The historic visits of Mother Mary Elias and Mother Marie des Anges brings the cycle of events to a close with a happiness beyond compare. Pau is now her meeting about close to the Chapel to chart her merited entry on the eternal shores. I am a hermit; I talk to no one but God who is my next neighbour. The odyssey of our venerable Foundress gathers the seams for a finish. A glimpse of tapestry from God’s perspective is breath taking. On November 16, 1906 our Holy Mother and great Foundress breathes her end as the melody of the Te Deum from the oratory echoes in her ears.

What is beautiful never dies. Mother Veronica’s name resounds in our Institutions. Her maternal love and blessings keep flowing on the Congregation. The flame carried from Bayonne and ignited at Calicut is a thousand lamps burning in our hearts and minds across
the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe and the U.S.A. they criss – cross the lengths- breath of India down to Sri Lanka leaving a blazing trail of honour, glory and renown.