(15-10-1904 to 23-12-1983)
Rev. Fr. Eliseus Malamackal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus passed away on 23rd December, 1983, at the age of 79 in 54th year of his Profession.
John Malamackal, son of Thomas and Anna, was born on 15th September, 1904 at Elikulam, belonged to Changanacherry Diocese, now in Kanjirapally Diocese.
John joined our Order of the Discalced Carmelites at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram on 20th February, 1927. He received the Holy Habit of the Order on 1st June 1928 taking the new name Br. Eliseus Malamackal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and made his Simple Profession on 3rd June, 1929 at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram. He was sent to Belgium for his Ecclesiastical studies. He did his Philosophy at Courtrai where he made his Solemn Profession on July, 1932. He was sent to Teresianum, our International College, Rome for his Theology. He was ordained priest on11th July, 1937. He took Doctorate in Theology, specializing in the Doctrine of St. John of the Cross. He returned to India in 1940.
Rev. Fr. Eliseus hold various offices in the Province. When the Semi-Province was entrusted to Indians in 1947. He was appointed its First Vicar Provincial and later as Provincial for sixteen years. Rev. Fr. Eliseus Malamackal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was the First Indian Carmelite to participate in the General Chapter of the Order. He also served the Province as:
1940-1947 Superior, St. Teresa’s Monastery, Ernakulam
1951-1957 Novice Master
1954-1957 Provincial Councilor
1970-1972 Master of Theology Students and
Professor of Theology
With a farsighted vision and determination Rev. Fr. Eliseus worked for the growth and expansion of the Province. Institutions like St. Joseph’s Press, San Joe Process, Carmel Book Stall, Carmel Buildings and Carmel Centre are the monuments of his initiative. He was also a pioneer in founding monasteries – Philosophy College (new wing) at Carmel Hill Monastery, Thiruvananthapuram; Carmelaram Theology College, Bengaluru; Adhyatma Vidya Peeth (Institute of Spirituality) at Carmelaram and Carmel Ashram, Thanjavur (new Foundation) given to Tamil Nadu General Delegation – owe much to him. Even in his old age, Rev. Fr. Eliseus was very much solicitous about the needs of our Province. His long cherished desire for a prayer house in the Province was partly realized with the blessing of Ávila Dhyanashram, Sengulam on 31st October, 1983.
Rev. Fr. Eliseus was a talented apostle of the Word of God. He took initiative to start ‘CARMEL’ a spiritual magazine in Malayalam in 1948 and was its Editor for 18 years. He had also contributed many articles on religious themes to Periodicals in Malayalam and English. He also wrote few books such Njan kanda Europe; Karmelothareeyam Kalochithamaya Kazhchappadil etc. He was a well-known retreat preacher. He served many communities of religious women as their Confessor. He was called upon to assist many indigenous religious Congregations – Daughters of Mary (DM), Carmelites of Mount Carmel (CMC), Adoration Convent (SABS), Visitation Congregation (VC) etc. to revise their Constitutions.
Rev. Fr. Eliseus Malamackal OCD of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus lived an exemplary life in the communities where he belonged. He was a man of prayer and he led many in the way of prayer and contemplation.
For two years, he lived a life of retirement from all external activities because of his ill health. On 6th December, 1983, Fr. Eliseus was admitted in St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru for better medical care. Fortified with the Sacraments of the Church he commended his soul to the Hands of the Lord, Whom he served for 54 years in Carmel Vineyard on 23rd December, 1983 at 5.45 p.m. His mortal remains were brought to Carmel Hill, Thiruvananthapuram on 26th December and interred in the monastery crypt.
The Malabar Province will ever gratefully remember Fr. Eliseus for what he had done for its vitality and growth – both material and spiritual.
+ May the Lord reward His faithful Carmelite Friar!!
REQUIEM IN PACEM!!