Friday, October 01, 2004

A special guest...

It is fitting that on this the 1st of October, Feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, that we welcome the relics of St.Thérèse to Rome.

She will be arriving this evening at the church of S. Lorenzo in Lucina at 21.00 at which time mass will be celebrated by one of the auxiliary bishops of Rome. To the best of my knowledge, the relics will remain in the church for veneration for the next week or so.
This is not, of course, her first time to visit Rome. One of the most touching moments of her life was when she begged Pope Leo XIII to be allowed enter Carmel despite being below the canonical age.
I also understand that her relics have previously visited the Russicum, or Russian College. It is a curious fact that this college is dedicated to St. Thérèse. Despite having no overt connection with Russia, her great zeal for souls as a contemplative earned her the patronage of the missions and the Russicum itself was funded from the surplus funds of the cause of St. Thérèse.
There is a nice gallery of pictures here.
May St. Thérèse pray for us!

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