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Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
What was her secret that touched so many? A
nyone familiar with our Cathedral in Victoria Square will have visited the beautiful Chapel of St Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Its walls are covered with beautiful mosaic decorations, with rose tendrils trailing around the three walls of the Chapel with the words "After my deathIwill send a shower of roses". These roses are symbols of God's graces. It is obvious that she is still sending them among us. With the arrival of her relics in Australia, she has rekindled interest in her message about the "little way" and a greater desire for holiness. St Therese, affectionately known as The Little Flower, was canonised on 17 May 1925, by Pope Pius XI. Shortly after, she was proclaimed patroness of the Missions. How was it that this new Saint
who lived in obscurity for nine find God's love in the ordinary years in a Convent in France circumstances of their lives. For became patroness of the Missions them, indeed for us, that is the that she had never visited? How path of holiness, the sanctification was it that this frail nun captured of everyday events and experiences. Love can be noble, deep the imagination of the world? How was it that the image of this and uplifting in every family and small, rather sickly, consecrated in every human interaction. God Religious found its way into the is present where love is. No one, tents and trenches of the soldiers no matter what their position in during the First and Second society, is excluded from this experience of God. World Wars? I am inclined to think that there What was her secret that touched so many hearts? Perhaps was something more for soldiers her secret lay precisely in her facing injury and death in the "ordinariness' and in her message trenches. St Therese's full name was Sister Therese of the Child about the "little way" to God. This attracted ordinary people, Jesus and the Holy Face. This millions of them around the combination of the innocence of world, men and women who felt childhood and the reality of sufthe search for God in their hearts fering is particularly meaningful and discovered through Therese for those facing the possibility of that they did not have to do any- death. thing extraordinary, be anybody Only the important things matextraordinary, to find God. They ter then. There is no room for simply had to be themselves and deceit, for selfishness or decep-
W
elcome to this special edition of The Record, which this week is a departure from the norm. The relics of St Therese of Lisieux will arrive in Australia on 31 January at the invitation of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Perth visit is the start of a national tour. Overseas, millions have already turned out for them wherever they went. We have chosen to produce a special edition focussing exclusively on St Therese, because the visit of her relics will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover not only what made her so great, but more importantly what she has to show us. We hope you like it.
IN THIS EDITION: PAGE 3: A beginner's guide to Therese. The role of relics in the Church. PAGE 4: What makes the Little Flower so important? Fr Paul Maunder OCD explains. PAGE 5: Therese as Doctor of the Church: Excerpts from Pope John Paul II's letter explaining why he gave Therese such an elevated title. PAGE 7: An arrow pointing to Heaven Editorial. PAGES 8&9: Perth parishes prepare to experience 'Flower Power.' PAGES 10,11,12,13: Perth people tell of their own experiences of St Therese. PAGE 16: Fr Bryan's treasured link with the Saint. PAGE 14: "Nothingness into Fire" Mission Director: Therese, inspiration in life's moments of difficulty.
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tion. One faces the prospect of death with the innocence of a person prepared to meet God, humbly and openly, like a child. The Holy Face of Jesus is a face that has known the pain of suffering, the crown of thorns, the agony of the cross. Soldiers can find meaning and love in the witness of bravery under suffering and draw strength from the example of Jesus as they go through a similar experience. St Therese, in her assurances of the love of God to those in danger, drew the soldiers to her. Many took her image into battle. St Therese prayed for soldiers under fire, as she prayed for the Missionaries proclaiming the Good News of God's love throughout the world. Let us welcome her as we welcome her holy relics. I hope that Catholic people and many others who recognise the validity of her
Archbishop's
Perspective "little way" will come in their thousands to welcome the holy relics and recommit themselves to the path of holiness.
Perth people tell of their love for Therese
J
ust over a week ago The Record asked parishes to help locate people who could have a story to tell about how they feel St Therese has touched their lives. A few days later the stories began to come in, giving a glimpse of how, and why, so many people throughout the world love Therese. More than three pages of the paper were filled, and these can be found starting on Page 10.
Rachael van der Moezel Scarborough
ello, my name is Rachael. H When I was five. I read some saint books. I found
Therese of the Child Jesus. I liked her story! I want her for my confirmation name. (PS Iam 6 (six' now!)
Food for thought in title as 'Doctor of the Church'
I 11 ,
Prism ford lima. pad
III
Shows Therese Marlin. aged 15, having dressed up to the nines to try to look older than she was so that her Bishop would give his permission for her to enter the Carmel. We chose this of the many pictures available because it says so much about her, from her posture down to the determined expression on her face.
n St Therese of Lisieux we have a young-adult doctor of the church. She was 24 when she died. In proclaiming her a Doctor of the Church in 1997, the Pope affirmed her as a woman. He also affirmed her as a young person. thus affirming young people themselves - their great potential and value. And I feel that the Pope was reminding those of us well past 24 that we can learn from the young. Like so many Catholics, I basically always knew about St Therese. Still,I discovered during 1997 that I really didn't know her well. Numerous points heard then were remarkable to me -
among them these by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick Ahern of New York: • St Therese read the Gospels until she nearly knew them by heart.' • In her we can see ourselves, with our poor human weakness and all the onslaughts of anxiety which many of us endure.' • She loved atheists,' and in the terrible darkness of her night of faith she offered her anguish to God in their behalf.' • She knew that holiness is for everyone, for the rank and file.' He called Therese the democrat of mysticism.' by David Gibson, Editor, Faith Alive! (CNS)
More testimonies about St Therese can be found on pages 10, 11, 12, 13
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he other day I dreamed I had died and I T came to the Pearly Gates. St Peter looked at me and said: You have not really been the
best of people. Look, here is a bunch of chalks. You see here this spiral staircase. Take a chalk and put a mark on every step for every sin you have committed in your life." I took the bunch of chalks handed to me and began to climb the narrow spiral staircase. One mark for this, one mark for that. AsImade my way up, suddenly there was a tremendous noise above. Someone came running down. I looked up, and who was standing in front of me? My old mate, Peter. "What are you doing here" I asked. "You're supposed to go up." "I've got no time for your silly jokes," he answered. "Make room, soIcan get past.Ihave to go down for more chalks."
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
A beginner's guide to Therese The role of relics in the Church
G
od has always corrununicated with us through physical means. Creation, the Incarnation, Calvary, the Eucharist, and the Church itself are all examples of this very spiritual process occurring in physical ways. Relics are a physical meeting place where God shows us the truth about the Communion of Saints-the link between those of us who are still here and those of us who have gone to eternal life. That link is actually the life of God within us. The same experience occurs often at the tombs of saints and at shrines where Mary
Third Edi,4 Translate,' Original iv
the Mother of God has appeared and invited us to come closer to God in our daily lives. The Gospel (Matt. 9:20-22) tells us about a woman who had been sick for many years who did not dare approach Jesus directly, but who thought that if she reached out and "touched the hem of his garment" she would be cured. She did reach out and she was cured. Later on, people sat where St Peter's shadow would fall on them and they were healed (Acts 5:15), and others who touched handkerchiefs that had been touched by St Paul were also healed (Acts 19:12). This process
of physical and spiritual healing being conveyed through saints and through their relics has been going on in the life of the Church ever since. Relics are an opportunity for people to physically involve themselves in reaching out in faith "to touch the hem of His garment," and they are likewise a meeting place where God has chosen to touch us. He has been using such physical contacts since the beginning of time, and the extraordinary blessings that flow through the relics of St Therese are a sure sign that he is continuing to use them.
correspondent. There are over writings are easily readable. ly rewarded for their efforts! 200 of her letters extant, spanning Although she writes with a decep- There is a substantial body of litthe time from age 4 to 24. tive and disarming simplicity her erature published on the life and spirituality of St Therese. Her letters are never hastily message is profound. written, but carefully thought-out Readers, however, should be Those written by Guy Guacher. and composed. Although they are warned that Therese was a 19th Conrad de Meester and Bernard addressed to people from all Century French bourgeois girl, Bro are highly recommended. walks of life, the majority of her who uses the literary style of he Christopher O'Mahony's book, letters are addressed to members times. This style, characterised by of her family. sentimental and flowery expres- Therese: By Those Who Knew The letters have an immediacy sions, can be irritating and off- Her, which provides witnesses' testimonies for the beatificaand spontaneity that is appealing. putting to contemporary ears! tion/canonisation of Therese will persevere who can Those In reading through them we can trace Therese's growth and matu- through Therese's language and also more amply fill out the porrity. In them we also recognise the get to the inner meaning of what trait and spirituality of the saint's affection and gratitude for she wants to convey will be rich- youngest 'Doctor of the Church.' her loved ones, and her ability to empathise with and encourage them. Of particular interest are the letters F EB / MAR 2002 SPECIALS addressed to her two spiritual brothers: Abbe Belliere MEDIUGOR E 41 PATHWAYS OF and Pere Roulland. PILGRIMAGE ST PAUL 5195 FEBRUARY These letters are replete SPECIAL Medjugorje 8 nights with the saint's spirituality. Kusadasi • Ephesus • Pamukkale • Assos • Departs 11 Febmary Troy Canakkale • Gallipoli • Kayala • Philippi Last Conversations conThessaloniki • Kalambaka • Corinth • Athens with Fr Michael Mullen. sist of personal recollections SPECIAL conversations with A 16 day pilgrimage journey of 2490 PRICE walking in the footsteps Therese during the last few through Greece St Paul of months of her life, while she Also departs in 2002: and Turkey. 25 Mar, 30 Apr - Fr Grrg was confined in the infirDeparting 19 April 2002 Neville, 30 May - Fr John mary. These jottings were accompanied by Baldacchinofrom $3295 recorded by Therese's bioFr Matt Digges. Ask about Lourdes Extension logical sisters (Pauline, Marie and Celine) and some Flightworld Travel (08) 9322 2914 • Inter Travel (08) 9409 1080 of the nuns who were close AUSTRALIA WIDE FREE CALL rare 1800 819 1 56 to the saint. Here we see Therese's ability to advise, counsel and encourage those who were troubled or struggling in the convent, and also her personal reflections in the face of terrible physical and spiritual sufferings, and death. In reading through these works, it is advisable to begin with the Story of a Soul. The story will situate the saint within a certain human and spiritual context. It will familiarise the reader with Therese' s biography. the various persons and relationships in her life, her dreams and desires with Perth's best range of books and articles are at regard to her vocation, and her struggles to surrender herself wholly to Jesus/God. The Last Conversations being a kind of sequel to the Story of a Soul, may be read next. In the light of familiarity with these two writings. 858 Hay Street Perth Phone 9321 6655 the Letters will be much more appreciated. Therese's
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St Therese's Story of a Soul has had an extraordinary impact. It has never been out of print, has been translated into more than 60 languages and over the last 100 years is second only to the Bible on the religious best-seller list.
I
n spite of the short life that she lived, a mere 24 years, St Therese left behind a significant body of writings, which enable her to be declared a 'Doctor of the Church'. Here we propose, for those who wish to study her spirituality, a summary of the content of Therese's work and a guide to how one may read thorough these writings so as to derive most profit from them. There are two major works: Story of a Soul and Letters; and two minor works: Poems, and Plays directly composed by Therese. There is also one work. entitled Last Conversations, which is indirectly attributed to her. What, in brief, is the content of each of these writings? Story of a Soul is Therese's spiritual autobiography. It consists of three manuscripts, namely, A. B and C. These were begun and composed over the last 3 years of Therese's life. le 18951897. Although written as individually self-contained treatises, they have been assembled together under the title Story of a Soul. Manuscript A was begun in 1895 and completed a year later. It consists of Therese's childhood memories right up to her entry into the Carmelite convent at Lisieux. In this manuscript we learn of Therese's personality and relationships - especially with the various members of her family;
the events (her mother's death, first communion, Christmas grace, decision to enter Carmel, father's illness and death, etc) that shaped her and the way in which she responded to them; and of her early years of formation in the convent. Manuscript B is a 'retreat souvenir' written in 1896 for her sister, Marie. It is the shortest of the three manuscripts and is the jewel of Therese's writings. Her we have the dreams and desires at the heart of her spirituality In this manuscript we learn of the saint's intense desire to manifest her all-consuming love for Jesus, and of her discovery that the answer to her 'folly' was in being 'love in the heart of the Church'. Manuscript C, begun a few months before Therese's death (September 1897) remains incomplete. It fills out in greater detail her life in the convent. Here we learn of the saint's challenges to live faithfully and generously her consecration to Jesus as a Carmelite religious. In this manuscript. Therese shares her struggles with and insights into obedience and poverty; charity and community life; prayer ad her experience of spiritual desolation, which she calls "the night of faith." In this manuscript we also learn of how Therese came to discover her spirituality of the "little way." Letters: Therese was a good
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The Record, January 24 2002 Page 3 40,11 3.00:: LS '05'4 .11St irfifof t'i
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
Saint Therese's "Little Way" a simple path to greatness By Fr Paul Maunder OCD
W
hen the relics of St Therese of Lisieux reach Australian shores this coming week her Carmelite sisters and brothers do not know what to expect. Though she has recently been declared a Doctor of the Church academics seem to show little interest, perhaps because she was not herself an academic. On he other hand this Saint is surprisingly well known and has a mysterious way of drawing new friends and devotees to herself. In recent tours of Ireland and Canada her relics drew no less than half the population of Ireland and over two million in Canada. Quite simply Therese is loved by millions and it is not at all difficult to understand why. Feeling in herself great desires to be a saint and reach heaven quickly, yet bereft of most talents and weighted down by certain humiliating character disabilities, Therese, after many distressing attempts to proceed by the higher way, succeeded in 'intuiting' a way especially marked out for her. Much as Columbus 'divined' a new way across the seas. Yet what she discovered was far more than she dared to hope for. This 'new way' consisted in the good God lifting her up to be Himself her own great reward. In the new era of elevators that work at the touch of a button this was a way of confidence, not simply in spite of weakness, but because of it. The 'secret' was in the weakness; the 'dead-end' of human resources became God's free gift of Himself in tender, merciful. love. What was needed was not simply to bear the sight of personal weakness, but to positively embrace it as the truth, to love it as the truth, with the knowledge
that all is from God; all is grace. Already inclined to this way by certain graces Therese was yet moved to tears to find her doctrine clearly confirmed in the Scriptures. St Paul especially 'took time out' to mark out this 'better way' (1Cor
12-16).
Love alone joins us to God and is the one talent all have. Without love all other talents lose their worth, while without them love is sufficient unto itself. The mystery of love is a world unto itself. It has need of no other thing. It has mysterious depths, unfathomable to human comprehension. Ills the one thing needful. Now at last Therese could fly above her earth-bound world of crippling impotence to the heights of divine mystery, rejoicing in the sight of her weakness since this was the cause of the divine inclination toward her, while love brought about divine union within her poor soul. This was no holiness by halves, but an 'I choose all' spirituality containing within itself all other things. All the elements of special divine preparation for this Gospel message to our world were present in Therese's childhood. The family into which she had been born was so well provided for that there was no conceivable reason why her parents, Zelie and
Her parents and older sisters would do the rest. This simple pattern is important. It was later lived out spiritually to the letter by Therese, becoming the basis of her "Little Way'. Therese's part was not to become holy by works of her own, but by confidence in what God and her older brothers and sisters - the angels and saints in heaven - would do for her. Her task was to love. This was all the skill she coveted. She need only spend the day of this life knowing she was pleasing God by filling the small insignificant things of her life with all the love she could give. This is the essence of the 'Little Way'. Astonishingly, even her falls, always distressing for a child, would become, through confident repentance, an exceptional source of joy and advance in love, on the basis that parents give special attention to those children too small to avoid hurting themselves amidst the enthusiasm of life. With such thoughts the distinctive genius of Therese shows Itself, a teacher par excellence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Startling too, since love alone abides, there was no need for her to stay on earth at all. This work of love is the only work that endures to eternity and she had long known that God does not need us for anything on earth apart from love.
Members of the Carmelite order carry the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux into the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery in Washington in October, 1999.
Nevertheless, since to love is that heaven even on earth, she was well content, too, to remain until that great eternal Sabbath in her true homeland she so longed for. Here the extraordinary disproportion of Therese's Little Way becomes apparent. It is something entirely contrary to usual human thinking, to the Louis, should have another child Unperturbed by 'empty hands', point where many seem to stumthan that it allow itself to be loved. unfulfilled dreams and unfin- ble on such audacity. Therese found herself at every ished projects, she now hoped for Surely greatness cannot be so turn being asked for nothing but an early death, no longer as an simple? herself just as she was. escape, but confident of 'spendIndeed Therese's boldness starThe love instinctive in a child ing her heaven doing good on tled even her at times. was more than sufficient. earth'. Yet she never once doubted it was precisely this that pleased God most of all. This is revolutionary thinking! Yet it is precisely this revolution in mind and heart that the Christ of the Gospels longed to see in his disciples. Consequently Therese, taking the Lord at his word, made the prodigal father's tender words to his elder son entirely her own: "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours" (Luke 15:31). Ills Therese's gift to our world that she penetrated so deeply into the heart of God. understood what the She gospels make clear but few understand: that God suffers for want of love. That he thirsts to be loved by the creatures He has made and that it is quite possible for us to give Him to drink Instructively for us today, it was a woman married five times and currently in a de-facto relationship that Jesus asked for a drink. Nothing sums up Therese's message and popularity so clearly. "When He said 'give me to drink', It was the love of His poor creature the Creator of the universe was seeking." Nor is this love of God selfish. Its hidden fruitfulness was seen by A woman prays at St Therese's reliquary during the US tour, which saw thousands of people line-up to catch a glimpse Therese in the results of her prayer for the repentance of the of this cherished saint. Photo CNS/Patnck Downes/Hawaii Catholic Herald
"This was no holiness by halves, but an 'I choose all' spirituality containing within itself all other things."
The Record, January ,24 2002 Page 4
famous Parisian murderer Pranzini. His last moment conversion on the scaffold was marked by a particularly moving sign that God had shared the joy of His saving work with her, though again she knew well He needs no one's help. This was the 'first child' of her spousal love of Jesus. Nevertheless, though this hidden apostolic fruitfulness is the very heart of her doctrine, Therese did not fault Martha's active works. Filled with the 'one thing needful' such passing works gain eternal value, and easily shed the anxiety that so often accompanies them (Luke 10:38-42). Sanctity might seem an irrelevant topic today. Yet, as Therese has explained it, holiness is precisely the missing something in most lives that is within reach of all. No one ought to lose heart. Therese understood from inside the power of the world to attract, blind and spit people out. She experienced feelings of suicide, but without despair, so that she could pray for those who do, reassure them and be with them spiritually at the precise moment in which no human agency can reach them. Even God's justice is radiant with love. "It is wonderful", Therese says, "to think God really takes account of our weaknesses." With such encouragements millions have begun to see their lives turn round as they run in the odour of the perfumes of this Imitable and cherished Saint. Therese died at twenty four, unknown to the world. Yet within a year her autobiography had sold 2000 copies, followed by millions in many languages. She was canonised in 1925 by Pope Pius XI and declared a Doctor of the Church, October 1997.
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
Saint makes the Gospel shine
A
long with many other reasons, St Therese is famous for being the saint for doing ordinary things well with great love ... but in her remarkable life after death nothing has been ordinary, even for saints. Among the least ordinary events was her elevation to the rank of Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 1997, Mission Sunday of the centenary of her death. In his Apostolic Letter announcing her appointment as only the third woman and the youngest of all time among the 33 Doctors in the Church's 2000-year history, the Pope gave many reasons for his decisions. They are summarised below: During her life. Therese received from the divine Teacher the "science of love" which she then expressed with particular originality in her writings. The reception given to her example and teaching (after her death in Sept. 1897) was quick, universal and constant._ On June 10, 1914, Pius X introduced the cause of her beatification.. On August 14, 1921 Benedict XV declared her virtues heroic... On April 29, 1923, Pius XI proSt Peter's Basilica, Rome, in 1997 when she was made a Doctor of the Church, an honour only given to 33 claimed her Blessed... On May 17, A banner of St Therese hangs from the balcony at Pnoto CNScReuters in the Church's 2000-year history. Only three of these were women. other 1925. he canonised her, highlighting the splendour of her virtues passion of the suffering servant tionship between the doctrine of gation for the Causes of Saints and of the Holy Spirit. This having been duly enacted. and the originality of her doc- engraved in his holy face, the St Teresa of Avila and her spiritu- and hearing the opinion of the trine... and on December 14. 1927 splendour of his glorious life, and al daughter Therese of Lisieux; Congregation for the Doctrine of We decree that this Apostolic LetPaul VI called the attention of the Faith regarding her eminent ter is to be religiously preserved she joined St Francis Xavier as his Eucharistic presence. teachers, educators, pastors and doctrine, with certain knowledge and to have bill effect both now patron of the Missions. spirThe primary source of her Her writings qualify her as a itual experience and her teaching theologians to the study of her and after lengthy reflection, with and in the future; furthermore, it the fullness of Our apostolic is thus to be judged and defined teacher of the spiritual life ... they is the Word of God in the Old and doctrine. ... the Spirit of God allowed her authority We declare Saint as right, and whatever to the conmake the light of the Gospel shine New Testaments. brightly ... they reveal trusting Her writings contain over 1000 heart to reveal directly to the peo- Therese of the Child Jesus and trary may be attempted by anyabandonment to God's hands and biblical quotations, more than 400 ple of our time the fundamental the Holy Face, virgin, to be a Doc- one, on whatever authority. the unity between love of God and from the Old Testament and over mystery, the reality of the Gospel tor of the Universal Church. In the knowingly or unknowingly, is null .... What truth of the Gospel mes- name of the Father, and of the Son and void. love of neighbour ... and point to 600 from the New. really more basic and the little way that everyone can Therese immersed herself in sage is take because everyone is called to meditation on the Word of God more universal than this: God Father and we are his holiness. with exceptional faith and spon- is our children. Her writings show an enlight- taneity. She is widely quoted in ened witness of faith which ... She showed the importance of LIVING AND PROCLAIMING reveals the mystery and holiness the biblical sources in the spiritu- Church teachings and her doctrine is a source in six sepof the Church. GOD'S HOSPITABLE WVE. al life.., she emphasised the origi(Quoting Pope Paul VI) What nality and freshness of the Gospel arate items in the recent Catstrikes us most ... is her lucid, pro- ... and discovered hidden trea- echism of the Catholic ...the suffering ofmy neighbour breaks my heart... found and inebriating absorption sures, appropriating words and Church (nn 12Z 826, 956, 1011, (St. John of God. 1540) of the divine truths and mysteries episodes, sometimes with super- 2011. 2558). She who so loved to learn the truths of the faith of faith... Our core of As lived out by St. natural boldness. in the catechism deserved to Her teaching not only conforms Hospitality compels five over of God John Enlightened by the revealed be included among the to Scripture and the Catholic faith, and urges us to depth our ago. centuries but excels for the depth and wise word, Therese wrote brilliant authoritative witnesses of our relationship with vocation is to give of pages on the unity between love Catholic doctrine. synthesis it achieved. God, ourselves and completely ourselves Therese possesses an excepHer doctrine is at once a con- of God and love of neighbour. with those whom we and freely: to be a Her doctrine conforms to the tional universality. fession of the Church's faith, an share our lives. Brotherly presence: a experience of the Christian mys- Church's teaching ... and at the Her person and the Gospel community and symbol of hope for end of her life she wrote the Apos- message of the "little way" of tery and a way to holiness. ministry. our world: proclaiming There is an authentic teacher of tles' Creed in her own blood as an trust and spiritual childhood God's Hospitable love faith and the Christian life ... in expression of her unreserved have received a remarkable to all. providential harmony with the attachment to the profession of welcome which has transcended every border. Church's most authentic tradition, faith. We are called to a The spiritual doctrine of both for her profession of the WE ARE THE First of all Therese is a charism of Hospitality Catholic faith and promotion of Therese of Lisieux has helped woman ... with the deep resoand love that -BROTHERS OF extend the kingdom of God. the most genuine spiritual life. nance of life and wisdom promotes healing. ST JOHN OF She has made the Gospel shine By her example of holiness, of which belong to the feminine advocacy and GOD" appealingly in our time ... making perfect fidelity to Mother Church, genius ... Therese is also a conreconciliation for the Church, the Mystical Body of of full communion with the See of templative ... and Therese is a those most marginChrist, known and loved... Peter, as well as by the special young person. alised by our society. ... a particular radiance of doc- graces obtained by her for many Therese is a teacher for our WILL YOU ACCEPT GOD'S INVITATION TO A LIFE trine shines forth from her writ- missionary brothers and sisters, time which thirsts for living ings which ... grasp the very heart she has rendered a particular ser- and essential words, for heroDEDICATED TO HOSPITALITY? of the message of Revelation in a vice to the renewed proclamation ic and credible acts of witBr John Clegg (OH) and experience of Christ's Gospel ness. fresh and original vision. Vocations Director Through spiritual childhood ... and to the extension of the She is also loved and accepteverything comes from God, Catholic faith in every nation on ed by brothers and sisters of PO Box BN 1055 Burwood North, N.S.W. returns to him and abides in him, earth. other Christian communities Telephone: (02) 9747 1699 for the salvation of all, in a mysIn the words of other Popes: and by non-Christians. Fax: (02) 9744 3 262 tery of merciful love. Pius XI ... her special divine Fulfilling the wishes of many provincial@stjohn.com.au Email: Therese knew Jesus, loved him enlightenment; Pius XII ... she pen- Brothers in the Episcopate Website: www.stjohn.com.au and made him loved... She pene- etrated to the heart of the Gospel; and of a great number of the Carworld. John XXIII (while still the Pope throughout faithful trated the mysteries of his infancy, the words of the Gospel, the dinal Roncalli) showed the rela- after consulting the Congre-
MEN OF HOSPITALITY
The Record, January 24 2002 Page 5
Through my Do we shine out in the world? mother's death Peter Dwan continues with his meditations on the readings for Sunday's Mass. This week the Tird Sunday of Ordinary Time
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oday's liturgy invites us to consider how and to what extent we are spreading the light of Christ. Today's first reading (Isaiah 8:23-9.3) is another prophecy concerning the messianic days, given by Isaiah in the eighth century BC. It describes the era of liberty and joy which the future Messiah will usher in. Galilee, the north eastern corner of Palestine, had been populated for the most part by pagan Assyrian settlers, who had been brought in there after the fall of the northern kingdom (Israel) in 722.
Paganism had control, and the few Chosen People, thinly scattered in the region, found it hard to retain their faith and harder still to practise it. All that will be changed, the prophet says. The reading begins: In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali." These were two of the 12 tribes who settled in the region of Galilee after the Exodus from Egypt. When Isaiah says that the Lord humbled Zebulun and Naphtali, he means that those tribes practically disappeared after the Assyrian invasion. Isaiah goes on to say: "The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has hone." The light of faith enlightened both Jews and pagans.
A Layman's
Meditation The pagans were walking in darkness, while the Jews were living in a land of deep shadow, in that they had a limited knowledge, and their service of God was motivated by fear rather than love. Their belief in a future, endless life was weak, and was not accepted at all by many. Many of our contemporaries are either walking in darkness or living in a land of deep shadow. What are we doing about it? Do we pray for and support the work of evangelisation financially, for example by sending donations to missionary orders and congregations? Do we invite people to Mass or other church services? Do we lend Catholic literature and answer questions about the Faith, or do we try to avoid questions? Are we a light to others by our good example, realising that while words teach, example attracts? One of the things that can prevent Catholics from spreading the light of Christ is factionalism. In today's second reading (Corinthians 1:10-13) St Paul appeals to his faction-ridden Corinthian converts, saying: "I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among ourselves, to be untied again in your belief and practice." Factionalism strikes at the heart of
To Jesus through Mary.
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charity St Paul calls the Corinthians his brothers and begs them to be truly brothers to one another, to preserve unity among themselves. This appeal isn't just Paul's wish, it is the command of Christ, who put loving neighbour next to the command to love God. St Paul wrote: "What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like am for Paul', I am for Apollos', 'I am for Cephas', 'I am for Christ'. These were, most likely, caused by the arrival of some converts from outside. Apollos, an Alexandrian Jewish convert, was an eloquent preacher and some may have thought him a greater apostle than Paul. Even though he was not an apostle. Others preferred their first teacher, Paul. Factionalism developed following Vatican II, with Catholics being divided into radical, moderates and conservatives, to the detriment of the Church. The gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) records that when Christ went and settled in Capemaurn and began preaching, Isaiah's prophecy given in the first reading, "The People that lived in darkness has seen a great light," was fulfilled. The longer version of he gospel relates the call of the two pairs of blood brothers; Peter and Andrew, James and John. Priests play an indispensable role in spreading the light of Christ. Whether we are conservatives, moderates or radicals we can all pray for vocations and help educate priests by donating to organisations which support seminaries throughout the world, A donation to help this work is one effective means of spreading the light of Christ.
a column of Marian devotion
hat dramatic days of atrocious us to do his will. He does not ask us to doubts that [Joseph] must have understand the profound motives behind spent! A just man, he had It which are often superior to our earthdecided to enter into a holy marriage in ly capacity to grasp. conformity with the law of Moses. At this point we can understand And he had contracted marriage with Joseph's joy. "Do not be afraid to take the certainty of having found an ideal Mary your wife into your house," the spouse: a girl whom he knew from her angel said. birth (in that little village this was true He was no longer afraid; he will run to for everyone), toward whom he had Mary with all the strength he had left, to immense esteem and affection such as to tell her that now he knows everything, absolutely exclude the possibility of his that all is clear. He would want to set the being faced with betrayal. day for their solemn nuptials as soon as If he had thought that, he would have possible. After so much fear of having to had the duty to denounce his wife for separate from his beloved spouse, now being unfaithful. Perhaps parents and he felt certain that he would never again friends were already rejoicing with him be separated from her. For the Virgin, too, over the child who was to be born; in it will be the end of a nightmare and she Joseph there was only torment that will have thanked God who had rewardwould not give him peace, which grew ed her faith, her abandonment, in this from week to week, as did the sorrowful way. decision which was maturing in him. But these are only personal, human We are surprised at Mary's silence. But considerations. What Joseph understood If we think about her personality, her Is another thing entirely. He understood way of comporting herself, it no longer that his spouse was above all things the surprises us, and we find that her silence Mother of God. followed the most reasonable way of He understood that he was the fortubehaving in this occasion. nate descendant of David, through whom Even she must have suffered trementhe messianic prophecies were to be fuldous pain. She read in the eyes of her filled. He understood that his marriage spouse - ever more noticeable with every to Mary was completely different from encounter - the doubt, the suffering, the what he had imagined it would be: God uncertainty about what he should do, Holy Familly, M. Schongauer, Kunsthistoentrusted to him the dearest and most but she knew that it was not up to her to risches Museum, Vienna precious persons who ever existed: Jesus intervene. It would be better to call a halt to every- and Mary What was taking place in her was extra- thing. In the most delicate way possible, He understood and accepted with gratordinary and was the fulfilment of a i n secret" as Matthew tells us (only two greater divine plan. It was not her duty witnesses were required), he decided to itude his role, of which he will feel totally unworthy. Here we truly have to to reveal it and to make him understand; give his wife a decree of divorce. a fact so extraordinary belonged to the In those days it was very easy for a hus- discover the plan of God with regard to Father who had sent the angel to her, to band to repudiate his own wife, under the figure of Joseph; we will speak of it the Son whom she carried in her womb; any kind of pretext. And the bill of In our next reflection. In conclusion let us limit ourselves to to the Spirit who had made her fruitful. divorce was considered a guarantee for And so she kept quiet and waited, when the woman who was then free to remar- noting how the prophecy of Isaiah, "A virgin shall conceive," receives a precise keeping quiet and waiting were the two IY-. things that cost her the most. We admire Only when Joseph in his suffering had explanation only in Matthew. Often the Mary's silence but the silence of God reached this decision, did the angel, all prophecies of the Old Testament contain bewilders us. alone, arrive on the scene to reveal the veiled hints which are clarified only at the moment of their realisation. Even in With Elizabeth the sound of Mary's truth to him. voice was enough because the Spirit Let's be honest. Aren't we immediately this case the expression is not clear. The revealed everything. How much Joseph inclined to ask: Why didn't God send the same term used by Isaiah, almah, could must have suffered because of Mary's angel earlier? Why did he allow so much Indicate a girl, a young spouse. Only silence, but how much Mary must have time of piercing sorrow for both holy through the extraordinary maternity of suffered because of the silence of God. spouses, so loved and precious to him, to Mary and the reminder of Matthew are we able to understand the exact sense: a Little by little Joseph reached the most pass? sorrowful decision of all. He was conI believe that they were the same virgin. vinced that he found himself facing a motives for which the Father asked of his From The Gospel of Mary, by Fr mystery an event too great for him to Son the sacrifice of the cross. The ways Gabriel Amorth SSP, St Paul Publicacomprehend. of God are not our own. The Lord asks tions, RRPS23.50
The OteCiiitt: Jainitary 24 2COP. page 6
and a saint's life Isee much more
With Bronwen Clune
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here is one person in my life whom I will always remember as being at peace with God. That person is my mother who died when I was 16 from cancer. She was only 41 and left behind four children and a husband. As a mother myself now, I know how hard that must have been for her to know she wouldn't be there for us. It would have made a lot of people angry. But I remember my mother in the last few weeks of her illness as someone who had not given up on life, but had resigned herself to it. I always wonder if I would be able to do the same. She definitely went through what I can only very poorly describe as some sort of spiritual enlightenment, which gave her a remarkably peaceful presence, even when she was probably in her greatest pain. In some waysIhave always felt that my own religious journey is one leading to that point, to that commitment and understanding. At the time of her death I was your average disinterested and apathetic teenager, and my mother never once expected more of me at the time. In some ways my behaviour was also my way of dealing with the situation. But I do remember once, when she was sitting up in a lot of pain, she said to me that she wished she could tell me all that she had come to understand about life. That was all she said. She never attempted to explain it to me, but slowly Icame to realise why. That is because all of us have to come to an understanding on our own. But understanding God's love and his teachings don't just automatically happen over a lifetime. The sad truth is that many people die with very little love or acceptance of God. It is up to us to make the effort by way of prayers and reflection. Most of us need to be shown the right direction, and that is where St Therese can give us some guidance. Even the best of us have demons to fight, but even the worst of us can win those battles and find some peace. What brought the memories of my mother In her last few months back to me was reading the stories of everyday people whose lives have been touched by St Therese (see pages 2, 10, 11, 12 of this edition).
All those who have been so generous in sharing their stories seem to have a very contented and peaceful outlook on life. What they have is acceptance of Godip way. Their stories reminded me of my mother. While I was always curious about the relics. their visit now has a much greater significance for me. I know my mother wore a brown scapular around her neck, it was all a vague memory, until I realised what it was. Ithink if there is any saint who can touch the lives of ordinary Australians, it would be St Therese. She lived a very ordinary life, which was cut tragically short, but that makes her all the more extraordinary For me,I have seen a peace and acceptance in God's way andIthink that is what we should all be heading for under St Therese's direction.
Read
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An arrow pointing straight to Heaven
The Record
t seems as though everyone has had their say in this edition of The Record on the life and legacy of St Therese of Lisieux, and this is exactly as it should be. From reading reader's contributions one PO Box 75, Leeclerville, WA 6902 suspects that the response and the enthuTel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax (08) 9227 7087 siasm which characterise the personal stocathrec@iinethetau ries and reflections sent in to The Record are, at the local level, the best testimony of all that could have been offered. simply this: to speak of Therese is not so in the world that exists simultaneously It is also hard not to believe that in writ- much to speak of an individual life as to within time and out of it. To be counted ing their own personal stories, many read- speak of a phenomenon in human affairs, among the followers of Jesus Christ is to ers felt that they were, in part, repaying in or a movement, or a tidal wave of love. It be able, in a way unlike those who do not some small way their own personal debts would almost be accurate to say that yet know or believe, to have direct access to this remarkable young woman, barely Therese was something more like a comet to heaven itself. Those who have sought more than a slip of a girl when she died. that streamed briefly across the sky of the her aid from heaven know this best of all. Another aspect of Therese's gift to us is The tour of the relics of St Therese late 19th Century. But because of the particular circum- her understanding and explanation of the throughout Australia, starting at the Infant Jesus parish in Morley, began with a stances of her life, hidden away in a small universal vocation to sanctity, something request from Australia's Catholic Bishops. Carmelite monastery in a provincial to which all of us are called. In Therese's world sanctity was often The Bishops' request was an inspired French town, her existence almost choice. And it is entirely possible to say unknown except to her family, her friends misunderstood as purely belonging to that by the time the tour concludes, count- and her fellow Carmelite sisters, she was priests and nuns, and all too often in a disless more lives will have been touched by a comet at lust unseen. It was only after torted way bereft of joy or happiness. her spark had burned intensely bright and Therese showed the world it is something St Therese and her famous love. Her relics will not even have arrived in then faded away that the world began to to which every person in every situation of life is called. Australia at the time that this edition of become aware of her. That to pursue holiness is to engage in The fascination which people from every The Record appears, and yet her influence is already being experienced by walk of life display in regard to her is a pursuing our truest peace and joy. Sanctithose who are connected to the tout The testimony in itself to one very particular ty, or holiness, she showed us, was simply first rose petals are already beginning to aspect of what she has left us: a vastly becoming the unique person God had in Increased awareness that to belong to the his mind when he created us - reaching fall from heaven itself. All that can be said of St Therese here is Church is to belong to the only institution our true potential, in other words. And she
T Arouncht;e 7a/k. Reconciliation suggestion
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ather Flynn says, or rather, declares, that reconciliation is the first and foremost requirement for peace, le .for love to grow and flourish. I presume Father is referring to Aboriginal matters. If this is so, I respectfully suggest he get hold of a copy of the December Quadrant magazine in which the Aboriginal lawyer Noel Pearson discusses the Aboriginal situation and what is required. Peter Bertola Esperance
ing that Satan is behind the works; "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil." Fr Amorth also criticised the disordered morality presented in Rowling's works. I congratulate Theresa de Souza and other lay people who warned us of the dangers of Harry Potter andIam dismayed that others like Janet Kovesi Watt and Fr Timothy Deeter promoted Harry Potter, in The Record Cecilia Natta Willeton
Intellectual honesty
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ani pleased to commend your intellectual honesty in giving publicity to the warning issued by the Chief Exorcist of Rome, Father Gabriele Amorth, regarding the evil of the Harry Potter books ("Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king astoral Liturgy" reminds us of the of the darkness, the devil.") words of the final verse of Advance You are to be particularly commended Australia Fair. because you were the writer of a book The words are: review on Harry Potter, published by the "With Christ our head and cornerstone Record a couple of months ago. In it, you We'll build our nation's might saw no great harm done to children in Whose way and truth and light alone those books. Catholic priests, laymen and Can guide our path aright. women also followed the same line. Our lives a sacrifice of love Now that a person as authoritative as the Reflect our Master's care. Chief Exorcist of Rome comes out publicly With faces turned to heaven above to warn parents against those books, conAdvance Australia Fair. cerned as he is with the evil influence of In joyful strains then let us sing the devil over their children, one might fear Advance Australia Fair". that the issue would not be reported on by As suggested by Arnold Jago, should we the Catholic media in Australia, and the not, at all gatherings of Christians, sing this matter silently forgotten lest some people final verse as well AP the first? Perhaps it is might to lose face in the public arena. already sung at school assemblies, blessBut you had the intellectual honesty to ings of schools and the like. If not, why not publicise Fr Amorth's warning. Veritas libduring 2002 and beyond? erabit vos, Our Lord said. The Muth shall make you free. I can only hope and pray Rev. Mons. Michael Keating that those priests and laypeople who pubBateman licly supported the Harry Potter books will follow your good example and take the time to investigate the matter to find out the just wanted to write this short e-mail to reasons why Fr Amorth issued such a sericongratulate you on the wonderful edi- ous warning. torial, front page and third page story in In any event, I am pleased to testify that last weekend's Record. the Recordnewspaper is in excellent hands The whole story in the West was essen- indeed. tially a veiled attack on the priesthood, a Raymond de Souza sensationalised slur on the overwhelming The Layman's Hour - Programme Host majority of our priests who are leading good moral lives. Thankyou for having the courage to corwould like to correct some of Peter rect this. May the Lord continue to bless Bertola's misunderstandings (10 Januyou and your paper. ary) of the Christian Democratic Party Matthew Monisse to what Peter believes, we do Contrary Eaton have policies that offer material rewards.I wonder if Peter looked at our website www.chrsitiandemocratic.org.au/wa. ongratulations to Peter Rosengren If he does this he will see that our polifor publishing the "Warning on Pot- cies cover the same areas that the major ter", by Rome's official exorcist, Fr parties do, perhaps differing from theirs in that the object of our policies is that we Gabriele Amorth in last week's Record. Fr Amorth has warned parents against look at the impact they will have on famiJ.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, suggest- lies.
And a final verse too?
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Congratulations....
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Of Christian Democrats
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....And again, on Potter
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showed us that holiness, or drawing closer and closer to God, was not to be found In living a spectacular life, but in invisible ways and in the midst of the ordinary - the street, the kitchen, the office, the train and in doing the ordinary as well as one can. This is a message for the Church. Ills a message particularly for the 98 per cent of the Church who are the laity. It is a message for the world. But it still borders on astonishing that a relatively uneducated girl who entered the Carmel at 15 and was dead less than 10 years later exercised an influence on the course of the history of the world that is still being felt And one can confidently predict in a general sense that her influence will manifest itself for generations to come. She is an arrow, pointing straight at Heaven and the One there to whom she gave herself as bride. Our world desperately needs the spirit of Therese. Our society needs it. As individuals, labouring in this valley of tears, we now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the path to Heaven along which she has already trod, and to which she wants to show us the way. • The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.
Lelfers fo I would also like to assure him that with our preferential voting system it is possible to give CDP your first preference and still elect one of the major parties for government. As the candidate for Thornlie at the last State Election, I had 100 people working for me at the polling booths in my electorate. Donations received by the CDP were higher than the other minor parties and with sensible and responsible economics we were able to finish the year in the black. despite contesting two elections. The observation that a conscience vote by parliamentarians for the Abortion Bill carried it into law proves my point that we need more true Christians in Parliament. As I wrote in my last letter, there would be no difference between a conscience vote or a party line vote for the CDP. The claim that the Labor Party was elected via the preferences of one minor party Is not correct. Although the name of the party was not mentioned. I am assuming that Peter is referring to One Nation. Research has shown this not to be true. The main reason for the Liberal Party's defeat was the electorate's dissatisfaction with it. Terrance Ryan State Councillor. CDP
Concern about McBrien
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am concerned about the opinion expressed by Father Richard P McBrien on the Pope and his canonisations in general and in particular his remarks about Padre Pio. Where has Father McBrien been living these past 60 or more years? It can't have been on planet earth, unless in a remote cave in the wilderness. Nobody, but nobody, not even Mother Teresa, has had a longer, wider and more lasting following than Padre Pio. If Padre Pio does not qualify as having "universal appeal" then I suspect no saint with the possible exception of St Francis of Assisi does. I have a picture of Padre Pio in my room thatIcut out of the Record very many years ago (at least 30 although I suspect it was much longer). WhenI went to school Padre Pio was my hero. All the other saints who had stigmatas were dead and gone. He was living, breathing proof that miracles could still happen today. He and Teresa Neuman were special. They were alive at the same time asIwas. For too long an unsung hero, Blessed Juan Diego is well overdue for canonisation. The picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a lasting miracle and testimony to his goodness. Mary chase him. He was good enough for her. I believe that our own Dom Salvado and Monsignor Hawes, a priest in the
Cjilor
Geraldton region for many years, should be considered for canonisation. I-lis Holiness has my unqualified support on these canonisations and indeed everything else he does. I would like to remind Father McBrien, and anyone who agrees with him, of the words "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." I hope the speaker of those words has enough universal appeal for Father McBrien. Eileen A. Gomm Karrinyup
The question should be:
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eter Bertola may have given answers to the wrong question (Letters 10 January). The question asked was, why did Christians not vote for the CDP? The total CDP vote at each of the last State and Federal elections was less than 1 per cent The quintessential question is, why have Christians neglected, for so long, the fundamentals of Democracy? Because: Christians appear to have forgotten much of the long history of Democracy. The word 'Demos' is Greek for 'People.' Christ gave new meaning to the concept of service. Magna Carta established the philosophical principle of the division of power. Abraham Lincoln simplified the concept of Democracy: government must be of the people, by the people and for the people. The people can only govern through genuine representation. Presently democracy is defined by the Idea that the majority holds power. However such power is exercised through a minority. They are not elected politicians but are the rich who control the politicians. It is they who make laws which enable them to become even more rich. In a true Democracy the people allow authority to be exercised over themselves. They remember that power over people must come from above (Jn 19). Widespread desecration of our Heritage has occurred. The positive aspects of Democracy have been destroyed. This would not have happened if we truly loved "as He loved" On 13:34). Instead we now protest against laws being enacted in our Parliaments. Genuine justice, which is a perquisite for peace, must be re-established. Reading Aquinas would help us to understand and appreciate our lost Heritage. Gifted and talented people could then research the fundamentals of true Democracy. We do, in fact, get the governments we deserve! John McKay Swan View The Record, January 24 2002 Page 7
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
One tiny candle that lit the world 1873 January 2: Therese born in Alencon January 4: Therese baptised in NotreDame Church 1877 - four years old August 28: Death of her mother, Zelie Martin, at 12.30am. Thursday, November 15: Family moves to Les Buissonnets in Lisieux. 1878 - five years old 1880 - seven years old At the beginning of the year or end of preceding year: Therese makes first confession. 1882 - nine years old October 2: Pauline, her "second Mama," enters the Carmel of Lisieux. 1883 - ten years old May 13 (Pentecost): Therese cured suddenly by the Blessed Virgin's smile. 1884 - eleven years old May 8: Therese's First Communion, at the Abbey. Pauline's profession at the Lisieux Carmel. June 14: Therese confirmed by Bishop Hugonin at the Abbey. 1886 - thirteen years old February or March: Therese leaves Abbey school for good. October 15: Marie enters Carmel of Lisieux. December 25 (Christmas): grace of "conversion." 1887 - fourteen years old May 29 (Pentecost): Therese receives her father's permission to enter Carmel. Prayer for the conversion of Pranzini. Monday, October 31: Therese visits Bishop Hugonin in Bayeux. Friday. November 4 to Friday, December 2: Therese on pilgrimage to Paris, Switzerland. Italy, and Rome. 1888 - fifteen years old April 9 (Annunciation): Therese enters Lisieux Cannel. 1889 - sixteen years old January 10: Therese clothed in habit. February 12: Her father Louis Martin confined to mental asylum in Caen. 1890 - seventeen years old September 8 (Birth of Mary): Therese's final profession of vows. 1892 - nineteen years old January 2-7: Influenza epidemic takes lives of three nuns in the Iisieux Cannel. May 10: After three years at Caen, Louis Martin returns to Lisieux an invalid, in the care of the Guerins. May 12: Louis Martin's last visit to his Carmelite daughters. His final words to them: "In heaven!" 1893 - twenty years old September Therese obtains permission to remain in novitiate. 1894 - twenty-one years old January: Therese' writes her first theatrical work, on Joan of Arc. July 29: Louis Martin dies at Saint-Sebastian-de Morsent. September 14: Celine enters Lisieux Cannel. 1895 - twenty-two years old During the year. Therese writes Manuscript A. tune 9 (Trinity Sunday): Therese makes her Offering to Merciful Love. August 15: Therese's cousin Marie Guerin enters the Lisieux Cannel. 1896 - twenty-three years old February 24: Profession of Sister Celine. Therese's sister. April 3 (Good Friday): First hemoptysis, repeated in the evening. April 5 (Easter): Beginning of Therese's "trial of faith," which continues until her death. September 8: Therese begins Manuscript B. November 2 1: Novena made for Therese's cure, in hopes that she can eventually depart for a Cannel in Indochina: final relapse. 1897 - twenty-four years old Beginning of April: Therese falls seriously ill at the end of Lent. April 6: Mother Agnes begins recording Therese's Last Conversations. June 3: Therese begins Manuscript C. July 8: Therese is transferred to the monastery infirmary. July 30: Therese experiences continued hemoptyses and feelings of suffocation. At 6 PM she receives viaticum and extreme unction. September 30: Therese dies at about 7:20 PM. Her final words are "My God,I love you." October 4: Therese buried in the Lisieux cemetery.
Parishes ready for Hower Power
Parishioners Norm and Hilary Jacobsen shift books in preparation for the visit.
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Photograp'
Mrs Pearl Chin, Morley parishioner, in front of the sign erected by the parish. Mrs Chin has also been assisting in the production of the weekly prayer sheets distributed across Australia by Infant Jesus parish in the leadup to the visit Inset: Relics Committee member Ed Bracknell and parish secretary Angela Youens discuss preparations inside the Church.
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Hilton's Our Lady of Mt Cannel parish has created a niche in the parish church. The relics will be at the church from 5',,attes Photo: 6 February before going to the Diocese of Sunbury. been "a wonderful, wonderful committee - the best I have ever
parishioners worked so hard and contributed so much goods that
we raised $4000. "As the rust parish in Australia to receive the relics, we believed we should set a standard and I am sure we have done that," he said. Among its many other projects, Morley imported from Ireland a photographic exhibition about the life of St Therese and revamped it. The exhibition has been staged at Morley, Queens Park, Nedlands, Hilton. Bateman and VVhitfords parishes and will be back at Morley while the relics are there. The parish also imported large stocks of books and has spent $3000 on freight to forward them to other parts of Australia. Further quantities of the delightful children's book Thelittle Flower were printed locally. Graham Pittaway's prediction is that there will be between 15,000 and 30,000 people at Morley during the visit - "and they won't all be Catholics because there have been a lot of enquiries from nonCatholics". "A lot of people underestimate the power of St Therese, but Ihave already seen her at work in the parish and outside it," he said. Parish secretary Angela Youens, who has been at the centre of Margaret Hobbins, left and Mrs Mari- preparations, is similarly option Bracknell polish the church doors mistic. "There has been a lot of hard work and in the last month or in preparation for the visit. experienced. Their enthusiasm and commitment have been extraordinary and the response they have drawn from all over the parish has been remarkable. It has been a real team effort. "For example, when we decided to hold a garage sale in the Church grounds to help defray expenses,
so the interest has just taken off,"
she said "Ihave had calls from all over the State, including people from Carnarvon and Broome who are driving to Perth to participate in this unique event." As well as the detailed practical preparations, both Morley and Hilton parishes have had spiritual preparations. Both presented a series of talks on St Therese and her writings, Morley in August and Hilton in the three weeks leading up to a major celebration of her feast day on October 1. For that occasion, Frances Amato and Joanne Cutri decorated the St Therese shrine at Hilton in the form of a Carmelite cell with a transparency of St Therese on the wall. Subsequently; they have adorned the shrine with scrolls of her writings, but the original decorations will be returned for the visit. Both carried the St Therese exhibition and both have had extensive distribution of prayer cards, bookmarks and leaflets. The Morley prayer sheet has gone to many parishes around Australia. The last word comes from Morley parish priest, Fr Gerard Moran OCD: "We are conscious of the privilege of receiving her here. She is a voice for the modern world and I hope she continues to be heard long after the visit."
Gcocirs Creation Special offer: $28.50 for one print or $55 a set
1898
The Record, January 24 2002 Page 8
uously throughout the visit and has a liturgical program spanning the he is known as the Saint full period. The parish appointed a commitof the Little Way, but I think she will be the saint tee under Chairman Graham Pittof big surprises," said Hilton parish away in April last year and it has Pastoral Assistant Jeanne Porteous met on all but three Sunday when making her prediction of evenings since. One of the comwhat the visit of the relics of St mittee stalwarts, Ed Bracknell, said they believed their preparations Therese will be like. had catered for 20,000 visitors. Acknowledging the great difficulThe Church grounds will be ty of predicting how people will respond. Jeanne said: "I think it closed to vehicles, but five car will be a remarkable visit, really parks have been arranged within impressive. She is known as the three minutes' walk, including the Saint of the Little Way, but I think Morley Recreation Reserve and she will be the saint of big sur- the Morley Primary School football oval and teachers' car park. prises.' Jeanne Porteous is one of an There is still a need for more peoenthusiastic group in Our Lady of ple to volunteer for a two-hour Mount Cannel Parish. Hilton, who parking roster. "We need 9 people to cover the have been working for six months in preparation for the visit which five car parks, and we want them at Hilton will be liresday-Wednes- on two-hour shifts over 14 hours day, 5-6 February, with a farewell each day," Ed Bracknell said. "Our own parishioners and peoMass at 7.30am on Thursday 7 Febple from neighbouring parishes ruary. The other Carmelite parish in have responded magnificently to Perth. Infant Jesus Parish at Mor- fill our various rosters, but we still ley, is preparing to cope with need some help with parking. Any20,000 people over their three day one who could take a shift can ring visit from 2.30am Thursday 31 Jan- the parish on 9276 8500." Hilton will have parking in the uary to 9.15am Sunday 3 February, after which the relics will move to Church grounds and by arrangeSt Mary's Cathedral in Victoria ments with the local government in nearby streets. Square. Other rosters at Morley include a Morley will be the first venue in Australia to receive the relics, and refrigerated drinks and cold water Archbishop Barry Hickey will be stand. a 24-hour tea facility with on hand at 2.30am to welcome hotdogs during the day, a memothem to Australia. This will be a rabilia and candle stall, a large quiet ceremony in the car park out- book assembly area to be open side the Church out of respect for from 8.30am to 9pm, and a photographic exhibition. Additional toisleeping neighbours. The relics will then move into the lets have been brought in and Church where the Archbishop will there will be an ambulance serlead a concelebrated Mass. Morley vice on hand. Committee Chairwill keep its Church open contin- man Graham Piftaway said it had By Hugh Ryan
After her death September 30: 2,000 copies of Story of a Soul printed. A new edition was necessary each year thereafter. 1910 Beatification process opened. 1923 April 29: Therese beatified by Pius XL 1925 May 17: 'Therese canonised by Pius XI in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. 1927 December 14: Pius XI declares St. Therese co-patroness of the missions with St. Francis Xavier. 1980 June 2: John Paul II's pilgrimage to Lisieux. 1997 September 30: First centenary of Therese's death. October 17: Therese is named as Doctor of the Church, only the third woman to be so named, and the only doctor declared by Pope John Paul II.
—Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
Super special: 579 for two sets.
Enjoy the beauty of God's creation through the pictures of Perth photographer Renee Denys.
Final sunset 1999 Smiths Beach. Yallingup WA. Print 490 x 350 mm
First sunrise 2000 Mandurah Estuary WA. Print 490 x 350 mm
JOURNEY- enjoy the experience, discover the difference... How to purchase your very own prints: phone: 9379 1193, mobile: 0407 494 794. email: renee.denys@wn.com.au Additional delivery charges apply. Framing options available.
Morley parish offices have been transformed into a humming hive of activity as the relics visit looms.
The Record, January 24 2002 Page 9
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
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hat better way to tell about the influence St Therese has had than by letting those who have felt her presence in their lives say it in their own words. In response to an appeal to parishes from The Record, readers - lay trical, religious - sent in their own personal stories i of how they fe he Little FlowerNouched their lives. . . .
over me,I reasoned, could God Himself be her eyes in the many photos of her child- tant part of his life. He attributed his sucagainst me? Certainly not. hood, teenage and young adult life, in an cessful life as a priest to her intercession. Since then, my faith has grown, and I album a friend had lent me. Regularly as I enter the side foyer of the know Jesus dwells within my heart always. Those eyes depicted to me a level of Basilica in Fremantle I look towards the hen I heard that the relics of St That is infinite comfort for us pilgrims. awareness of reality that is sorely lacking statue of the Little Flower, which regularly Therese of Lisieux were coming to Let us never forget that He, and His Saints in this sickening world in which we live. has a vase of flowers in front of it - a gift Australia my interest was aroused on two are totally for us - they are absolutely on Her gaze bespoke of being madly in love from a grateful follower. fronts. our side. We are never, ever alone. with someone who was both infinitely I am one of those Catholics who loves Iam reminded of a young French girl who superior to her and yet intimately close to personally asked the Pope to let her enter to follow the traditions of my forefathers. her heart. For centuries people have gone on pilthe Carmelite Convent at a very young age. An inner peace that reigned supreme She did eventually join at Monica Cook grimages to try and bring themselves the age of 13 amidst terrible health problems, spiritual years. closer to those saints who have inspired South Lake abandonment, misunderstanding, death. them in the quest for holiness. Her short life was one of personal holiShe had a truly Catholic - universal - view Now we have a sort of pilgrimage, comness trough her love of her community and of the Church as Mystical Body of Christ, ing to visit us instead of the other way care through prayers of missionaries with its many different functions. Hers was round. throughout the world. have been acquainted with St Therese of to be the Heart. The headmaster of the first school that Devotion to St Therese was widespread Lisieux for more than 50 years. I hope that the visit of St Therese's relics I taught at, told me a personal story. My earliest memories of her are by the to Perth will bring many wayward souls as I grew up.I often reflect upon the statHis mother was devoted to "The Little ue of her on the mantelpiece of our parname of St Therese, "The Little Flower". close to the object of Her love: Jesus. Flower" and when one of his children ents' bedroom. In my mother's bedroom hung a large was seriously ill in hospital his mother portrait of her dressed in Carmelite robes, I don't ever recall asking about it. It turned to St Therese for help. holding a cross made of roses, or so it seemed to be an accepted devotion of that The child grew worse and worse but, appeared to me. time. suddenly, there was a remarkable change Her gentle smile was a great attraction to KR McGauran The naming of a family member, Therese. for the better. me, as was the humility in her eyes and the was never questioned. Not many years Remarking on this sudden change, one frailty of her body. after she was canonised in 1925 she was of the nurses said that the improvement Iwas aware of her eyes, red-rimmed from ft the age of 9, I received instructions named as Patroness of the Missions. had come "after that nun came in to see crying, seeing the beautiful world being or first Holy Communion at the SMC She boasted that she strove always `to do him". led into war by evil doers bringing death Presentation convent, Geraldton. ordinary things extraordinarily well'. What is more, there was a lovely smell and unhappiness to so many of God 's peo- Mother Columba gave me a medal of St Her life was a lesson to us; her eternal life and there were some rose petals in the ple. Therese and taught me the prayer Little I s a constant reminder and inspiration to cot. Now she is coming to see us. I would talk to her and she never ceased flower, at this hour, show your power. us who are called to greatness. to inspire me with a feeling of utter trust in That prayer sure works, and quickly too. the Divine. My it for yourself! She was an inspiration to me at 16 years I still wear that medal and I say that Sister Caroline OCD of age, when I was pondering a career. prayer for her help, even in very simple Sr Magaret Mary Carmelite Monastery, At this age she had promised her life with things such as threading a needle in a hurry OCD Nedlands tain such certainty to God. or in finding items which have been mis- Carmelite Monastery, Her certainty, her whole-hearted trust laid! When folks ask for my prayer-support. Nedlands y story is a very simple one, which and wisdom beyond her years was an I turn them over to was meaningful and encouraging to inspiration to me then and later when I self-same prayer! Little Therese with that It works - as many can me at a time when I was suffering all man- moved away from family and my country testify! t Therese. in statue form, was present ner of spiritual difficulty. of birth to explore the wonders of the world. Little Therese before her death had as an eighth member of our family. I am going back several years. I had a I related to her feelings of isolation and promised that "if people asked her for As our neighbour's blue wisteria flowpowerful conversion experience on 14 uselessness when working and living in favours, she would scatter them like rose- ered on our side of the December 1992.1 really can be that precise. other countries and different cultures, often petals over the earth." fence, without any She is true to her work from us, so Therese quietly provided It was a total turn-around in my life. questioning whether I, one person, could word! There's no other way to put it. make a difference in the scheme of things. Like the day my Principal asked me to companionship as we grew. Inevitably, she received some knocks A few months later, my spiritual warfare Her gentle appearance, her inner pray that we find a French teacher. from children or pets, so that her skirt was began. strength, and her soul consciousness has In less than 5 minutes, a French woman shattered at the edge. I had no foundation to build on. I was confirmed to me - that each of us has an phoned and applied for that position! This gap provided a natural Post Box for standing on the quicksand of my own well important role to play in our lifetime and Many thanks Therese "The Little Flower". my personal mail, asking God to let me meaning ignorance. that with faith in God we are well guided know where to go, and what to become in I suffered scruples to a near suicidal and on the right path to spiritual fulfilment. my life. degree. It was actually Our Lady of Mount So I came to enter the Novitiate at NedFr Don Hughes OMI Cannel who interceded for me, a year and lands Cannel in 1961. a half after they began, so that I received a Our Lady of Lourdes, Raymond de Souza There, St Therese's influence was very much needed healing. Lesmurdie powerful - she was so loved by the nuns However,I was to learn that the Saints in Prograom Host, who directed the Novices. The Layman's Hour general are watching over us. Teachings given in Lisieux Carmel, by It happened like this. One morning, as I here is no pattern for sainthood. The Therese, were analysed and carefully was waking, but before becoming fully lives and actions of saints are so difoming from a nominally 'Catholic' ferent. Their love of God is the common passed on to us. awake - you could say I was in that liminal Now, in later years, I know she still has family, and, like many, after having thread. Look at the tubercular nun who state between waking and sleeping - I saw very clearly and decisively, a Carmelite wasted my teenage years, I came back to died at the age of 24 after 11 years as a teachings to pass on. Therese believed she was led as an indithe Church. Yet, the last thing I expected Carmelite nun. Died in 1897, beatified in nun. vidual, and that certain unique graces flowShe simply stood at the foot of my bed. was to be influenced by a young Carmelite 1923 and canonised in 1925. She was silent. She was very still. She sim- nun from France. I never met her personShe prayed daily for missionaries. Not ered in her soul. She clung to faith in God's loving guidply watched over me. That is all. Her eyes ally, never spoke to her directly. long after her canonisation she was Yet she played a major role in changing declared 'Patroness of the Missions' main- ance, when all seemed obscure and faith never left me. Iawoke fully, and even though it had been my life. ly through the work of a great Oblate Mis- was severely tested. After going to confession with a Carmelite sionary Bishop of Keewatin, Western She is there for us still when our last triso clear to me, I could not bring back the priest, I said the prayers given me as Canada. als conie. She will stay until the end. experience in any way. The next timeIcame to Cannel - it would penance before a statue of the Carmelite The cause for canonisation of that devohave been a Sunday - I mentioned what nun. tee of St Therese, Bishop Ovide Charlebois I never saw or heard anything special, OMI has now been introduced into Rome. had happened to Sr Miriam, who is the like angels flying around me, or even had Carmelite extern Sister. As a young student on holidays, the parish By Brennan Sia She asked me if I was certain it was a deep feeling of God's presence. priest of Fremantle asked me to look after Winthrop It was an intellectual understanding, a young Oblate priest who had been Therese.I said I was. sent Sr Miriam then simply shrugged, and said much more than a feeling. In the dim light out to this country to die an early death she shouldn't really be surprised, because of the candles, the statue seemed to glow. through tuberculosis. she had asked St Therese to watch over me. For me. Surprisingly he lived for another 35 years. remember my first encounter with the Then I knew that I had found a trustworAs I said, my story is simple, and many Over many years as a friend and colleague Little Flower way back flipping through thy friend. And, since I never had any sis- he may say, meaningless. showed me a wonderful devotion to the books about saints and she, out of the rest, However, it happened at a time when I ters,Iknew I had just got one - in heaven. Little Flower. always stood out not because Afterwards, of any parstarted I to read a few pages needed the encouragement it gave me. His daily prayer to the Lord through the ticular part of her life but that her whole I mean, if God's Saints were watching of her autobiography every night before intercession of St Therese was an impor- life had seemed so ordinary. going to bed, and spent hours looking into
John Rayner
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Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia visa.Iprayed and was inspired to go to the church of St Therese in Hua-Hin, a holiday resort in Thailand. That year they were celebrating the feast of St Therese in advance on 28 August, 1994. There I prayed earnestly before the statue of St Therese to obtain my visa as soon as possible. If she would obtain my visa for me - this would be the sign that God wanted me to join the Carmelite community in Gelorup, Australia. As soon asIreturned to BangkokI got the good news to come to the Immigration office to get my visa on 5 September 1994. Thanks to St Therese for this special grace in so short a time. SR Catherine OCD Gelorup Cannel
n the day of my Final Profession, 27 August, 1955, I heard my dear Dad (now deceased) sobbing in the Chapel outside our enclosure during the ceremony. I wondered why. I was 26 years old then and had entered Carmel when I was 21. I was very moved to see my Dad sobbing. Then when he came to the parlour Iasked him: 'why all these tears on such a happy day of mine?' Then he told me the story, On your baptism Day your mother and I named you Therese. We told her to make this child of ours a 100 per cent Carmelite in the future. Now she has accepted our offer of you to follow Christ as she did. We are very happy, very grateful, and today we thank her for this gift to us to you. The reason why I was so moved is because of gratitude." St Therese was canonised in 1925. In 1928, I was baptised. She was very popular then. My Mum taught me her "Little Way" of Love - to be hidden and do everything for Love. I carried her teachings to Carmel and this strengthened me throughout my days in Carmel and my journey to God too. St Therese taught me that it is Love that counts. She promised that in Heaven she would be able to do more for God than she could do on earth. She decided, " I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth." She keeps to her promise and I hope to join her in the near future because I am 73 already. She will be there at my bedside with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, this is sure. God bless. St Therese, help me always to be believe as you did, in God's great love for me, so that I might walk in your "Little Way" every day of my life. Amen. Sr Agnes OCD Gelorup Carmel
Carmelite nuns gather In prayer at the Gelorup Carmel in the Diocese of Bunbury. sweet smile while she carried the Cross to read and learn about her, so as to imithat was covered with roses. I wondered tate her life - even though I am still strugand asked myself: "Who is she who died gling along the way to be a perfect so young, and where was she born, and Carmelite. what was the Order to which she As I grow older, the more I come to love belonged?" her, "the more Ilove Jesus" as she once said Anyway, since that day I decided that to her novice. I have experienced this whenI grew up I would become a nun like myself. When I neglect her sometimes, my St Therese, even thoughIdidn't know there love for Jesus becomes cold and I lose ferwas only one Carmelite Monastery in vour immediately. Bangkok at that time which was founded Now, we are preparing to welcome her by the Carmel in Cambodia. I knew later Relics which are coming here to Gelorup on that our Cannel Bangkok came from the on 9-10 February. My heart is overwhelmed Carmel of Lisieux, which is the Mother with joy, and I am looking forward to seeHouse of Carmel Saigon. so Lisieux found- ing her precious Relics on that day. I have ed Saigon, and Saigon founded Cambodia, many things to say and to thank her for...! and Cambodia founded Bangkok Carmel. Oh, my precious friend, St Therese!!! After so many years since the time I had received my First Holy Communion, until SR Elizabeth OCD the day I entered Carmel, (24 April, 1954) Gelorup Carmel have known St Therese since the day I St Therese has been my companion, my owe my coming to Australia to our dear made my First Holy Communion, when guide and my support in my ups and little St Therese. It seemed that the Immimy parish gave me her beautiful picture on downs until this day. I always have her that day. I was impressed by seeing her books in our cell and never miss a chance gration office was in no hurry to release my
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Later on. I was to notice a statue of her in the Baptistery at St Mary's Cathedral but still wondered what was so extra ordinary about her life that resulted in her canonisation by the Church. It was not until I went to the photographic exhibition recently about her life that I realised what was so significant about her - it wasn't her life but it was the WAY she lived her life. It was her little way of living every moment of her life. She is indeed a lesson for us all and even more so now 100 years later in a society where we are compelled to keep up and not permitted to appreciate all the small things that make up our daily life. She in her humble life taught us that every little good is not to be discounted as futile or insignificant - that is, every prayer uttered has real value, every small act has the potential to make a real difference and every grace from God deserves endless thanksgiving. Moreover, this leads us to appreciate even the littlest kindness exhibited by our neighbour. May the arrival of her relics inspire all to live every little moment of their lives Ad Majorem Del Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God!).
By Sister Miriam Rose OCD Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands
close friend of mine who had one of which we sell here, sent ur Pot A me the following this week - she writes: POUITI
"I was approached by my non-Catholic sister-in-law who asked me if she could borrow my Pot Pourri with a picture of St Therese on the top. She was trying to sell her taxi desperately and believed that St Therese could work a miracle for her, as she had previously at St Therese Monastery in Egypt. I agreed. "Within 4 days a buyer came forward with cash to buy the taxi and taxi plate. "The last day before handover to the new owner, she was miraculously spared from a fatal car crash - she attributes this to a miracle from St Therese whose picture on the Pot POUITI was in the glove box of the taxi. Her taxi was 'supernaturally' picked up and moved into another lane to avoid an
out-of-control speeding vehicle." My own personal testimony is whenI came here 11 years ago, I experienced the fragrance of roses very powerfully in my cell for several weeks. I believe St Therese was strongly encouraging me in my entering religious life at the age of 62!
Sister Mary Philomena OCD
Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands (Sister Mary Philomena, Eileen Brigid Brennan, was the first West Australian to enter the Nedlands Monastery, in 1937) hen St Therese was canonised, on 17 W May, 1925, among the many banners sent to honour this great occasion was one
from Western Australia, inscribed with the words, "Love and gratitude to the 'Little Flower of Jesus' from her clients of Western Australia". The priest responsible for this was Fr Kenny, a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth. The Cure of Ars said, "The greatest gift God can give a parish is a holy priest": such was tFr Kenny. He was known for his deep personal holiness, also for his devotion to Little Therese, and on one occasion he was the recipient of a corporal vision of her, also a personal message. He later resigned his parish and became a Cistercian in a monastery overseas. Ten years later, on 28 May 1935, seven young Carmelites arrived in Perth from Sydney, to found a Carmel in Nedlands. WA. Mother Gabriel. the Prioress, had not yet turned thirty the six others were in their early twenties. Mother Gabriel, a member of the Rae family, who gave four daughters to Carmel, was the only one of the little band with perpetual vows. Like all her family, she had a deep and true devotion to St Therese, and the first thing she did on arrival was to name St Therese spiritual Prioress of the new monastery. St Therese responded and all the young nuns persevered. Every one of them had been touched by St Therese with a spirit of prayer and sacrifice. Life was in the raw, with plenty of hard work and all that goes with a new foundation. Even before the nuns came, St Therese
T am a 24 year-old girl who lives a life in lthe Carmelite cloister. As I was named Therese on my baptism day, I was very interested in her life.Iread her story when I was 5 years old. I was touched by it and tried to follow her, especially her "Little Way." It was the beginning of my vocation. St Therese helped me to walk towards God as a little child just as she did. Her life and her way gave me faith that God is Love and there is nothing to be afraid of in Him. After my entrance into the Carmel, (I found out that my mother had offered me to St Therese when I was a baby) I experienced her presence more as a big sister who looks after her little sister. Whether I travel up the hill or down the hill, she is a sister who accompanies my Journey towards God. "Love repaid by Love". "to love Jesus and make Him loved" - St Therese's words. These words are true and I found out that my vocation is Love just as hers was. She is a sister, a friend, and she is very close to all, especially the young, because she is forever young. SR Teresita OCD Gelorup Cannel
showed her interest in the proposed foundation. For a time it seemed it would never become a reality. The original plans were changed and things were not going the right way. Archbishop Clune, who ardently wanted a foundation, was deeply troubled. He turned to St Therese and asked her help. While he was saying Mass for this intention, Therese gave her answer, a shower of roses. On the altar were vases of beautiful roses. Suddenly, one of the roses let fall seven red rose petals. One by one they fell onto the corporal the Archbishop was using at the Mass. He had his answer and peace filled his heart. However, he was not there to welcome the nuns on arrival. Four days before that event he died, on 24 May. feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. On his death-bed he remarked, "They are on their way." Like all foundations, the nuns found it hard to make ends meet, and though they made vestments and baked altar breads. and kind friends were very generous. problems remained. Saint Therese was often invoked in these circumstances and help always arrived.
One of the teaching sisters from the nearby convent gave her a relic of Therese. The baby was born safely and was named Therese. After 80 years or more the relic still remains with Judith, and was lent to me when I was diagnosed as terminally ill and given only weeks to live. It is now 12 months on andIhave enjoyed a return to good health long enough to go on a pilgrimage to Italy with Judith. This of course is not the only miracle attributed to this particular relic but one of the many. Therese was appealing to everyone in her humble and simple ways. Her "Little Way" is so simple yet so complex. As Judith and I are both members of the 3rd Order of Carmel, we have great devotion to Therese and her "Little Way". We are looking forward to and pray for the visit to our parish of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux
By Rose-Marie Parke T.O. Carm, with Judith Greer T.O. Carm
his secondary education at Mazenod College. In the course of conversation his father said 'You preach well, say mass with devotion, but do you speak in tongues?' When I replied in the negative, what he said demoted me considerably. So I asked him if he had read on from I Corinthians 12 to 13. Iwas saddened when he said 'No'. Corinthians 13 was a turning point in Therese's life. St Paul says: "I'm going to show you a way that is better than any of them" and proceeds to identify the virtues with love. For Therese this was a simple straight path to sanctity If filled out Christ's instruction 'Love God and love your neighbour' and Matthew 25, 31-46: 'That we will be judged on our degree of love." My retreats to religious and priests were based on it e.g. Prayer is conversational love etc. I have learned from Therese that deep love and God means deep and painful suffering, accepting self for what one REALLY is, having full trust and confidence in God
D oth our mothers had a great devotion
to St Therese of Lisieux. They were born in the early 20th century and to them Therese was a modern-day Saint who lived during their own mothers' lives. There was always a picture of Therese in the house. My mother always prayed to Therese and encouraged us children to do the same. My confirmation name is Therese. Our prayers were always answered and we knew her as a real saint to whom we could pray for all our needs. When Judith's grandmother was pregnant with one of her mother's siblings, she had an accident and as it was in the early 20th century there was a great chance she would lose the baby.
Fr HI McFall
St John of God villa Subiaco
ome twenty years ago I visited a home in Lesmurdie conveying the good news S that a son had won a scholarship to begin
The Record, January 24 2002 Page 11
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Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
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in the forgiveness of sin and the path by I had lost my way. I was given a book to which he leads us, a real faith issue. That read which was the life story of this beau- Thomas Scully we will never reach the heights of holiness tiful Saint. I read it twice and felt she was Bateman Parish by ourselves. God must lift us up. actually calling me in some way. Every year in October I re-read With I left the religion I was baptised in at my or many years (as long asI can rememEmpty Hands, a book about St Therese, by birth and, with lessons and encourageber) my family and I have had a speConrad De Meester, getting more from it ment, it showed me where I really wanted each time and I like to speak about her in to be in God's plans for me. I was con- cial devotion to St Therese of the Infant instructions, sermons and so on. firmed in the Catholic Church and chose Jesus (the Little Flower). It was with great joy therefore that we disImagine my joy when, in 1958,I was able St Therese as my patron Saint. to visit Lisieux and later to guide a young She showed me the way to inner peace, covered that our parish was to be one of lady to Melbourne's Carmel. We still cor- inner strength and a more devoted path to those fortunate enough to host a special respond. God. My heartfelt thanks are always to the display of memorabilia dealing with the Shortly we will be welcoming her relics wonderful Nazareth Sister who gave me life of this wonderful saint. My wife Pat and I have just paid a visit to here in Perth. What a privilege! For me, a that book to read. Iam sure Saint Therese exhibition in the foyer of the church the priest, she is a very special Saint, to be had told her of my desperate needs. Saint displaying such a wealth of information mentioned in daily prayer and I have her Therese to you I will be very thankful. concerning St Therese, her family and holy picture on my desk. She is a saint upbringing and her intense love of God. raised up especially for our times. Before going, Pat was looking at some of Fr William Holmes our own memorabilia and came across the St Thomas More, Margaret River Nora Clarke item, a picture of which appears hereunGeraldton WA der. The keepsake was given to a friend of hen I was an Anglican priest in Tas- mine, Moira Fatzeus, in 1937 by her uncle, aving decided to leave bombed-out mania I undertook a course in Reli- Brother Kevin O'Farrell, the head master of Merseyside, Lancashire, my husband gious instruction with Cyril Drew - who, and I decided to emigrate to Australia. We with his wife Monica, is a keen admirer of filled in all the necessary forms and were Therese of Lisieuix. told to wait for a sponsor. We packed our One of the topics to be studied was entiVity belongings, sold our furniture and waited. tled Modern Prophets. Therese was one After waiting three years, my depressed such prophet together with Thomas Merhusband changed his mind. ton. So I decided to look into the life and Being October I decided to make a Nove- Ideas of Therese. na to St Theresa. On the seventh day I had Attracted to what I had read about a great urge to write to Australia but had Therese,Imade contact with the Carmelite 'Xs no name or address. Suddenly I found monastery in Launceston for advice in myself writing - 'Dear Editor' and address- studying the life and works of Therese of ing it to 'Farmers Weekly WA.' Within two Lisieux. weeks we were sponsored. The push was The surprise to me was to learn that a on for my husband, who would go first and large number of the sisters now living in look around. Medical tests, needles, pass- Carmel had been Anglicans before enterports - and off he went in November arriv- ing the Order of Mt Carmel. ing in Australia before Christmas. This included the prioress herself who nr11-1. fei en, IA 4 Thanks be to God and St Theresa the Lit- had been married and practised medicine. tle Flower. On arrival I was surprised to Upon the death of her husband she had er find there was a paper called 'Farmers first become a Catholic and then had 5R4.7r.t Weekly'. entered Cannel. So began my spiritual journey with Therese which eventually led me to The writing on Thomas Scully's keepsake reads: become a Catholic and later on to be one "Earth from the grave of St Therese." Eileen Gomm of the few married priests in Australia. Karrinyup Therese ends her autobiography with the Christian Brothers' College in Wollongong, words.... go to him with confidence and New South Wales, where I was a pupil from 1935-1939 love. ...' In 1944 when I was on posting with my She did not arrive at such a conclusion arly in the 1940s I first heard of the Lit- easily. She had to make a titanic struggle to crew to Aitape, New Guinea, Moira gave it to me to help me to keep the faith and to tle Flower and from the beginning I reach this moving conclusion to her life. knew she was the saint from me. Therese Marlin was a determined, strong- save me from harm and we have treasured I attended the Convent School in Norse- willed child of God. Like St Ignatius of Loy- it ever since. man, and, besides giving me a good ola, she saw God in all things and in all grounding in the Faith, the good sisters people. But she had to work at it. That is Margaret Hobbins Morley Parish taught me about the saints. why she is such an example to us. Many saints appealed to me but even at Of course she was very much a woman 11 my life my sins and faults have been seven years of age I had a strong-enough of her age. Her writings prose and verse round me like a grey fog. grip on reality to know I could never emu- and her letters, are good indications of the I knew that God had to forgive me when late them. type of education she received. . . . which I went to Reconciliation. The Little Flower was different. Her very was in itself limited. Hard was the word: love didn't much littleness was her attraction. Every time a Despite this limitation she could express picture of St Therese turned up in the holy in her words and in her life, her total com- enter into it, and the guilt remained. I have known Therese all my life, but of goods stall I nagged my mother to buy it mitment to the God she served. the God for me. Several cardboard-backed stand-up she gradually came to know and to love. In late I have been studying her life and writpictures bear testimony to my success. achieving this relationship with her God, ings. What a revelation it has been. Not only does God forgive me, He has no When I was confirmed there was never she had to experience and live with the memory when it comes to my sins. any doubt which saint's nameIwould take, boring intellectual limitations of those who He is more willing to forgive, thanIam to just in the spelling of it: Therese, Theresa, lived with her in Cannel. Teresa? She also had to experience physical and ask. I am loved by my Heavenly Father with a I have never regretted my choice of saint, mental pain, sickness, loneliness, and a deep personal love that is just for me and and she has, in her little way, solved many most painful prolonged death. His love never changes. problems for me in everyday life. She experienced finally the very temptaKneeling before the crib I knew the Baby Distractions? Pray about the person dis- tion to abandon her faith in God, in eter- was there just for me. tracting you. Wrongly judged? The Little nity itself; and the temptation to actually He lived His life and taught His beautiful Flower was too. Someone gets on your suicide was strong. doctrine for me, and died on Calvary for nerves? Remember the old nun who asked However, determined soul that she was, me. why Therese always smiled so sweetly at she willed herself out of this inclination to I can't describe what the realisation of her. despair, with the grace of her God, that she this deep personal love of God, my HeavTherese wanted to be a missionary serv- finally could offer her all, in total aban- enly Father has done for me. donment. ing on the Mission fields. I pray with Therese to grow more in this Therese has therefore much to say to the love and lead others to this She didn't get to them but she managed love. modern world now, and in the future, that's to be a great missionary just by praying. Patroness of the missions, patroness of what makes her one of the spiritual immorAustralia, all without leaving her convent tals. . . . an "Immortal Diamond," to quote 'Friend of St Therese' Gerard Manley Hopkins. walls. Therese has not always had a reliable or She proved you can be little and big at the even accurate public image. She would same time. to this particular time when the relics WhenIjoined the Franciscan Third Order deplore the often-sickening sentiment, surf St Therese are touring Australia, I rounding her person and her theology. I took her name again. would like to share two wonderful experiLike Mary the Mother of the Lon!, neither ences I have been privileged to A bit of a conflict of interest there - a receive Carmelite saint's name for a Secular Fran- woman is the weak, pious, submissive, from this great Saint. ciscan, but! noticed in the Perth Canonical drooping flower often depicted throughout I am a 49-year-old who first Register a lot of others did the same thing. the years. They were both vital, relevant St Therese at age 13 when I encountered came across women, who continue to serve a vital, relher writings in Autobiography of a Saint.I evant God. Wendy Higbee Long may that mature spirituality contin- found this book so inspiring that I have re Bluff Point WA ue to influence men, women and children read it many times over the years, in addiof all ages. We are ever so much the wiser tion to many other publications regarding her life.I have had a great devotion to her o me she will always be 'Little Child of and the holier as a result of the gentle, yet and consider her to be my "friend". powerful, influence of people such as Jesus." St Therese came into my life in At age 22 years I was a Catholic more or 1986. At that time I was lost in life's jour- Therese of Lisieux I am so glad I made that journey to less out of 'habit' rather than practising my ney. My religious life was shaky. It seemed faith with fervour. During this time, I was Launceston.
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feeling distressed over an event that had occurred and one evening St Therese appeared to me and said these words "YOU MUST PRAY". I can say that very surprisingly I did not experience any great excitement or emotional response over this apparition and did not even reveal it to anyone until a couple of years ago. However her message had a profound influence on my spiritual life. I began to pray much more and with devotion and 1 certainly 'turned a comer' spiritually. Although I have difficulty in maintaining the fervour of that particular time following the apparition,I have fortunately not regressed to the spiritual apathy I had prior to this significant event. I must emphasise that Iam absolutely certain that this apparition was real. Another great favour that I have received from St Therese is an answer I had to a request I asked from her. Following the death of my mother seven years ago, I asked St Therese to let me know if my mother had gone to heaven. I asked her for a sign, a white rose to be given to my father. If this was done, then I would know that she had gone to heaven. I chose a white rose because not only does white signify purity, white roses are not as common as red or pink ones. I asked that my father be the recipient of the rose as I felt that he would be the most worthy to receive it. After two years following the death of my mother, my father, who went out jogging every morning, came across a white rose in the middle of the footpath. He picked it up and even though he was sceptical of such things, he believed that we had received the sign that my mother was in heaven. In 30 years of jogging, he had never come across a rose on the footpath. I had absolutely no doubt that this was St Theresa's answer to our request. I strongly recommend St Therese as a great friend whom we can easily identify and who is a powerful intercessor. Glory to God and thank you St Therese!
Fr Brian O'Loughlin
St Thomas the Apostle. Claremont
hen I was a child there were prayers W offered for the Missions through the Intercession of St Therese and St Francis
Xavier as Australia was then regarded as a missionary country. In the years following Australia's emergence from mission territory status, there was little mention of St Therese. Following Pope John Paul's declaration of St Therese as a Doctor of the Church, there has been renewed interest in this young saint who had a child-like trust in God and a close relationship with Jesus, even when It was tested in the crucible of suffering. One of the lasting consequences of the process leading to the Pope's declaration of St Therese a Doctor of the Church, was an examination of her writings. Lo and behold, what emerged was that the overly sweet Therese of her writings, was in fact a construct of her well meaning editors. Now we have the opportunity to appreciate Therese herself, not as others piously thought she should appear. The Story of a Soul is her autobiography translated by John Clarke OCD from St Therese's manuscript. It is the best edition in English and available from Morley parish at $25.00. For priests, the visit of the relics of St Therese is an opportunity to appreciate Theresa's friendship with them, especially her spiritual brother Maurice Belliere, seminarian and later missionary, whose correspondence was recently published by New York auxiliary Bishop Ahern. Also of interest is an article in The Tablet, of 24 November, 2001, 'Therese versus the atheists' by Kate Cleary of the Caroline Chisholm Library, Melbourne, who says: 'Therese packed into her 24 years an understanding and experience of God and humanity that have confounded the wise'. Saints are icons leading us to see beyond the material to the spiritual. The human remains of a saint remind us of the Incarnation; that the divine dwelt among us, that God gives his gift of holiness to draw us into his life. The Vatican Council II has taught us that the call to holiness is universal. We will have an opportunity to pray at the relics of St Therese when her relics visit the Church of Western Australia, at Morley, the Cathedral and Hilton parishes and the Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands in February.
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
Barbara McConnin Gwelup
C t Therese of Lisieux touched Limy life by the realisation that God's love comes and grows within one's heart, through his son Jesus, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God has given every soul the free will to accept God's love and develop it by grace though his beloved son.
Joan t Therese has been an influence in my life since my childS hood when we had a picture of
her on display in the family home. This black and white large photo of her with the cross in her hand, was won by my mother, so I was told, in a raffle. St Therese, or 'the Little Flower' as she is commonly known, became a source of strength and healing during the days of my daughter Therese's illness, with an abscess on the kidney during the latter part of 1984. Before the operation which eventually cured the condition, I spent the time in fervent prayer to St Therese. One evening as I prayed where I was staying in Perth, a feeling of comfort and peace came over me In the darkness and quiet of the room. It was felt as if I was laying above the bed in mid-air, only for a minute or thereabouts. This sensation I have not had before or since. The following day in St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, before the altar erected in honour of St Therese,I clearly recall the sound of the Italian lady's earnest plea in her heavy accent "Santa Teresa," while the lit candles glowed, each with a prayer said to the saint who had an overwhelming love of God.
Elizabeth Veen Rivervale
a child I noticed a statue ear my bed, after asking, I N Mum explained that the lady was
St Therese. My godmother had given this to me, after, as a 2-yearold, I survived a complicated appendectomy. This made a big Impression on me!
Over the years it got broken and glued many times. WhenIwas 28 I was packing to migrate to Australia. Mum said "You can't take this battered statue with you, go buy a new one". We tried without success, so had to leave without one. At Aden some natives came aboard with trinkets. We only watched, until my husband noticed a heart shaped pendant, with a picture of St Therese on it. Inside was a tiny rosary! Of course we bought it.! wrote this to Mum, who told this amazing story to a friend, just back from Lisieux, who promptly gave Mum a small ivory statue for us, which now stands in our lounge room. Our daughter is baptised Therese, and 2 of our granddaughters wanted St Therese as patron saints, when confirmed. St Therese is part of our lives.
Genuna McCann
Mother, home-schooler
ver the past couple of weeks I have found myself enQ grossed with yet another Catholic
treasure, The Dogma of Hell. by Fr. EX. Schouppe SJ. The more I read through this book and attempt to meditate upon its content. I realise my duty as a Catholic, to know, love and serve God - yes! And to save souls! How many of our poor brothers and sisters are on the verge of hell and yet how many of us actually contemplate the reality of this destination so little heard of today. It seems to me that the saying. "it's a wide, open, path to hell and a hard, narrow, path to heaven", has, as a friend of mine said, been these days reversed to: "it's a hard, narrow, path to hell and a wide, open one to heaven!" How dangerous a thought to the very faith of any Catholic, how damaging a thought to the virtue of Charity, to our love of neighbour. A.s I see so many around me being sucked in to the vortex of worldliness, materialism, feminism and all the other "isms", without the slightest regard for their eternity, their immortal souls, ills easy to become despairing or to seek the means to do harsh penances which, in reality, would be harmful or imprudent considering my vocation as a mother. No! It is not necessary for me to do penances so as to compete with the desert fathers and the many great saints of our Church, for our loving God has fragranced the earth with the perfume of the
Photo C'. - A man kisses the reliquary of St. Therese of Lisieux at the Carmelite Monastery in Munster, Indiana, in November 1999. More than 14,000 people visited the monastery in the 12 hours the relics were displayed there.
Little Flower, St Therese of the I have believed it possible to sufChild Jesus, and it is by following fer so much....I can only find the her example that the little folk of explanation in my extreme longthe church, those of us who are ing to save souls. . . . Oh! I would hidden, mothers in the home, the not suffer less." imprisoned, the sick etc, can imitate this saint and her Little Way Catherine of love to win souls for Christ. St Therese herself assures us Colace that the smallest acts upon earth, President, WA even that of picking up a pin, done Legion of Mary with love can obtain the mercy of first came to know God for the souls of poor sinners. 1of St Therese while researchSo the small, meaningless, hid- I den, tedious, little tasks and suf- ing the lives of the saints for a reliferings of our day, can, when done gious education assignment in with love, achieve these won- Year 8. She instantly became my favourite saint and I enjoyed readdrous results. For mothers this means simply ing books and stories about her accepting the many sufferings life. While visiting a friend one day, that come our way each day. Those that are so great they have she mentioned that a good friend the potential to overwhelm us, of hers had been discerning his and those that are so small yet try vocation for some time however us time and time again. These, was unsure whether he had a callaccepted with love and offered to ing to the priesthood. Having a God, can be the means, the pow- great devotion to St Therese, he erful means by which we fulfill began a novena to the saint our duty to do penance and there- requesting, if he were to become by save the souls of our spouses, a priest, that she send him a rose our children and all of our loved as a sign of confirmation from heaven. On the last day of his ones. Maybe then, by God's grace, we novena he did receive a rose. After hearing this story, I hoped too will exclaim with St Therese upon our own deaths, "The chal- that some day she would answer ice is full to the brim. Never could my prayers with a rose and she
did not disappoint me. A few years ago I was preparing a lesson for my Catechism class. As we were learning about saints. I planned to teach the children about my favourite saint. While getting everything organised I said to St Therese: "If you've been watching me this night and hearing my prayers can you please show me a rose tomorrow". The following day in the middle of a conversation with a friend at work, she stopped, picked an enormous purple rose out of o vase beside us and said to me "Have a look at this beautiful rose." All at once I remembered the prayer from the previous night. I was overjoyed! I had walked past that rose many times throughout the day and never noticed it there before. She had heard and answered my prayer. Since then she was answered several other prayers. I often consuit St Therese when I have a major decision to make. Only last year I requested that she show me a yellow rose if I was to become the president of the Legion of Mary and she did reveal to me a yellow rose. Thank you St Therese for your beautiful signs from heaven.
Ever wondered why she is called `The Little Flower?' By Father Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS
W
e know Therese of Lisieux as a modern saint. But we do not know her as a doctor of the church. In fact, many were surprised when Pope John Paul II proclaimed this French saint a doctor of the church in 1997 Some doctors of the church taught in great universities. St Therese did not even attend a university. Many doctors of the church also wrote influential books. At the request of her religious-order superiors, St Therese wrote a simple autobiography concerning her spiritual journey. We also have her letters, poetry and sayings, written down by other sisters. But doctors of the church are not measured through educational standards or professional qualifications. A doctor of the church must combine great sanctity and great learning, and express understanding and wisdom that inspire the universal church.
Jesus speaks of such qualifica- of her religious life, she had been glances when he looks down at Her correspondence with the mistions in a little parable addressed ill. However, through her autobi- his feet. Perfection consists in sionaries is filled win her misto the disciples: Every scribe who ography, Story of a Soul. Therese doing his will, in being what he sionary spirit. On 19 October, 1997, World Mishas been instructed in the king- would enrich countless millions wills us to be." A short 28 years after her death. sion Sunday, Pope John Paul II dom of heaven is like the head of with her simple faith, boundless a household who brings from his love, unshakeable hope and her Pope Pius XI canonised Therese proclaimed St Therese of Lisieux storeroom both the new and the deep insights into Christian life at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Two a doctor of the church. The day years later he declared her patron was carefully chosen. and the Scriptures. old" (Matthew 13:52). It was as patron of the missions As a nun, she had copied Scrip- of all missionaries and missions. The teaching of a doctor of the church presents the old." the tra- ture in her own hand verse by As patron of the missions, she that Therese would be doctor of dition of the church, together with verse. Passing through her fingers, joined St Francis Xavier - on an the church. There is no separating the two titles. the new" In the new, the tradition the love of God permeated her equal footing. The list of the doctors of the At the time, many must have whole person. She recopied pasof the church comes alive. Therese was born on 2 January, sages on love and meditated upon been surprised. St Francis Xavier church is impressive. It includes St Augustine, St Jerome, St Leo was a great missionary in Asia. 1873. in Normandy in the town of them. By contrast, Therese lived a con- the Great. St Albert the Great, St Alencon, the youngest of nine Today, many know her as 'The children, four of whom died in Little Flower,' but few know the templative life. She never went to Thomas Aquinas and St John of infancy. origins of that title. Listen to her the missions. She never left the the Cross - all great saints. This is high company for a humble conCarmelite convent in Lisieux. Her father was a watchmaker, own words in Story of a Soul. But Therese had the spirit of a templative. "I understand that if all flowers and her mother a lace maker. After Vatican Council II, Pope Today we would describe the fam- wanted to be roses, nature would missionary. She read about the ily as middle-class. lose her springtime beauty, and missions and the life of mission- Paul VI proclaimed two women doctors of the church, St Teresa of At age 15, Therese entered the the fields would no longer be aries. to Avila (September 27 1970) and St volunteered had she nun, a As flowers." wild Carmelite convent at Lisieux. By decked out with "And so it is in the world of souls, be a contemplative missionary, Catherine of Siena (4 October. today's standard, she was very Jesus' garden. He willed to create hoping to be sent to Vietnam. But 1970). Before then, no woman young. ever had been proclaimed a docHer name in religious life great souls comparable to lilies her health was too fragile. Instead, Therese fulfilled her tor of the church. St Therese of became Therese of the Child and roses, but he has created smaller ones, and these must be missionary vocation through Lisieux became the third woman Jesus of the Holy Face. Then, when only 24, she died on content to be daisies or violets prayer and through her corre- to be proclaimed a doctor of the 30 September, 1897 Through most destined to give joy to God's spondence with missionaries. church. The Record, January 24 2002 Page 13
Visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to Western Australia
From Nothingness into Fire the last eighteen months of her life, these spiritual trials were terrible and acute bodily suffering was added to them. Yet this is how she responds: '0 my God how good you are to the little victim of your merciful love! Even now when you add these bodily pains to those of my soul,I cannot bring myself to say: 'The anguish of death has encompassed me.' Rather doIcry out with gratitude: 'I have gone down into the valley of the shadow of death, but I fear no evil, because thou Lord art with me' ( Story of a Soul).
By Kate Cleary Caroline Chisholm Library, Melbourne
W
ith the coming of the relics of Therese of Lisieux to Australia, It's good to remind ourselves that she is a Doctor of the Church and to ask what her particular new teaching is. Its title Is 'the little way of spiritual childhood' and its content is more an attitude towards God than a teaching about him. This way is neither childish nor easy, two common mistakes made about it. It is essentially an attitude of abandonment to God and complete trust in him.
Her trust was daring 'If all weak and imperfect souls such as
Love is the foundation of this way of spiritual childhood
mine felt as I do, none would despair of reaching the summit of the mountain of love, since Jesus does not look for deeds, But this word has lost so much currency but only for gratitude and self-surrender.' we need to look at how Therese loved to Because her trust was daring there were no understand what she means by it. Here is bounds to her desire; her yearning for perthe description of her assisting an arthritic sonal holiness and for apostolate embraced nun in the community taken from her autothe whole world. 'My desires reach out to biography, Story of a Soul: infinity.............forgive me and bring healing 'Finally, we reached the refectory without to my soul by granting all that it hopes.' mishap; and here other difficulties arose. I How do these dispositions affect her reachad to seat Sister St. Pierre and I had to act tion to suffering and sin? skilfully in order not to hurt her, thenIhad Betty Nava What is it that takes the little one to its and Dr Philip to turn back her sleeves (again in a certain Lisieux to the Carmelite Gattey pray at a service marking the arrival of the relics of St. Therese of mother quicker Monastery in Washington in October 1999 during the relics' national tour than anything else? Pain. In way), and afterward I was free to leave. of the US. Photo CMS, Nancy Wiechac its mother's arms its pain is not taken away, With her poor cripples hands she was trybut it finds something that makes the pain ing to manage with her bread as well as the radiant confidence of a little child, total- easier to bear. The little If love is the first feature of this little soul seeks its she could. I soon noticed this, and, each ly abandoned to Him. way, humility is the second Father's love somewhere in its pain. In its evening,Idid not leave her until after Ihad The next thing that stands out most dearWhat are the outcomes of this attitude Father's embrace its pain is not taken away rendered her this little service. As she had but the soul is gathered into the mystery of ly in the mother child relationship is the to God? not asked for this, she was very much a crucified God. Therese found that the child's dependence which is absolute and touched by my attention, and it was by this The most important outcome of this spir- answer to pain lay in the arms of the crucomplete. Without the mother, it can do means that I gained her entire good graces, itual disposition is great trust in God. cified God and nowhere else. and this especially (I learned later) nothing; and its dependence is precisely in Therese's trust developed out of her disBut it is perhaps her attitude to sin which proportion to its littleness. This is why because, after cutting her bread for her, I Therese wanted to stay little in the super- positions of love, confidence and especial- Is the most insightful gift she has given us. gave her my most beautiful smile '(Story natural sphere: if she grew up she would ly humility. She expected nothing of her Again, using the analogy of childhood, she of a Soul) have to do things on her own. She recog- weakness. She expected all things from describes two children who offend their That is how she loved. It's not a senti- nised that we are completely dependent on God. For her, her very weakness was a mother one runs away in shame, the other mental, gushy thing. It's a detailed atten- our heavenly Father for everything. If we strong inducement to hope: 'I am but a runs into her mother's arms and begs fortion to the person, an honouring of God in let go of him we fall, but if we keep our weak and helpless child, but my very weak- giveness. Therese's instructions are dear them. When we talk of Therese's little way hand in his, if we surrender our wills com- ness makes me dare to offer myself, 0 be that second child. Run straight into the of love, it is this sort of love that we mean: pletely to him, he will lead us through dan- Jesus, as victim to your love. In olden days arms of God no matter how awful the sin the kind of love that God has for us. gers and to heights of sanctity which by only purest, spotless holocausts would be seems. Christ gives us this teaching in the In the natural order the dearest analogy ourselves we could never achieve. It is the accepted by the omnipotent God, nor could parable of the prodigal son, but how beaufor this love is the bond between mother consciousness of its littleness that enables his justice be appeased save by the most tifully she restates it. And how timely it is. and child. It is the mother's love that has the soul to realise its utter dependence on perfect sacrifices; but now that the law of both in her own Jansenistic times and in brought the child into being, and by this God. 'Littleness' in a soul is humility. fear has given way to the law of love,Ihave our current day of so much hopelessness, love it is supported every moment With- Humility teaches us how utterly depen- been chosen, though a weak and imperfect especially among the young. God welout its mother's love it is not merely rest- dent we are upon God. To realise her noth- creature, as Love's victim. And is not the comes the sinner with tears of joy: run to less, it is completely lost. In its littleness it ingness apart from God was Therese's great choice a fitting one? Most surely, for in him. can give only one thing, but that one thing joy: 'The Almighty has done great things order that Love may be wholly satisfied, it This way of childhood, a new way of is everything, namely, love. for me and the greatest is to show me my must stoop even unto nothingness and understanding and loving God, a way open Therese teaches us to take this idea up littleness.' (Story of a Soul) transform that nothingness into fire.' (Story to all of us, was Therese's great gift to the Into the supernatural realm. God is our of a Soul). Therese trusted not in spite of Church. Her boundless trust in God led her heavenly Father. He has created us because The third foundation of this little way is her poverty and helplessness but because to heights of sanctity and an ability to bear confidence he loves us. By his love we are supported of it. She knew that God could not resist his great suffering for him. Let us pray to her every moment. The one thing that the heavIn the natural sphere, from the child's desire to help a soul that, intensely aware for this gift of trust in God, of abandonment enly Father wants from us, his children, is dependence springs an unquestioning con- of its nothingness, stretches out imploring to him, of love of his will for us, that will our love. In our helplessness we are only fidence. It never occurs to the little child arms to him. She knew that the deep of our move us swiftly into his arms: able to give our love, and that is the one that its mother could fail it. On the moth- Insignificance and spiritual poverty calls to 'Later on, in heaven, it will be our delight thing God wants. er's side, this utter dependence cries to her the deep of his omnipotence. to look back upon these dark days of exile. All our actions are only valuable in His heart as nothing else could do. And the . . . . though our cross was bitter, how preHer trust is tireless eyes in so far as they are the expression of smaller the child, the more watchful is the cious and sweet it was, for from our hearts our love for him. That is the foundation of mother to anticipate its every need. And so Therese was tireless, obstinate and blind came nothing but aspirations of love and the little way of spiritual childhood; ills all It is with God. All he needs is a look, a cry, in her trust: spiritual aridity and barren- gratitude! No longer did we walk, we ran, love. It begins in love, exists by love and a prayer and there he is with his arms ness tended only to display it more dearly we flew in the paths of perfection."(Story of ends in love. around us. Therese walked with God with and to make it more unassailable. During a Soul).
'This saint is close enough to people to be their sister' By Tracy Early
111 n 1999 the bishop based in the French town where St Therese of Lisieux lived as a Carmelite nun said in a New York interview that he found people everywhere saying the saint seems close and informal enough to be their sister. Auxiliary Bishop Guy Gaucher of Bayeux lives in Lisieux, which was once a separate diocese. Millions of people devoted to St Therese have made pilgrimages to the town. He was interviewed in October that year, speaking sometimes in English and sometimes in French through an interpreter, while waiting to participate in a prayer service to mark the arrival of relics of St Therese at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York Seeking to explain the extraordinary appeal of a nun whose brief convent life prior to her early death, of tuberculosis in 1897 at
age 24, was in many ways very ordinary, Bishop Gaucher said it was the simplicity of her life that drew many people to her. "Sometimes the saints can make you feel intimidated," he said, referring to the visions and other unusual experiences many of them had. But St Therese was a young woman who lived a simple life and taught a simple message of love, and could seem as close as a member of the family, he said. Bishop Gaucher said St Therese had become enormously popular in France, and was represented by a statue in almost every church. She and St Joan of Arc, who lived in the 15th century but was not canonised until 1920, five years before St Therese, are both secondary patronesses of France, the bishop noted. And St Therese wrote two plays about St Joan and prayed for her canonisation, he said. But Bishop Gaucher said St
1 - The.Record,,Jarivary ,24, 2002 s,Page 14
Therese had more French churches dedicated to her than St Joan did, and 2,000 churches and chapels dedicated to her worldwide. He said the convent where she lived in Lisieux remained a convent, and currently has 18 nuns. However, the bishop also reported that the people of Lisieux today do not show special devotion to St Therese. They are aware that large numbers of pilgrims are coming to the town of some 25,000 residents because of her, but "they have become a little bit used to it, without getting involved themselves." He said the attitude of people in Lisieux toward St Therese illustrated the saying of Jesus, "No prophet is accepted in his own native place" (Lk 4:24). Bishop Gaucher said St Therese had inspired many vocations to the religious life and the priesthood, and that other orders in addition to the Carmelites
received members influenced by the decision of Pope John Paul II her. He himself was formerly a to declare St Therese a doctor of diocesan priest in Paris, and the church in 1997 joined the Carmelite order after Bishop Gauchet was speaking he "met" St Therese. after the commencement of the Originally, the saint known as US tour of Therese's relics. "the little flower" had seemed He told Catholic News Service "cute and sweet" like a statue, he that the world tour of the relics said. But he got a new under- was initiated when the bishops' standing of her through studying conference of Brazil requested to the writings of Georges Bernanos, have the relics sent there, and the French novelist known for bishops in other countries who works such as Diary of a Country heard about those plans also Priest, which ends with words made requests. Bishop Gaucher taken from St Therese, "All is said the reliquary which was then grace." visiting the United States conBishop Gaucher said the tained only half of the relics of St Carmelites assigned him to work Therese. on preparing a critical edition of In the year of her canonisation, the writings of St Therese, a pro- the Brazilians donated two reliject in which scholars from other quaries, and the relics were dividorders and some lay specialists ed equally between one that is later joined. allowed to travel and one that is He said the product won a prize not, he said. He said the body of of the French Academy, a presti- St Therese was not preserved, so gious literary society, and turned it was only some of her bones that out to have more importance than were placed in each reliquary. originally anticipated because of - Catholic News Service
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26 Citizenship and Local Government Awards Ceremony Archbishop Hickey
29 Blessing of "Shop Front", Maylands - Archbishop Hickey
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25 Concert in honour of St Therese of Lisieux, Morley Archbishop Hickey
27 Annual Ecumenical Service of the Australian-Irish Heritage Association - Murdoch Worship Centre - Bishop Healy
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31 Reception of the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux followed by Mass, Morley - Archbishop Hickey Catholic Education Regional Mass: Ballajura - Archbishop Hickey Bateman - Bishop-Elect Sproxton FEBRUARY 1
Catholic Education Regional Mass: John XXIII College - Archbishop Hickey Greenmount - Bishop-Elect Sproxton
3
Reception of the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux followed by Mass, St Mary's Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey
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Presentation of "Youth Book" to Year 12s at Kolbe College Archbishop Hickey
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Meeting of RCIA Candidates and Catechumens. Armadale Parish A rchbishop Hickey
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Meeting of the Council of Priests, Glendalough - Archbishop Hickey
Archdiocesan Panorama FRANCISCANS OF THE IMMACULATE HOLY HOUR FOR MOTHERS All are welcome to attend this month's Holy Hour (includes Rosary, Benediction. Hymns and instruction from Fr. Elias Mary), held on Monday 28 Jan, at St Paul's Church, 4 Fraser St. Swanbourne from 10am - 11am. Activities provided for t he children with the Sisters of the Immaculate. Please bring m/tea to share. For more details please phone: Gemma McCann 9474 1068 FAREWELL MASS AND GATHERING FOR SR BRIDIE O'SULLIVAN
ST BRIGID•S MIDLAND - CHURCH/SCHOOL CENTENARY
Old friends and former students are invited for Mass and gathering for Sr Bridie O'Sullivan (formerly Sr Bernadine) as she prepares to return to Ireland after 40-year service in Australia. Join us on Sat 9 Feb for Mass at 6pm at St Andrew's Primary School, Victorsen Pde, Clarkson. followed by entertainment.
All former parishioners and students are invited to attend Mass at 9.30am and refreshments in the hall afterwards, on Sunday 3 Feb at St Brigid's Church, St Brigid's Place, Midland.
PASSIONIST PARISH MISSION DIANELLA Our Lady's Assumption Church, 356 Grand Promenade, Dianella. Sun 10 Feb: 'Jesus Who is He really?' Tues 12Feb: 'Jesus, Law & Conscience-. Wed 13 Feb: 'Human Growth & Faith Growth'. Thurs 14 Feb: 'Jesus, Church & Community'. Fri 15 Feb: 'Jesus. Forgiveness & Reconciliation'. Session times: Sun 7-8.45pm, Tues to Fri 10am to 12 noon, 7.30-9.30pm (repeat of the morning session). Daily Eucharist (Tues-Fri at 9am). BULLSBROOK HEALING MASS WORLD DAY OF THE SICK Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering rd, Bullsbrook. Holy Mass is celebrated for the physical and spiritual healing of the sick on the second Sunday of each month. The next Mass is on 10 Feb. The Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes with the World Day of the Sick will be celebrated with Reconciliation and Holy Rosary in the Shrine commencing at 2pm; Mass at 2.30pm, followed by the blessing of the sick and the anointing of the seriously ill with the Sacrament of the sick. Inquiries: SACRI 9447 3292. WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION The next first Saturday Mass, procession and R osary Vigil will be held on 2 Feb. commencing with Mass at 8.30am at St Anne's Church. Hehir St, Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale Abortion Centre and conclude with Rosary. Led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Please join us to pray peacefully for the conversion of hearts. PRO-LIFE PROCESSION, MIDLAND
The National Shrine of the Little Rower in San Antonio, Texas, USA, has been designated a minor basilica by Pope John Paul IL The diocese celebrated the designation in a ceremony at the church in early February
1999.
(CNS photo by Father John Suenram. OCD)
ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE K nights and Dames are reminded of the Chapter Meeting 12 March at St Mary's Parish Centre. Franklin St, Leederville. High on the agenda will be the procedure of our attendance in regalia for the Divine Liturgy at the Melkite Catholic Church, 61 Glendower St, Perth. 21 April. 10am. This Sunday has been chosen as being closest to the Feast of St George. patron saint of knighthood. and Our Lady's paladin of chivalry.
The First Friday Mass, procession and Rosary Vigil will beheld on 1Feb, commencing at 9.30am with Mass celebrated at St Brigid's Church, Midland. The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate will lead us. All are invited to witness for the sanctity of life and pray for the conversion of hearts. Inquiries: Helen 9402 0349. MASS FOR GERMAN SPEAKERS Sun 3 Feb at 12 noon at St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, East Perth. Jedermann ist herzlich willkommen. DIVINE MERCY - CHANGE OF VENUE An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St nFrancis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor St, East Perth on Sun 3 Feb at 1.30pm. Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon: Fr Sydney Shelton (St Blaise), followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Inquiries: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.
TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES Fri 8 Feb with Rosary and hymns around Lake Monger. congregating at the north-west corner at the park end of Dodd St. Everyone is invited. The paths are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Contact: Judy Woodward 9446 6837. NOVENA DEVOTION TO ST JOSEPH Every Wednesday at 1pm at St Mary's Cathedral. Please join us in prayer for our Holy Father, Priests and Religious, vocations, the sick, the deceased, your special intentions. All welcome. A N EVENING AT THE GROTTO Our Lady of Lourdes, Embleton Church, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Sat 9 Feb. 6pm. Outdoor Mass in front of the Grotto in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes followed by healing service. Tea and c offee in the hall afterwards. All welcome. Inquiries: 9271 5528 (presbytery). WORLD YOUTH DAY The Catholic Youth Ministry will be holding a World Youth Day information evening on 30 Jan from 7.30 till 8.30pm at the Cathedral Parish Centre, 450 Hay St. The evening is for anyone interested in attending or seeking more information about World Youth Day. All are welcome! AUSTRALIA DAY HOLY HOUR For Australia Day a Holy Hour for the conversion of Australia (Rosary and Benediction) will be held at St Francis Xavier Church. 25 Windsor St, East Perth on Mon 28 Jan (Public Holiday) from 3-4pm. Refreshments afterwards. Inquiries: Devotees of Our Lady of Mt Carmel de Garabandal 9279 8629. PRIESTLY PAEDOPHILIA A CATHOLIC RESPONSE Listen to and participate in the discussion on the Catholic response to priestly paedophilia in the Layman's Hour with Raymond and Theresa de Souza (Radio Fremantle, 107.9 FM) on Sunday 27 Jan at 7.30pm. Ring 9494 2100 and have your say on this burning Catholic issue of the day. THE LAYMAN'S HOUR -YOUTH FORUM Why do 900 0 of young people leave the Church? Where are families, schools and parishes failing to make a difference? What should be done to stop the drift? If there is to be a future for the Church in Australia, this drift must be stopped and the trend reversed. On Sunday 3 Feb join The Layman's Hour - Youth Forum' with Raymond and Theresa de Souza (Radio Fremantle, 107.9 FM at 7.30pm). Ring 9494 2100 and have your say on this urgent issue.
The Recoidijanuary 24 2002 Page 15
The Last Word
Photo: Hugh Ryan
Fr Bryan Tiernan holds the photo of St Therese, taken by her sister, just before her death.
Cherished photo of the Soldiers' Saint inspires a lifelong devotion
By Hugh Ryan
T
his photo, held by Fr Bryan Tiernan, of St Therese of Lisieux was taken by her sister, Celine, who was also a Carmelite nun, on June Z 1897, a little less than four months before the saint's death on September 30 that year. It was given by Celine to Patrick Joseph Tiernan when he visited Lisieux some time during the 1914-18 war and is now owned by Patrick's son, Pallotine priest Fr Bryan, who is responsible for the Archdiocese's Aboriginal ministry. Fr Bryan said he was not sure when or how his father developed his devotion to St Therese, but it was a lifelong devotion. During WWI, St Therese became known as the Soldiers' Saint (although she was not canonised until 1925) because of the numerous accounts of her assistance to men in the trenches and other dangerous situations. Patrick Tiernan was a Captain in the South Staffordshire Infantry regiment and carried his picture of St Therese through
Ypres, the Somme and other famous battlegrounds. In later years, every house he owned was named Lisieux and his first child was baptised Therese. After the war, Patrick returned to Ireland, took up his profession as a quantity surveyor, and developed a friendship with Delia Josephine Cunningham. When she and all 15 members of her family set out to visit her Aunt Lucy who owned two hotels in Redfern, Sydney, Patrick began to think he was taking a big risk that she would not return, so he took the next ship to Australia. As luck would have it, the Cunninghams' vessel had engine trouble and had to put in to Cape Town with the result that Patrick arrived first and was waiting on the wharf when they arrived. They were married in Surrey Hills, Sydney, in 1922 and eventually had six children, of whom only Fr Bryan and his older brother John James who lives in Coils Harbour, NSW, are still living. Fr Bryan was ordained In the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Clerkenwell, England
on January 23, 1955. The Church was the first returned to the Pallotines after the 44- 44.„ 4, 4. Reformation, and his ordination Mass was the first evening Mass in England. 7 4He worked in England, Italy and India before going to Victoria as Provincial in 1962, and then to the Kimberley in 1965. 414. 4, 2-44 He also served in the Geraldton and Bunbury dioceses before being appointed to 4:4A" fra4 launch the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in 1967, a position he still holds. He will be 74 on April 10. His father died in 1973 and Fr Bryan has cherished the photo of St 74... • Therese ever since. The inscription on the back reads: Authentic photo taken by her sister Celine on 7/6/97. fe suis le Jesus de Therese. Si quelqu'un 4 . 4 Ac est tout petit Qu'il vienne a moi. Divine dkitt. Jesus realise mon reve. Mourir d'amour. These are the words she wrote on the picture she holds in her hands. (The translation of the French is: "I am the St Therese, pictured top, holding a picture of the Jesus of Therese. If anyone is completely Infant Jesus and the Holy Face, from which she small let him come to me. Divine Jesus let took her name in religion. Above, the inscription in French on the back of the photo. my dream come true, To die of love?)
_
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Little Flower remains a symbol of hope in difficult times By Francis Leong 111 didn't know anything about St Therese of Lisieux until about a week ago. What struck me initially about her story was the seeming tragedy of her youth. An attractive young woman imbued with such fire and dogged determination to become a missionary, to have died at such a young age without having realised her dream. A story of personal pain, sacrifice and failure. After seven years of living and working with refugee communities in Africa, I find such stories are not uncommon, more the norm. The young people I worked with were full of enthusiasm and promise as teachers, health workers and leaders. Because of disease, because of war, because of persecution, many were robbed of their chance to transform the communities in which they lived. Such loss had always moved me to despair and despondency. I lost friends. 1 lost companions.
From time to time,I lost hope. But
the message that is revealed to me in the story of St Therese is a surprisingly healing one. That she was able to see the Love of Christ in everything despite the seeming emptiness of her circumstance, moves and Inspires me. That she was able to devote herself to this Love by always doing the small and ordinary things quietly and well, offers me a solution. That she found Love at the very heart of the Church reassures me and affirms my baptismal commitment to missionary service. Reflecting further on the short life of St Therese, I see a young person struggling with the meaning of her vocation. I see myself in this, overwhelmed and lost about what to do, struggling to find meaning and purpose in everything. Perhaps St Therese is a symbol of hope for the young person in all of us. Her story offers reassurance that whatever the circumstance, our vocation will become apparent and that it is
fering Christ in the humanness and mediocrity of her daily life. As a patron saint of Australia, St Therese, is calling us to respond to the suffering Christ in our midst; by caring for the marginalised, the destitute and the lonely living in the very streets of our parishes. . . by defending the human rights and dignity of the refugees languishing in our detention centres. . . . by reconciling with our indigenous brothers and sisters. . . . to give but a few topical examples. So as the new director of Catholic Mission in Perth,I need look no further than St Therese de Lisieux for guidance and consolation in the trials and tribulations ahead. Francis Leong with young Angolan refugees for whom he worked in Africa Iinvite you all who are touch by while with the Jesuit Refugee Service. her story, to participate with me humanly attainable. Perhaps the sionary work is not necessarily i n this journey. forhappens in a that revelation of her story is also a something A journey that will be a process call for young people to be more eign country of, as St Therese puts it. "transshelcloistered, directly involved in the missionShe lived in a ary work of the Church as a way tered community. She gave con- forming nothingness into fire". I of finding true meaning and pur- siderable support to missionaries look forward to hearing from you. pose in an inherently violent and overseas through her prayers and Francis Leong is the new Direcconfused world. St Therese's letters. But she was also able to tor of Catholic Mission for the story further reveals that mis- recognise and respond to the suf- Archdiocese of Perth.
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