St Thérése relics set for Moate

The relics of the much-loved Saint Thérése of Lisieux, known as the Little Flower, are returning to the Carmelite Church in Moate this month. Organisers are expecting another major turnout, after thousands attended churches nationwide to pay their respects to the saint during the last tour in 2001. The theme of this year"s visit is 'sowing peace and joy in every heart'. However, unlike the last trip when the relics were only displayed in each church for 22 hours, this time people will have plenty opportunity to pay their respects, as the relics will remain in the Carmelite Church for a full week, from March 20 to 27. It is the only location that the relics will appear in the Midlands, apart from Longford. A talk entitled "St Thérése of Lisieux" by Joe Mothersill of the Carmelites, will take place on Tuesday March 24. Bernard O"Reilly, bursar with the Carmelites in Moate, said that people found it easy to identify with the saint because she had 'great patience and tolerance'. 'She is the epitome of a dedicated person to God. Her faith was very simple even though she had many trials in her life,' he said. 'Love in the heart of the church was what she believed in and she used the rose as a symbol to reflect the pain and joy in life.' Thérése of Lisieux was born in Alencon, a very small town in Normandy in 1837. She became a Discalced Carmelite nun at 15 and died of tuberculosis at only 24 at a monastery in Lisieux in 1897. When her spiritual autobiography The Story of a Soul was published, she became one of the most popular saints of modern times. Her sisters had encouraged her to write her life story about her childhood and her faith in God. She was canonized in 1925 and, in 1997, named a Doctor of the Church. During the week that the relics are on display, the church will close at 10pm but people will be able to keep vigil all night until the church opens again for 8am mass. Locals have been full of enthusiasm about the return of the Little Flower and there has been plenty of interest shown at the two meetings held so far in the Carmelite Centre. All the local schools have also been invited to take part in the week of celebration. Perhaps in these times of fear and uncertainty for many people, there may be even more interest in a saint who was 'such an influence for good'. 'People do like to get back in touch with the Church at these times. Mass attendance goes up or down but faith is always there and Thérése always had faith in God,' said Bernard. 'She bore all her sickness and no one realised how ill she was. She was all loving, loving, loving.'