St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta will host a first class relic of St Therese of Lisieux on her Feast Day, Saturday 1 October 2016. The relic from a bone will be venerated in multiple venues across the Diocese of Parramatta.
‘The Little Flower’.
Known as ‘The Little Flower’, St Therese was renowned for her extraordinary humility and powerful love for Christ, lived out in simplicity. She is formally known as St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.
Pope Pius X described her as “the greatest saint of modern times”.
Despite being a contemplative sister, St Therese is the patron saint of the Missions because of her devotion to praying for the salvation of souls. She is also renowned for interceding with God when people are in need. People in the Diocese of Parramatta have reported healings after praying to St Therese.
Part of the inspiration for the event at St Patrick’s Cathedral is her promise to perform miracles, conveyed in her famous saying: “After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses.”
The veneration of the relics will begin at 5pm on Saturday 1 October. Prayers before the Mass will include the St Therese Chaplet and Litany.
There will be the opportunity during the Mass to receive a blessing with the relic and to touch the relic with rose petals provided. This makes the rose petals into third class relics of the saint.
During the prayers around Mass, there will also be a reading from the life of St Therese, the opportunity to write special intentions and a basket with inspiring quotations from St Therese of Lisieux.
In 2002, St Therese of Lisieux’s incorrupt body toured Australia, drawing thousands to venerate her. In the Diocese of Parramatta, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wentworthville hosted her body for veneration from 6am-10pm on 9 April 2002.
Churches hosting the relic for veneration:
The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus – Oratory, Girraween.
Date and time: Saturday 1 October 2016, 8am-noon.
159 Girraween Road, Girraween.
St Margaret Mary Church, 5 Chetwynd Road, Merrylands.
Date and time: Sunday 30 October 2016, 6pm-9.30pm.
Our Lady of Rosary Church, 26 Swanston Street, St Marys.
Date and time: Sunday 20 November 2016, 4.30pm – 6.30pm.
