I won't go into the life story of Ste. Therese of Lisieux. The intrigued of you can Google her if you don't already know anything about her life. What I will do is describe what this saint means to me (in case anyone cares).
I was brought up Roman Catholic and still practice the faith to this day. One of my earliest memories is being fascinated by a beautiful 'dolly' that was dressed similarly to the Virgin Mary, though in browns and blacks, and which played the classic song Saint Theresa of the Roses if wound up at the base. I learnt from my mother that it was a statue of the saint also known as The Little Flower and we were both more than upset when, 'helping' to move into our new house when I was four, I dropped and smashed it.
I must admit I don't know a great deal about other faiths but certainly in the Roman Catholic church we often ask for the intercession of particular saints when praying and throughout my life I've asked for Ste. Therese's help. I also find her famous advice "Do ordinary things extraordinarily well" highly inspirational so when I learned that her relics were coming to Britain, I resolved to find some way of paying them a visit.
As luck would have it I didn't have to travel far. This week the relics arrived in Salford Cathedral, the centre of my diocese, and our parish organised a little pilgrimage there for today. It was only a half-hour drive on the coach though we queued for quite some time to get into the cathedral, and also queued inside the cathedral. I did not time it but it must have been an hour at least after arrival that we finally were able to go up to the glass-covered reliquary, say a prayer and move on.
Refreshment was provided in an adjoining room and several book stalls had been set up. I spent much time poring over the items for sale and came away with quite a few treasures.
I have never been to Salford cathedral before but I can honestly say I was glad of the experience and will be going again. I found it sad that despite this being a holy place the chatter of pilgrims in the building was quite loud but there was still the same blissful calm in my heart as I gazed at the beauty of the architecture. Unfortunately Ste. Therese's relics are only in Salford till midnight tonight but the cathedral is open most days, as far as I know, and is well worth a visit.
I was brought up Roman Catholic and still practice the faith to this day. One of my earliest memories is being fascinated by a beautiful 'dolly' that was dressed similarly to the Virgin Mary, though in browns and blacks, and which played the classic song Saint Theresa of the Roses if wound up at the base. I learnt from my mother that it was a statue of the saint also known as The Little Flower and we were both more than upset when, 'helping' to move into our new house when I was four, I dropped and smashed it.
I must admit I don't know a great deal about other faiths but certainly in the Roman Catholic church we often ask for the intercession of particular saints when praying and throughout my life I've asked for Ste. Therese's help. I also find her famous advice "Do ordinary things extraordinarily well" highly inspirational so when I learned that her relics were coming to Britain, I resolved to find some way of paying them a visit.
As luck would have it I didn't have to travel far. This week the relics arrived in Salford Cathedral, the centre of my diocese, and our parish organised a little pilgrimage there for today. It was only a half-hour drive on the coach though we queued for quite some time to get into the cathedral, and also queued inside the cathedral. I did not time it but it must have been an hour at least after arrival that we finally were able to go up to the glass-covered reliquary, say a prayer and move on.
Refreshment was provided in an adjoining room and several book stalls had been set up. I spent much time poring over the items for sale and came away with quite a few treasures.
I have never been to Salford cathedral before but I can honestly say I was glad of the experience and will be going again. I found it sad that despite this being a holy place the chatter of pilgrims in the building was quite loud but there was still the same blissful calm in my heart as I gazed at the beauty of the architecture. Unfortunately Ste. Therese's relics are only in Salford till midnight tonight but the cathedral is open most days, as far as I know, and is well worth a visit.
