A Desire Fulfilled - The Relics of St. Thérèse

I went to see her relics, but something else caught my eye . . .

I was never a big “St. Thérèse fan”, and I often wondered why so many people were drawn to her . . . until last December. On a whim, or through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I picked up her autobiography Story of a Soul. Within minutes of reading, I was immediately enamored with her. I spent many hours crying into the book as I had finally found a kindred spirit - with several of those tears shed because I was pretty late to the party.

I am now not only a “St. Thérèse fan” but can be considered her groupie since I corralled my family into the mini-van, trekking several hours up to Washington D.C. to see her relics. It was a pilgrimage for sure, complete with gummy bear bribery to get in the car . . . and yes, you can wear your Bengals jersey.

We had no idea what to expect, and I really only had vague answers to give the kids about who would be there, what the relics would look like, and would there be food. We had already been to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception during a college tour, so at least we were familiar with the area.

As we approached the basilica, we were met by a Carmelite priest who handed us a novena card that also had a prayer for priests composed by St. Thérèse. I’m including her prayer here, because her heart was for priests and praying for them was one of her many “little” missions.

O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with Your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. (www.carmelitefriars.org)

As we entered the basilica, it was packed. The line to see her relics snaked through pews, up and down aisles, around statuary, and past the Marian chapels. There were tables set up to write down prayer intentions. People were carrying roses, rosaries, babies. There were people from all nationalities to see the relics of . . . One. Little. Flower.

I started this article casually, humorously labeling myself as her “groupie.” However, in all seriousness and earnestness - St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face is my friend. As I stood in line and processed with these many, many people I looked around and started to cry.

“Thérèse, I came here to see your relics, but instead I see something else. I see the desire of your heart fulfilled.”

On her deathbed St. Thérèse wrote, “I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of making others love God as I love Him, my mission of teaching my little way to souls. If God answers my requests, my heaven will be spent on earth up until the end of the world. Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.”

And being here in Washington D.C. was only a tiny glimpse of the vastness of her miraculous mission. She offered her tiny loaves and tiny fish, and God multiplied them to feed the world. Her “Little Way” has inspired generations and will continue to do so, because she first stood at the feet of Jesus strewing flowers before His throne.

St. Thérèse’s relics went on to Miami and then returned back home to Lisieux in December.

May we all find great friendship with this “little” saint and strew our own flowers, confident in our Father who is never outdone in generosity.

J.M.J.T.K