Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - In the last months of this year 2007, three important anniversaries connected with the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux occur (born Alençon 1873 - died Lisieux 1897): the 120th anniversary of young 15 year old Therese' s pilgrimage to Rome in the Autumn of 1887 to ask permission from Pope Leo XIII to enter a Carmelite Convent, before the set age; 80 years since the proclamation by Pope Pius XI on 14 December 1927 of Saint Therese of Lisieux together with St Francis Xavier, patron saints of Catholic missions; 10 years since Pope John Paul II proclaimed Saint Therese of Lisieux Doctor of the Church on 19 October 1997.
Relics of the Saint arrived in Rome yesterday 8 November. As part of a pilgrimage through the city, on Monday 12 November the relics will at the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, next to Propaganda Fide. At 4pm there will be a concelebration of the Eucharist presided by Cardinal Ivan Dias prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. On Wednesday 14 November there relics will be in St Peter's Square for the Pope's general audience. Other significant stops include: 15 November the church of Gesù, where there are relics of the other Patron Saint of the Missions St Francis Xavier; 16 November Pontifical Urban University. Other stops include the Children's Hospital Bambin Gesù and one of Rome's prisons, Regina Caeli. On 18 November the relics will leave Rome for Caserta (Naples) and be carried to various Italian dioceses until 27 December. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/11/2007; righe 19, parole 266)
