Sunday Times 2
Celebrating the feast of the greatest Saint of modern times
View(s):aOn November 20, 1887, during a general audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, a little girl makes a plea to His Holiness to grant her permission to follow her vocation to become a carmelite nun. Her previous attempts to join the Carmel have not been successful since the priest-superior of the monastery would not consider it on account of her youth.
Saint Thérèse who is acknowledged as "The Little Flower" was born on January 2, 1873 to pious parents, Louis Martin and Zélie Guerin.
His holiness respects the decision of the convent and is unable to accede to the little girl’s request. Years later, her innermost desire is fulfilled and she enters the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy. In January 1889, she receives the habit of Carmel, and in September 1890, she pronounces her vows filled with a peace, which surpasses all understanding.
After nine years as a Carmelite religious, she comes to the end of her spiritual journey on earth.
Following her canonization, her feast day is added to the General Roman Calendar in 1927 for celebration on October 3.
In 1969, 42 years later, Pope Paul VI moves it to October 1, the day after her ‘dies natalis’ (birthday to heaven). On October 1, Catholics all over the world will celebrate the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
Saint Thérèse who is acknowledged as “The Little Flower” was born on January 2, 1873 to pious parents, Louis Martin and Zélie Guerin.In her early years, Therese was surrounded by the love and devotion of her closely knit family.Upon the death of her mother, the responsibility of her upbringing fell on a loving father and her devoted sisters, who nurtured Therese and instilled in her invaluable virtues and a childlike spirituality.
She entered the Carmelite Monastery at the age of 15 and lived a simple life of prayer. In 1896 Therese was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and as she reflected upon her gentle life ending, she promised that she will let fall ‘a shower of roses’ after her death.
Therese died on September 30, 1897, at the age of twenty four and was canonized on May 17, 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
He called St. Therese, “the greatest saint of modern times. ”The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, “Story of a Soul”. She described her life as a “little way of spiritual childhood”.
The smallest action, done with extraordinary love, is more important than great deeds done for personal glory, gratification or simply out of obedience.The Blessed Parents of St. Therese October 19, 2015, will mark another joyful event in the Roman liturgical calendar when, for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, the parents of a saint will be canonized together.
Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Therese, will be called to sainthood, giving testimony to their ‘extraordinary witness of conjugal and familial spirituality’.
The growth in holiness of Therese and the religious vocations of her sisters was the result of the spiritual life of Louis and Zélie Martin. They were not saintly because they raised a saint, rather they raised a saint because they were saintly.
Louis and Zélie Martin were beatified as a couple in 2008 in Lisieux in the Basilica of St. Thérèse which marked the 150th anniversary of their marriage, emphasizing the important role parents play in their children’s human and spiritual upbringing.
Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin will be canonized together during the world Synod of Bishops on the family on October 19th, 2015.
The church dedicated to St. Therese On Sunday, October 4th, the parish community of the church at Thimbirigasyaya named after St.Therese, will have two occasions to celebrate, as they pay homage to their patron saint on her feast day, and her soon to be canonized parents.
Preparations commenced weeks prior to the feast with the hoisting of the flag mast which took place with the parishioners contributing in ‘little ways’, attaching flags to represent their families, a symbol of a united parish, modeling the family unity of St.Therese, the originator of “The Little Way”.
Parishioners were encouraged to participate in the devotions and celebrations with their families in a bid to emulate and propagate the conjugal spirituality practiced so faithfully by the blessed parents of St. Therese. St. Theresa’s Church, Thimbirigasyaya, has been celebrating the feast of St. Therese since the completion of its construction in 1961.
Initially his responsibility of the mission of Thimbirigasyaya was given over to the Dominican Fathers, and later it was handed over to the Redemptorist Fathers; a society of missionary priests founded by St.Alphonsus Maria Liguori in 1732.
A prerequisite for finding a religious congregation of priests for handing over the church was stipulated as “a congregation that has a special devotion to Our Lady”.
The Dominican missionary, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Frendo was instrumental for the transition of the Mission at Thimbirigasyaya to the Redemptorists, which took place during the time of Rev. Fr. Gerard Campos, CSsR. The message of St. Therese is beautiful, inspiring, and simple. She did not experience any extraordinary phenomena in her life.
She inherited a family environment marked by an identity, a sense of direction, and a way of life. She came to love God through prayer, self-discipline and a generous love, and learnt about life by observing her parents deep love for each other and their fidelity and commitment to family life.
The faith of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin and their family was refined and strengthened by God due to their spirituality, humility and total trust in him. The lifestyle of St. Thérèse of the child Jesus and the family values upheld by the saint’s parents, are illustrations for the faithful to emulate their exemplary life of faith, dedication to ideal values united to a constant realism, and persistent attention to the poor.