As part of our Parish activities in keeping with the 2024 designated Year of Prayer, we have a full day retreat at the Maryton Carmelite Monastery in Liverpool on August 10th. The focus of our day is 'Praying with St. Therese of Lisieux'. Look out for further details which will be included on this page, together with recollections from the day.
In the Apostolic Exhortation, 'C'est La Confiance', our Holy Father Pope Francis focussed on confidence in the merciful love of God for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. (Given in Rome on October 15th, 2023).
“C’est la confiance et rien que la confiance qui doit nous conduire à l’Amour”. “It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love”. [1]
Pope Francis closes the address as follows. Let us join together in this prayer to St. Therese.
A century and a half after her birth, Therese is more alive than ever in the pilgrim Church, in the heart of God’s people. She accompanies us on our pilgrim way, doing good on earth, as she had so greatly desired. The most lovely signs of her spiritual vitality are the innumerable “roses” that Therese continues to strew: the graces God grants us through her loving intercession in order to sustain us on our journey through life.
Dear Saint Therese,
the Church needs to radiate the brightness,
the fragrance and the joy of the Gospel.
Send us your roses!
Help us to be, like yourself,
ever confident in God’s immense love for us,
so that we may imitate each day
your “little way” of holiness.
Amen.
“C’est la confiance”: Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father on confidence in the merciful love of God for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (15 October 2023) | Francis (vatican.va)