Ifugao folks pay homage toSaint Therese’s relics

By Vivencia D. Bulayungan

LAGAWE, Ifugao, -- It was a rare event when relics of a saint reached this country, more so when these were brought to this capital town.

The Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army provided security when the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus were brought here for public viewing on Jan. 11.

Catholic devotees, and women and men in uniform from the 11 mission stations in the province came to welcome the relics and attended the mass at 10 a.m.

           

 Policemen were assigned to do the readings and offerings together with some parishioners which they gladly did, after all, St Therese was their patron saint.

St. Therese' parents both served in both military, thus she is the patron saint of the military and the police.

Called the “Greatest Saint of our Time,” Therese of Lisieux has touched countless numbers of souls. Her great discovery is that a personal relationship with God is the essence of holiness, and her “Little Way” continues to teach us this lesson.

Born Marie Francoise Therese Martin on Jan. 2, 1873, she was the youngest of five daughters - all of whom became nuns – in a devout Catholic family.

Therese was somewhat spoiled as a child, although her life was not easy. When she was three, her mother died of cancer.

At 10, Therese exhibited “strange tremblings” but was cured miraculously upon noticing that her statue of our Lady of Victories was smiling. Later, Therese had an attack of scruples, and she was afflicted with repeated tearful episodes. Her prayers for miraculous cures for both of these afflictions were granted.

At 14, Therese learned about Henri Pranzini, an unrepentant murderer condemned to death, and prayed for his conversion. A month later, Pranzini kissed the crucifix offered him on the way to the guillotine. Reading about this in newspaper, Therese called him her “first child.”

When barely 16, Therese was formally clothed as a nun and took the name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. A few years later, Therese was appointed assistant mistress of novices.

The following years, Therese begun coughing up blood, the first indication of her tuberculosis. She continued with her duties, which included writing to her spiritual brothers but she died on September 30, 1897 and her last words were “My God, I love you.” She was just 24.

She was canonized on May 17, 1925 and her feast day is October 1.

In 1997, St. Therese was declared Doctor of the Church. Although her life was short, Therese left a profound legacy.

Because of her trials, she could not do great things for God, so she searched through the scriptures and found Thomas Kempis’ the imitation of Christ as a way to show her love.

In childlike yet inspired language, she proclaimed the truth she found: Love, not the “this” or “that” of love, is worth more than all sacrifices and ceremonies. Her Little Way is her means of teaching us the truth. -- PIA