������ý

In honor of the 100^th anniversary of her canonization, the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux will come to the United States for a this fall, making a stop at Thomas Aquinas ������ý, California.

On , the campus will host the saint’s reliquary in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. The chapel will be open to all those who wish to venerate the relics beginning Tuesday, October 14, when they arrive at 4:00 p.m. until the gates close at 10:30 p.m., and between 6:00 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., when they depart the following day. Veneration of the relics will be continuous except during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The last U.S. tour of the relics in 1999 drew in over 1 million people, and this year’s organizers hope for a similar outcome. “What we want, through the relics of St. Thérèse, is to bring people back to Church, to lift up the country with something that’s totally positive, and then to bring in vocations,” Rev. Donald Kinney, OCD, national coordinator of the tour, told . 

Similarly, Suzie Andres (’87), TAC alumna author of several books about , hopes the relics of the Little Flower will give visitors an opportunity to reflect on her Little Way of humble surrender. “St. Thérèse shows a beautiful intimacy with Christ,” she says. “She has so much to teach us about surrendering to God, because, as she explains, He does not desire from us great actions, but simply surrender and gratitude. Not only that, she also wants to help us and send ‘a shower of roses’ — she answers prayers like crazy!” 

Visitors will have the opportunity to venerate St. Thérèse’s relics, attend Mass and confession, and pray the Rosary and Compline with Thomas Aquinas ������ý students. Throughout the relics’ time on campus, the Carmelite Sisters will also offer short presentations on St. Thérèse.

“It’s a gift from St. Thomas Aquinas to us to bring his little sister in Christ to campus,” says Mrs. Andres. “It’s also a great gift of St. Thérèse, of her love for us and the Church around us, to grant the ������ý the privilege of hosting her relics. Now, people who know St. Thérèse but might not know about St. Thomas or the ������ý can come learn about both by visiting, and those of us in the TAC community will get a chance to learn more about her Little Way and how to abandon ourselves to God.”

For more information about the relics’ visit to campus, including the schedule of events and visitor directions, please visit the ������ý’s St. Thérèse relic page.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, pray for us!