North Filton, Bristol

The homily from Wednesday evening's Mass and a slide show can be found
by clicking here

Follow the tour

Follow the tour on the official blog here

Looking ahead to the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux to England and Wales from Catholic Church (England/Wales) on Vimeo.

In this short video, we speak to Bishop Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham and Patron of the Visit of the Relics, Leonora from Youth 2000 (a Catholic Youth organisation), and Sister Patricia Mary of Jesus (who belongs to the same Order, the Carmelites, that St Thérèse belonged to).


The music in the video was written and recorded especially for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse by Mike Stanley. cjmmusic.co.uk

Production: Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) caseresources.org.uk

An Unpetaled Rose

First, Jesus, Mary's hands
made sure you didn't fall:
Then on your own,
You tried, on our sad earth,
shakily first of all
To walk alone . . .
Before You, I would break
the petals off a rose
Fresh from the bower -
So that each little foot
of yours, that forward goes
Rests on a flower! . . .

This rose, un-petaled now,
is, Holy Child! that heart
(the figure's true)
Which wants to immolate
itself - in every part,
Always, for You.
Fresh altar-roses, Lord,
are gratified to shine -
Self-gifts we see! -
Instead of that I would
(this other dream is mine)
Un-petal me . . .

Delightful Child! the rose
can deck Your Feast-days when
It's at its height.
The rose, unpetaled though -
thrown to the wind's will, then
Blown out of sight!
That rose gives up itself -
all artless - that it may No longer live.
Child Jesus! I, to You
give myself up that way -
Joyously give!

Upon such petals then
one walks without regret:
and their debris
Are ornaments by no
deliberation set -
This now I see.
For You, I've strewn my life -
my future, with what's gone:
To mortal eye,
A rose that always will
be withered from now on,
I ought to die.

Supremely lovely Child!
for You I ought to die -
Happily too!
I'll die to show You I,
un-petaled, love You . . . my
Treasure is You . . .
Beneath Your baby steps
I'll live, while here below,
In mystery:
I'll soften, too, Your steps -
Your last ones, those that go
To Calvary!

Therese

Translation by Alan Bancroft

From Collected Poems of St Therese of Lisieux, Gracewing 2001

National Prayer for the Visit to England and Wales

God our Father, you reveal to us the depth of your love
in the holy face of Jesus Christ your Son.
As we honour St Therese of the Child Jesus
may we have the confidence and love
to stand fully in the light of your presence
so that the beauty of the Gospel may expand our hearts
and open us to the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.
St Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us.