A senior Roman Catholic Church delegation conducted a prayer ceremony
at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday morning, marking the arrival of the remains of a
saint whose brief presence in Israel and the Palestinian areas is hoped to
inspire faith and goodwill, and “become a bridge to peace.”
Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 – 1897) was a French Carmelite nun who was canonized in 1925.
Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 – 1897) was a French Carmelite nun who was canonized in 1925.
In
1997, Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, a honorary title
bestowed upon those whose writings greatly contributed to
Christianity.
Only 33 members of the Catholic Church to date have received the honor, and just three of them are women.
A Roman Catholic delegation from Brussels bearing her remains will be met by Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal and approximately 25 other senior representatives of the local Roman Catholic community, who will then transport the remains to Apostolic Franco’s residence in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, a delegation will leave the residence and bring the remains to the Latin Patriarchate offices at Jaffa Gate.
Only 33 members of the Catholic Church to date have received the honor, and just three of them are women.
A Roman Catholic delegation from Brussels bearing her remains will be met by Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal and approximately 25 other senior representatives of the local Roman Catholic community, who will then transport the remains to Apostolic Franco’s residence in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, a delegation will leave the residence and bring the remains to the Latin Patriarchate offices at Jaffa Gate.
The relics will then circulate for nearly
two months between various Christian communities in Jerusalem, the Palestinian
Authority and Gaza Strip, becoming in effect “a bridge of peace,” Auxiliary
Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem William Shomali told The Jerusalem
Post on Sunday.
“On the church level, it’s very important,” he said of
the fact that the remains of the saint were being brought here. “Part of our
faith is that saints have intercession – mediation between us and God,” he
explained.
“This is done by praying to them, honoring them but first and
foremost imitating them,” he said of the saints. “We will speak about [Thérèse
of Lisieux’s] life, how she loved the Lord and practiced
spirituality.”
“Her intercession is very strong, and will help us in praying for peace,” Shomali added, noting the cooperation with the Interior Ministry’s Christian Department, who helped facilitate the itinerary.
“Her intercession is very strong, and will help us in praying for peace,” Shomali added, noting the cooperation with the Interior Ministry’s Christian Department, who helped facilitate the itinerary.
“They
understood this is about spirituality and peace, and not politics,” he said. The
relics will be flown to Spain in May.
Director of the Christian Department at the Interior Ministry Cesare Marjieh called the event “nearly unprecedented,” and compared its importance to that of a pontifical visit.
“This is very important to the Vatican, and the relics will be in all the major Christian communities here,” he told the Post. “We are happy to be able to support them and let them respect the relics.”
Director of the Christian Department at the Interior Ministry Cesare Marjieh called the event “nearly unprecedented,” and compared its importance to that of a pontifical visit.
“This is very important to the Vatican, and the relics will be in all the major Christian communities here,” he told the Post. “We are happy to be able to support them and let them respect the relics.”
Source