Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns has said he hopes the current visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux will remind Ireland of its religious faith, its courage and hope and its sense of community at a time of serious economic woes. Bishop Brennan noted the contrast between today and 2001 - the previous occasion St Thérèse’s reliquary visited Ireland - when the economy was booming and there had been a huge surge in national confidence.
He said it was part and parcel of human nature that we admire and are influenced by others, especially when they are famous.
“Such role models inspire and make people want to be like them”, he continued, pointing out that this could be bad or good “depending on the calibre of those venerated”.
Sometimes, Dr Brennan said, we celebrated the wrong people, “who have nothing positive to offer by way of enriching our lives or adding to the sum of human happiness”.
At this time of recession, people should look for inspiration, he suggested, to the “spirit, passion, determination and love of the Creator” which St Thérèse showed in her brief life.
Pointing out that her life continues to inspire millions of people around the world, he said the saint’s reliquary is a call to Catholics to mind their belief in the communion of saints as they inspire and encourage them on their own spiritual journeys.
Bishop Brennan said that every so often the soul of a nation is tested and “that could well apply to Ireland in 2009”.
The relics of St Thérèse will be in Ireland until 10th May.
The full itinerary of the visit is available at: www.sttherese.com.
Her relics will be in the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar Street, Dublin until tomorrow.
From 14th March the relics will be at the Carmelite Convent, Hampton, at Drumcondra, Dublin.
The following week, the relics will be available for veneration at the Carmelite Church in Moate, Co. Westmeath.
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(Source: CIN)