Fast Track to Sainthood

Among the blessings we owe to Pope St Pius X (1835-1914; feast day today) is the elevation of St Therese of Lisieux to the altars.  Although her actual beatification and canonisation did not take place till after his death, it was he who decided to launch the process.  ‘It was 1907. Pope Pius X was sitting at his desk leafing through a Carmelite nun's diary. It was the diary of Therese of the Child Jesus, who was born Therese Martin and who died at the end of the 19th century at the age of just 23 in the Carmelite Convent of Lisieux in France, home to three of her four sisters: Pauline, Marie and Celine. The pontiff was so impressed by the diary, <Story of a Soul>, that he decided her canonization process should be launched as soon as possible and it was completed in record time. She was proclaimed saint on May 17, 1925 by Pius XI. Two years later, it was the wish of this same pontiff that this girl who had not left the confines of her convent for seven years, be venerated together with Saint Francis Xavier as patron of missions.’ [courtesy of ewtn.com]

Intercessions

RIP Fr Jon Bielawski, Jacqui, Sister Maisie, Ann Widdecombe

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase; James, recovering from heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.