John and Therese

I learned something new to me yesterday about the conferment of the Church’s doctorate on St John of the Cross, and it connects him even more closely with Therese of Lisieux.  As I wrote in the blog recently, it was Pope St Pius X who launched the canonisation process for Therese, but he did not live to see her beatification and her canonisation, which took place during the reign of Pius XI.  After her canonisation Fr William of St Albert, the Superior General of the Teresian Carmelites, visited Pius XI and the Holy Father asked if there was anything more he could do for the Order.  Fr William’s response was to the effect that since he had canonised Therese, he might think about the one who taught Therese – John of the Cross.  What could please the saint of Lisieux more than to see her teacher made a Doctor of the Church?      

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