St Therese in Australia

An illustration of the astonishing impact of St Therese in the Church immediately after her death comes to us in a delightful newsletter from OCDS in Australasia.  It reports on the early history of Carmel in Australia.  The first nuns arrived in 1885 in Sydney, and Sister Marie du St Esprit who was with them wrote an account of the foundation forty years later in 1925.  What fascinates me is the story of how the wave of love travelled to these nuns on the other side of the world immediately Therese died.  Recalling the difficulties of establishing their first convent during her first term as prioress, Sister Marie writes for the first time of her devotion to Thérèse.  ‘Back in 1897, when the Carmel of Lisieux announced the death of the Little Flower while we were at the Warren, I was very struck by her angelic life and death. From that moment an intimate love for her sprang up in my heart; I felt greatly drawn to her and found easy access for the unburdening of my loaded heart. Great was the burden I had to carry now as prioress. My first act was to consecrate my priorship to her, making her the prioress of this monastery. From that moment,such great courage took possession of me that I felt capable of anything.’

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

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