August 19, 2010. Today is a great day for those who love St. Therese of Lisieux.  "Sainte Therese de Lisieux 1873-1897: Biographie," the long-awaited comprehensive biography of St. Therese of Lisieux by Bishop Guy Gaucher, O.C.D., who edited the centenary edition of her works, was released in French by Editions du Cerf in Paris today.   Its 690 pages offer an astonishingly detailed look at the life and environment of St. Therese.  Click on the image below to learn more or to order it. 

The "New Centenary Edition" in eight volumes (Editions du Cerf, 1992), yielded a mass of documents that permit a refinement of our knowledge of the everyday life of St. Therese of Lisieux.  Nearly twenty years later, one has tried to write a biography of the Carmelite for a vast public, identifying much more closely the family, Carmelite, and ecclesial context of her life that permits us to understand the texts of the youngest doctor of the Church.  At the end of her "giant's course" [Manuscript A, 44v], we can see that the sanctity of Therese ignored the illusions of a "disembodied spirituality," but was rooted in "the truth of life [Ms A, 31 v°].

Monseigneur Guy Gaucher, Carmelite, is auxiliary bishop emeritus of Bayeux and Lisieux after having been bishop of Meaux.  First a specialist in Bernanos, he has consecrated his work to the figure and the writings of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face.  Among his many literary works about St. Therese, he participated in the New Centenary Edition of the Works of Saint Therese.  [translated from the Web site of Editions du Cerf].

Blessed Louis Martin, the father of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, died on Sunday, July 29, 1894 at Chateau La Musse near Evreux. 

A meditation for the anniversary of his death from his niece, Marie Guerin, later Sister Marie of the Eucharist in the Carmel of Lisieux: 

In May 1895, when Marie returned to Chateau La Musse for the first time after her uncle's death, she wrote to her cousin, Louis's daughter Celine:  "I made my little pilgrimage as soon as I had alighted from the carriage.  I have been in my uncle's room, and there all the memories came back to me.  I saw it all again . . . I was overwhelmed with the impression that there, in that chamber, something so great had taken place; that there my uncle had seen God and had been so well received.  It seemed to me that I was also going to see something of Heaven, and my uncle has given me this thought, when thinking of the particular judgement:  "Judge not, and you will not be judged!"

On July 28, 1895, the vigil of the first anniversary of his death, Marie Guerin wrote again:  "I cannot pass by that room without being seized, in spite of myself, with a solemn, calm feeling that speaks to me of the other world and fills my soul.  That happens to me very often and without any preparation on my part.  I am "seized"--it is the correct word to use.  I do not now why but this anniversary, sad in itself, has not at all that effect upon me.  I feel so sure that my uncle entered Heaven that day, that I have rather a feeling of happiness when I think of his deliverance.  How happy he is now, but he has well deserved it . . . !  Tomorrow, I mean to ask many graces from him, and I am sure I shall obtain them on that day.  When one recalls, and has imprinted on one's mind his beautiful expression, calm and full of such happy peace, it is impossible not to be led to love God."  (Story of a Family, by Stephane-Joseph Piat, O.F.M.  New YorK: P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1947, pp. 417-418).

On the vigil of the feast of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, a commemorative plaque was dedicated to mark the house at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux, where Louis lived after he left the Bon Sauveur hospital in Caen in May 1892.  Susan Ehlert and the house's present owners, Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu and M. Jacques Hervieu, graciously made available photos of the house and plaque and a film of the ceremony, including a view of the garden where Louis spent so much time.  See film and photos of the dedication of the plaque at 7 rue Labbey.

The article "Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin: Companions on Our Journey," by Maureen O'Riordan, appears in Spanish as "Beatos Celia Guerin y Luis Martin: Compañeros en nuestro Viaje" to celebrate the second feast of the blessed parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face.  This article was first published to celebrate their beatication in 2008.  Special thanks to Teolindo Garcia for translating it into Spanish. 

On May 5, 2010 the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference announced that the relics of St. Therese will make their first visit to South Africa while that country hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  The itinerary is still being finalized, but the relics are to arrive on June 25 and remain in the country for six weeks.  

St. Therese loved God very much in her humanity.  Pray that God sends a rain of graces to South Africa as it receives what remains of that humanity.