At the request of the Carmelite nuns of New Caney, Texas, an astronaut carried the relic of St. Therese into outer space this year, where it orbited the earth for 14 days.

Here is a three-minute film by Hubert Moritz of the opening celebrations of the beatification of Louis and Zelie Martin at Alencon on October 18, 2008.  Click on the third link.  The fim shows the new statue of Louis and Zelie and an interview in French with sculptor Fabienne Bayi; the rarely-seen interior of the church of St. Pierre de Montsort, where the family worshipped from 1858 to 1871 and where all the children except Therese were baptized; photos of the Pontifical Mass at Notre-Dame Church, where Louis and Zelie married and Therese was baptized; and highlights of the "spectacle" (scenes from the life of the Martin family based on Zelie's letters) produced by the young people of the diocese of Seez.

"Louis and Zelie Martin: Parents for the Modern World" is a series of three lectures in November 2008 sponsored by the student friars of St. John of the Cross Monastery (the Discalced Carmelites) and the OCDS (secular Carmelites) of Manila.  To see the details in their beautiful souvenir program, which reproduces several articles from thereseoflisieux.org, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

We are almost in the same situation as the Schiliro family.

On August 23, 2008, our son, Ezekiel Thane M. Ignacio, known as "Ethan," was born at 24 weeks, 12 weeks premature, with broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease.  He is still in the NICU of St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They now have him on a "jet ventilator" since he requires more ventilation than what a conventional ventilator can provide.

We heard the story of Zelie and Louis Martin, and the healing of Pietro Schiliro, during Mass on October 19: coincidentally, the same day they were declared blessed.  At the same time we heard Mass that day at St. Augustine of Canturbury in Kendall Park, NJ. (However, we belong to the parish of St. Catharine of Sienna in Allentown, Pa.).  During the priest's sermon he talked about the healing of Pietro Schiliro.  We were touched by the priest's sermon that day, as if the mass was really intended for us.

We got the message of that was sent for us. 

 We continue to pray to St. Therese and her parents for our son. May they grant us the same miracle. We hope and continue to have faith.

 Carlo Ignacio

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This new film showing the renovations to the chapel of the Lisieux Carmel and the souvenirs of St. Therese's religious life on display in the new "parcours theresien" adjoining the chapel was produced by Susan Ehlert.  We thank her for contributing it to the site.  To see it, please view the first film on this page.