The Relics of St. Thérèse at Westminster Cathedral

Welcome from Canon Christopher Tuckwell

Canon Christopher Tuckwell – Administrator, Westminster Cathedral

I am delighted that the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux are coming to Westminster Cathedral this October. I am sure they will be a source of grace and spiritual healing for all those pilgrims who come to the Cathedral during those three days. St Thérèse is a great inspiration to us all and I hope that the visit of her relics will enable a deepening of faith and a renewed sense of commitment to the Church.

I would warmly invite you to visit us during this time and encourage you to look through these web pages for more information about St Thérèse and the forthcoming visit of her relics to our Cathedral.

Quick links

Contact us

General Enquiries, Parish/Group and School Bookings for all dioceses:
st.therese@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9360

For availability of places at the ticketed (*) Liturgies only:
Diocese of Brentwood, please contact Mgr Arthur Barrow:
Lexden@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 01206576898
Archdiocese of Southwark, please contact Fr Philip Glandfield:
aps@rcsouthwark.co.uk or 020 7928 2495
Archdiocese of Westminster, please contact Fr Michael Dunne:
st.therese@rcdow.org.uk or (020) 7798 9360 / 7931 6041

Venerating the relics at Westminster

The Pilgrimage Route to the Relics
The entrance for the pilgrimage route to the Relics is on the front right hand side of the Cathedral façade looking at the Cathedral from the Piazza. The big screen in the Piazza will assist prayerfulness by broadcasting what is going on in the Cathedral as the pilgrims approach it. Stewards will be on hand to assist those in need but PILGRIMS ARE URGED TO MAKE PROVISION FOR QUEUING with, for instance, warm clothes, waterproofs, perhaps an umbrella or portable seating, some drinking water.

Once inside the cathedral, where prayerful silence is particularly necessary as there may be a Mass or other liturgy taking place, pilgrims will make their way to the Relics and then past them. Other than at the busiest times, there should be a possibility of leaving the pilgrimage route after passing the Relics and taking a place in the central part of the nave in front of the Relics for additional prayer.

Parish groups should click here for further information about visiting arrangements for groups.

School groups should click here for further information about visiting arrangements for schools.

For bookings please see the “Contact us” box.

Preparatory Novena 4th-12th October
For the nine days prior to the arrival of the Relics, a novena prayer will be added to each Cathedral Mass praying for a grace-filled visit of the Relics to the Cathedral and her pilgrims.

Souvenirs and refreshments
In addition to a selection of devotional items, books and souvenirs on sale in the Cathedral Shop, there will be a further branch to the shop in the Cathedral Hall, where there will also be a Café serving a wide variety of high quality food and drinks. Other catering outlets are in the vicinity of the Cathedral. Please support these enterprises as their success will help defray the great costs associated with the visit of the Relics to the Cathedral. WCs are located at the Hall as well as on the Piazza. First Aid will be provided by St. John Ambulance.

Liturgies

The Cathedral’s liturgical life continues its normal pattern, with some additional liturgies. Other than for ticketed liturgies, it should be feasible to join, either as an individual or a group, any of the liturgies. Entrance to them however, is only from the Cathedral entrances on Ambrosden Avenue or Morpeth Terrace. The screen across the Cathedral nave will ensure that the Liturgies and the veneration of the Relics can continue at the same time. THERE IS NO ACCESS FROM A LITURGY TO THE RELICS, neither are the Relics visible from the sanctuary side of the nave. Priests are welcome to concelebrate by presenting themselves at the sacristy in good time; those unknown to the Cathedral might do well to bring a celebret.

The full liturgical schedule can be downloaded as a pdf here

Who was St Thérèse of Lisieux and why is she important?

St Thérèse

In 1925, 28 years after her death, Thérèse was canonised by Pope Pius XI. She has been proclaimed Patroness of the Missions and in 1997 was declared a Doctor of the Church (one of only three women so named). Her feast day is 1st October.

St Thérèse was born Thérèse Martin on 2nd January 1873 in Alencon, France, to her parents Zelie and Louis Martin.

Her mother died when she was four years old and so her sister, Pauline, became like a mother to her until Pauline entered the Carmelite convent when Thérèse was nine years old. These losses contributed to the several bouts of illness that Thérèse suffered from throughout her life.

On Christmas Eve, 1884 Thérèse felt a complete conversion of spirit, leading to her feeling called to become a Carmelite nun. She was initially denied entry as she was so young, but eventually was admitted into the Carmelite convent on 9th April 1888.

Thérèse loved nature and used flowers to describe the Kingdom of God. As a result, she is often referred to as the “Little Flower”. She described her approach to spirituality as the “Little Way”, emphasising that there was no need for “great deeds” but that small acts of faith and kindness were what mattered.

Suffering was a major part of Thérèse’s life. Her father had several strokes which forced him to live in a mental institution. Thérèse herself suffered from many periods of inner darkness, during which she was sustained by her deep faith and belief that her suffering allowed her to imitate Jesus. Her poor health eventually caused her death from tuberculosis on 30th September 1897 when she was 24.

After her death, her account of her life, “Story of a Soul” was published. It has been translated into 50 different languages and widely read all over the world. St Thérèse has inspired millions of people worldwide through her simple approach to spirituality and youthful devotion to God.