On January 8, the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year will take place at the Shrine of Lisieux.
Newsroom (05/01/2023 15:00, Gaudium Press) Why this year 2023? Because the symbols are piling up. On Monday, January 2, 2023, the faithful celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Thérèse Martin (1873-1897). In addition, on April 29 and 30, the centennial of her beatification will be celebrated.
For this reason, Pope Francis has granted indulgences, which can be gained by making a pilgrimage to the shrines of Lisieux and Alençon (France), the birthplace of St. Thérèse and her father Louis Martin, who will also celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth in August this year.
The solemn opening of the Jubilee Year will take place at the Shrine of Lisieux on Sunday, January 8, with Mass and the opening of the Holy Door by Monsignor Habert, Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux.
On April 29 and 30, the Archbishop of Marseille, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, will preside a solemn Mass at the Carmel of Lisieux on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the beatification of St. Therese. Afterwards, the saint’s relics will leave in procession from the Carmel to the Basilica, to be exposed for the veneration of the faithful.
“It is a great grace for the shrine of Alençon, together with that of Lisieux, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth and baptism of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus,” said Father Stéphane Cailliaux, acting in charge of communications at the shrine.
Every year, 800,000 French or foreign pilgrims visit the place where she lived.
UNESCO Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of her Birth
The 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of anniversaries of personalities for the biennium 2022-2023. Indeed, UNESCO usually nominates important persons who, each in their own way, in their own time and as witnesses of today, have worked in the fields of peace, education, science, social sciences and communication.
As St. Pius X said, St. Therese is “the greatest saint of modern times.
Thérèse Martin, better known as Saint Therese of Lisieux, or Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, was born on January 2, 1873, at 50 rue Saint-Blaise in Alençon, in the Martin family home (now the living heart of the shrine) and was baptized on January 4, in the church, now basilica, Our Lady of Alençon.
Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face wanted to lead a hidden life, “in a desert.” She was aware that her faith, lived in small daily acts, if it were based on love, would go beyond the walls of Carmel and all borders.
Her death occurred on September 30, 1897, and she was canonized in 1925; two years later she was declared patroness of the missions, and in 1944, patroness of France with Saint Joan of Arc.
Compiled by Angelica Vecchiato
