The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-02
FRENCH SOLDIERS AND THEIR
DEVOTION TO SISTER THEREsE
OF LISIEUX.

OF LISIEUX.
had occasion the other day to meet
Mgr. de Tell, "postulateur"-to use a
technical term-of the process of be-
atificatiCn of Soeur Therese de
LiSieuX, the young Carmelite nun, who,
although she died only nineteen years
ago, is now so well known through
out the Catholic world, says the Rom
an Correspondent of the Liverpool
Times. Her brief life, passe! almost
entirely in the silence of a Carmelite
convent, seemed, to ordinary obserV-
ers, Identical with the lives of any
regular Gnd fervent religious: there
were no ecstasies, no apparently
marvellous manifestations about it.
Th6rese was young girl of fifteen
when she became nun, and she was
but twenty-four when, after a linger-
ing illness, she died as happy as a
tired child going home. Her chief
characteristics were her ardent love
for and confidence in God and her eX-
terror life was marked by no extra.
ordinary manifestations, it's interior
perfection deeply impressed her Pri.
Dress, who, in consequence, command.
ed her to write the story of her voca-
ton; happy thought, as it proved,
for it is the book thus written, from
obedience, that made the little Sister
name known throughout the Christian
world, for the greater happiness of
many souls.
Soeur Therese died az LisieuX, in
September, 1897, aged twenty-four
One OF her last utterances seemed to
prophesy the countless favours that
have obtained through her interces-
sion. Il WISH" she said, "to spend
my time in Heaven in doing good on
earth. After my death, | will scatter
shower Of roses" 1t was this
shower" of graces, and also the i'm.
portant testimonies received in Rome
as to Soeur Th6reses holiness, that
induced Pope Plus X to Introduce her
cause in June, 1914, and as we write
these lines the process of Qualification
is being pursued before the Congrega
ton of Rites, with every prospect OF
success. The shower" of favours that
the little Sister predicted has never
fallen so abundantly as since the be.
ginning of the terrific conflict that
weighs SO heavily on thousands OF
hearts. Before me lies a tiny pam.
phlet, published by the Carmelite nuns
OF LiSieuX. There is no attempt to
sound the little nuns praises, no high.
flown or sensational stories, in this
modest booklet; it merely quotes some
extracts of the hundreds of letters that
pour into the convent from the line
OF fire; they come not only from ig.
nOrant soldiers, but also from officers
Of every rank, to whom, strange as
it may appear, the sweet memory of
Soeur Therese brings comfort and
strength in their strenuous struggle.
Letters from Soldiers.
An English diplomat writes that the
Catholic British "Tommies' possess
and treasure relics of the Little
Flower" as she is generally called
by her English clients; a British chap
lain that hundreds of soldiers" beg
him for her pictures or relics; an
other that the influence she exercises
upon the men in life and death is
truly wonderful. A French soldier,
says a Red Cross nurse, died after
kissing her picture, and his last words
were: Little Soeur Th6rese, come
and fetch me-" A Capuchin soldier,
who has won the Croix de Guerre,
writes: "She continues to protect me;
when I go to the trenches, the shells
seem to avoid me-" Another: 81 am
no longer a lonely soldier: whoever
prays God and the dear little Sister is
never alone on earth" A colonel
writes: "The little saint has visibly
protected my regiment; it has done
more hard work and suffered fewer
losses than any" Captain A., after
fifteen months campaigning, is the
only officer of his regiment who is un-
hurt. His wife writes to Lisieux that
when the danger is greatest he never
fails to whisper: Sister Therese, pro-
tect us!' Some of his men remarked:
Our Captain is always standing up
under hail Of fire, and we cannot
understand how it is that he is I'M
wounded"
On certain flags is sewn a picture
Of the young Carmelite. eve are 60
ing to fasten her relics to our flag
and to take her into battle with us"
writes Colonel de L.; and a private,
who at first refused to believe in her
power, now says in letter dated
March 18th, 1916: Il have now been
obliged to yield to evidence, and have
become a devotee of the little saint"
The French prisoners in the German
camps read the life of the little Sis
ter. ct is never to be found on the
shelves of our camp library" says a
soldier-priest; and another adds that
Sister Th6rese is the consolation of
our prisoners, whom she yisibly pro-
tects." A non-commissioned officer in
the same camp says: you cannot
imagine the good done here by Sister
Therese. | cannot take a step with
out hearing of the favours obtained
through her intercession."
A Place of Pilgrimage.
The humble grave at Lisieux is fire.
quented by many soldiers and officers
IN Inovn vnIno airman who mar