Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway

The shrine (the tomb) of St. Therese in the little side chapel at the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux.  It was unveiled on the day of her beatification, April 29, 1923.  (Photo courtesy of Dee Cursi)

Ninety-three years ago, on April 29, 1923, Venerable Therese of the Child Jesus was beatified at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  At the same hour a special Mass was offered in the chapel of the Carmelite monastery of Lisieux.  The next day Marie of the Sacred Heart, Therese's oldest sister, wrote to their sister Leonie, describing vividly the ceremonies at Carmel and quoting from a telegram sent to the Carmelites from Rome to tell them about the beatification.  Read Marie's letter.