Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway

Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus
is Declared Blessed

The tableau showing Blessed Therese of the Child Jesus mounting to heaven which shone brightly in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday

From Rome, published in the Tuesday, May 1, 1923 edition of La Croix. This is the Catholic newspaper of France, and this description is the first published account Therese's family, her Carmelite sisters, and all French persons interested in her cause read in 1923.  In the years before television, journalists wired long, detailed word pictures to recreate the events for the public.

Source: gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France.  See the original French article.

Special thanks to Mary Davidson, OCDS, who translated this article for "Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway" in honor of the centenary of the beatification of St. Therese on April 29, 2023.

[Our correspondent telegraphed on April 29]:

The Morning Ceremony [on Sunday, April 29, 1923]

The sky was covered when, this morning at 9:30, the pilgrims completed their entry into St. Peter’s; the lovely light, passing through intervals of clouds, bathed the facade of the Basilica.

The bells sounded ten o’clock when the clergy and the Chapter of the Vatican basilica left the sacristy, leading in procession Bishop Lemonnier [the bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux], who, wearing his miter, was accompanied by NN SS Ugulini et Cerretti [Msgr Caesar Cerretti, a Canon of St. Peter’s Basilica], the brother of His Excellency, Archbishop [later Cardinal] Bonaventura Cerretti, papal nuncio to France, as deacon and sub-deacon. Cardinal Merry del Val, archpriest of St. Peter, walked behind the line of purple-robed Cardinals. Cardinals Vico, di Belmonte, Fruhwirth, Ranuzi, Billot, Gasquet, Laurenti, Ehrle, the members of the Sacred Congregations of Rites, had taken their places on a bench on the Epistle side of the altar.

Father Rodrigo, postulator of the cause, accompanied by Msgr Verde, secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, approached Cardinal Vico [prefect of the Congregation]. He asked him for the Bull of Beatification, which was presented, and, having received it, gave it to Msgr Verde, who, according to custom, came to Cardinal Merry del Val to ask for authorization to promulgate this solemn document in the Basilica.

The Promulgation of the Decree

Moments later, Msgr de Orazio, one of the archivists of St. Peter’s, read from the top of the small pulpit that had been built in the choir, on the Gospel side, the great pontifical letter proclaiming Thérèse of the Child Jesus as Blessed. The life of the holy Carmelite was then recounted, after a preamble that showed her to be among the holy virgins who follow the Divine Lamb wherever He might go. By 10:30 a.m., the promulgation was complete.

The Basilica, now coming out of the subdued light in which it had been bathed, was suddenly all illuminated; the electric lamps came on and formed giant bouquets of light; the image of the Blessed was raised to the ceiling, surrounded by the glory of Bernini. Msgr Lemonnier then intoned the Te Deum.

The Mass

Before the beginning of the Mass, the Bishop of Bayeux incensed the relic of the Blessed, which was exposed on the altar. The composition of the Mass proper was marvelously appropriate for the virginal contemplative; His Holiness Pius XI himself gave it his approval. Veni de Libano began the Introit; the Epistle was taken from Isaiah 66:12-14; the Gospel from St. Matthew 18:1-4, and all the rest of the liturgical text sang of spiritual childhood, of abandonment to the love of God, of the virginal espousal of the angelic Carmelite and her Oblation to Merciful Love. 

The Afternoon Ceremony

 As impossible as it seems, the ceremony in the morning had a relatively modest character compared to that of the evening. By 5:00 p.m., an enormous throng, as large as on a canonization day, had already crowded in to the Vatican basilica. The sky, now nearly free of clouds, sent down a flood of sunlight onto St. Peter’s Square. As we crossed the threshold, we found ourselves bathed by the light of chandeliers placed along the pilasters, so appropriate for the great day.  From the top of the church, the image of Blessed Thérèse of the Child Jesus hung resplendent amid the glory of Bernini, surrounded by his timeless sculptures.

People in all the areas of the Basilica, whether seated or standing, were among pressing crowds, yet peaceable and patient, which seemed to radiate the sweet serenity of Blessed Thérèse.

Among the many Bishops that were in the apse, we saw:  Bishop Riviere, archbishop of Aix; Chapon, Bishop of Nice; Marty, Bishop of Montauban; de la Porte, Bishop of Berissa; Monnier, Bishop of Troyes; Ginisty, Bishop of Verdun; Termier, Bishop of Tarenlaise.  In the apse, behind them, among the distinguished personalities were MM Engerand and Cautru, deputies of Calvados. The other side of the choir was filled with diplomats in their official regalia: M. Jonnart, Ambassador of France, also present this morning, accompanied by the Ambassadors of Spain, of Chile, of Belgium, etc. The throngs of French pilgrims filled the Basilica with sound as they sang the Credo, then the Magnificat. The wait did not last long.

The Entrance of the Pope
and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

At exactly 5:30 p.m., the silver trumpets announced the arrival of the Pope, who appeared on the sedia, or portable throne, in a red cape and white cap. Upon receiving his blessing, the crowd bowed and knelt. Here he is in the choir, following the twenty-five cardinals clothed in purple; he kneels, recollected, at the Faldistorio (a foldable seat without a back) as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed; The singing of Jesu corona virginum followed the O Salutaris and preceded the Tantum Ergo.  Bishop Lemonnier celebrated the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Then the Carmelite Fathers offered to the Holy Father the reliquary containing a segment of a finger of the Blessed, the great wreath of ritual flowers, and finally the Life of the holy Carmelite.

The ceremony is ended; the Pontiff again passes through the crowd, whose emotion is barely contained. The Basilica slowly empties, and the throng makes its way toward St. Peter’s Square.  All faces are radiant. The celebration was beautiful, but the celebration of souls was even more glorious! 

B. Sienne