Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
of the Holy Face
Entries in Pope Benedict XVI (2)
Pope Benedict mentions St. Therese of Lisieux among those who "helped the sick to appreciate the human and spiritual value of their suffering"
In his message for the World Day of the Sick 2013, Pope Benedict mentioned Saint Therese of Lisieux as among the saints who "helped the sick to appreciate the human and spiritual value of their suffering." An excerpt is below:
"The Year of Faith which we are celebrating is a fitting occasion for intensifying the service of charity in our ecclesial communities, so that each one of us can be a good Samaritan for others, for those close to us. Here I would like to recall the innumerable figures in the history of the Church who helped the sick to appreciate the human and spiritual value of their suffering, so that they might serve as an example and an encouragement. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, "an expert in the scientia amoris" (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 42), was able to experience "in deep union with the Passion of Jesus" the illness that brought her "to death through great suffering" (Address at General Audience, 6 April 2011).
Read the full text of the Pope's message. The World Day of the Sick is observed on February 11th, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Pope released his message on January 8th.
Pope Benedict XV names St. Hildegarde of Bingen and St. John of Avila doctors of the Church
On Sunday, October 7, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named St. Hildegarde of Bingen and St. John of Avila doctors of the Church, the first doctors named during his papacy. He described Hildegarde:
“Saint Hildegard of Bingen, an important female figure of the twelfth century, offered her
precious contribution to the growth of the Church of her time, employing the gifts received from God and showing herself to be a woman of brilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognized spiritual authority.”
The Pope described John:
“A profound expert on the sacred Scriptures, he was gifted with an ardent missionary
spirit. He knew how to penetrate in a uniquely profound way the mysteries of the redemption
worked by Christ for humanity. A man of God, he united constant prayer to apostolic action.”
The video of the Romereports story is above; see the text here.
Saint Therese of Lisieux, until now the most recently named doctor of the Church, was the only person named a doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II during his twenty-five years as Popel She was the third woman doctor, so Saint Hildegarde is the fourth.