Here Thérèse is seen with her eyes characteristically fixed on heaven. She had always desired it as her final goal and wished to lead others there. On this day in 1923 Thérèse was beatified by Pope Pius XI. For this final step on the road to her being declared a saint, thousands of people gathered at St Peter's Basilica in Rome; 45 bishops were also present. The presence of so many faithful was a sign of Thérèse's ability to draw people to God. A month earlier her remains had been taken from their original resting place in the town cemetery at Lisieux and moved to the Carmel. Fifty thousand had gathered for the event, in stark contrast to the small group who had attended her funeral 26 years earlier. Her popularity - but more importantly the popularity of her 'Little Way' - had grown at a phenomenal rate. Thérèse's own parents were beatified in Lisieux on 19th October 2008; you can read more in the report from that day on the Lancaster Cathedral Blog, here.
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