Ireland bids farewell to St Therese relics

Ireland bids farewell to the relics of St Therese of Lisieux today at the end of an 11-week tour which organisers claim drew three million onlookers.

One of the three million people who made the effort to the see the bones of St. Therese

The casket containing the remains of the 19th century saint travelled the length and breadth of the country - the 23rd leg so far in what is billed as St Therese's world tour.

After being kept over night at the port chapel in Rosslare, where an all-night vigil was staged, the casket containing half of the saint's skeleton was due to travel by ferry and then road to Lisieux, in France, where the other half is kept.

Co-ordinator of the trip Father Linus Ryan - like St Therese a member of the Carmelite order confessed he was surprised by the level of interest.

He claimed the visit was witnessed by 70 per cent of the country’s four million catholics, adding: "We knew it was going to be big but it exceeded our most optimistic expectations."

We are a little bit frayed at the edges but it is not every day you have the privilege of carrying the remains of a saint around your country. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity Co-ordinator of the trip Father Linus Ryan

He attributed the success to a combination of religious devotion, the novelty factor, good weather, it coinciding with Easter and their tactic of bringing the relics to the major church in each diocese in the country.

Father Ryan accompanied the relics on every stage of the trip.

"It has been a very long few months - I am feeling a very pleasant and warm tiredness at this stage.

"We are a little bit frayed at the edges but it is not every day you have the privilege of carrying the remains of a saint around your country. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

The remains of St Therese were taken on a tour of her native France in 1994 before first travelling abroad in 1997 - the centenary of her death.

The relics are due to visit Bosnia next, before travelling to Canada in September for a three-month stay and bookings have already been taken for 2005.

Therese was born on January 2nd 1873, in Alencon, France.

One of nine children, she took her vows at the age of 17 and died of tuberculosis seven years later.

Described by Pope Pius X as "the greatest saint of modern times", she was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in October 1997 - becoming the only the third woman out of 32 people honoured in this way.

PA