Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

On the afternoon of 6^th September, 1910, a silent crowd of over five hundred people gathered in the Municipal Cemetery at Lisieux, in Normandy, France. There were many sick men and women among them. Soon they were joined by the local bishop and several priests and then by the Chief of Police and a group of doctors. They had come to exhume the body of a Carmelite nun who 13 years earlier, at the age of 24, had died a tragic and agonising death from TB – galloping consumption – in the local convent. Her grave had already become a place of popular pilgrimage. Hundreds of people claimed to have received great favours or healings, through her intercession.

Most of the crowd were convinced that this young nun was a saint. They were right. Today we know her as Saint Therese of Lisieux or Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus. However, on that September afternoon in 1910, she was simply Sister Therese. Many present hoped for a miracle and were convinced that her body would be perfectly preserved and incorrupt. They were greatly disappointed.

When the coffin was placed on the ground, the Bishop invited all present to pray. They sang Psalm 113 then the coffin was carefully open. Far from being incorrupt, every trace of flesh had disappeared. It was as if the TB which had racked her body in life, continued to destroy her body in death. Only the skeleton remained. The skull was in place, separated from the body and the lower jaw was detached. The Carmelite habit in which she was buried, was rotting.

The crowd that had waited so patiently and hopefully was then allowed to venerate her remains. Later they were to be enshrined in the convent where she had died in 1897. It was these remains (her relics) that were taken to Rome in October 1997 when St There was proclaimed Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope John Paul II. Since then her relics have been to over 40 countries all over the world. Huge numbers have prayed before them, and many people have experienced conversion, healing, or an answer to prayer.

Why are the saints so important? Why are their relics so venerated? Because they help us to pass from Christianity as concept, theory, idea, opinion, “notion Christianity” – to Christianity as liveable, possible, actual achievable, “real Christianity”. Saints are living signs that God can change our hearts and refashion our lives. They witness to the power of grace. Pray to the Saints! It doesn’t matter how you approach them but get in touch! Ask for a favour, a grace for yourself, or for someone you love. Ask! You may be very surprised.

The “Communion of Saints” is not a theory, not a concept, not an idea. It is for real! Be part of the communion of saints today.