Saint's relics attract thousands to Minster
02 October 2009
A girl places her hand against the glass case protecting the casket containing the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux in York Minster yesterday.
PILGRIMS from across the North of England descended on York Minster to witness the arrival of the relics of one of the Roman Catholic Church's best-loved saints.
As many as 2,000 people broke into spontaneous applause as the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux were carried into the Minster just after 6pm yesterday as part of their first tour of England and Wales.
The decorated casket containing the relics – which are normally kept at Lisieux in France – will stay at the cathedral for just 18 hours, so pilgrims from across the region and from as far afield as Manchester travelled to the Minster eager to pay homage.
Layla Welch and her children, 15-month-old Sonny and three-year-old Faith, who suffers from a rare kidney condition, were the first to see the relics.
The decorated casket containing the relics – which are normally kept at Lisieux in France – will stay at the cathedral for just 18 hours, so pilgrims from across the region and from as far afield as Manchester travelled to the Minster eager to pay homage.
Layla Welch and her children, 15-month-old Sonny and three-year-old Faith, who suffers from a rare kidney condition, were the first to see the relics.
Mrs Welch, 27, from Doncaster, who was also with her mother-in-law, Mary Welch, 52, said: "It was unbelievable, I was shaking all over and it was so emotional. I was in tears when Faith bent down and said a little prayer in front of the relics."
St Thérèse, who was a Carmelite nun in France, died at the age of just 24 in 1897. She gleaned a reputation throughout her short life, however, for a profound wisdom and is one of only three women recognised as Doctors of the Church.
York Minster is the only non-Roman Catholic venue to host the relics on their nationwide tour.
The casket is due to be in at Leeds Cathedral from tomorrow until Monday.
St Thérèse, who was a Carmelite nun in France, died at the age of just 24 in 1897. She gleaned a reputation throughout her short life, however, for a profound wisdom and is one of only three women recognised as Doctors of the Church.
York Minster is the only non-Roman Catholic venue to host the relics on their nationwide tour.
The casket is due to be in at Leeds Cathedral from tomorrow until Monday.
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