Bognor pilgrims' journey to see saint's remains

Pieces of thighbone and some foot bones of St Therese of Lisieux were brought to St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Portsmouth.

The French saint was born Marie-Francoise-Therese Martin in Alencon, Normandy, in 1873.

After her mother died when she was four the family moved to Lisieux in Normandy where she was accepted into the Carmelite monastery aged 15.

She died of tuberculosis aged 24 in 1897 and was canonised by Pope Benedict XV just 28 years later.

Among those venerating the relics were three Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Grace and Compassion, from St Joseph's convent in Albert Road, Bognor.

Paul Hooker, 69, of Yapton, was also there with his family.

Mr Hooker, who has Parkinson's disease, said: "I came here today to see all I could manage to.

"I hope she remembers this day for some time and I can gain strength from her teachings."

The Basilica of St Therese in Lisieux is the second most visited holy site in France after Lourdes.

It was therefore no surprise that more than 3,000 people turned up in Portsmouth to attend services, pray and touch the protective case around the casket.

The casket is on a tour of 28 holy places in England and Wales.

It started in Portsmouth and will end in London because as a child Therese drew a map of England and named those two cities.

She is venerated as a saint for the modern era because she taught that the smallest good deeds could count towards the saintly life as much as great deeds of heroic virtue.

Her best-known work is widely considered to be L'histoire d'une ame '“ Story of a Soul '“ a spiritual memoir of her childhood.

The relics have been credited with promoting reconciliation and many ailing pilgrims believe they have been healed after touching the casket.

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