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Saint Therese and Bl. Louis and Zelie Martin at the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia,
September 21-24, 2015
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During the World Meeting of Families, as part of the companion spiritual program at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, I will present six conferences about the spirituality of the Martin family from Monday evening, September 21 through Thursday evening, September 24.
The reliquary of the Martin family. transferred from the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia, will be available for veneration at the Cathedral Basilica from at least Monday evening, September 21 through Thursday evening, September 24. Please see below for details.
Thank you very much. I hope to have the joy of seeing you at the Cathedral. Please introduce yourself to me there.
Sincerely,
Maureen O'Riordan
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Six Conferences about the Spirituality
of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin
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"The Spirituality of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin,
the Parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux"
a series of conferences by Maureen O'Riordan
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Monday, September 21
at 8:00 p.m.
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Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin: a family made holy in, through,
and by marriage
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Tuesday, September 22
at 11:00 a.m.
| The challenge of being a Christian mother:
Blessed Zélie Martin
and the spiritual formation
of children
| Tuesday, September 22
at 8:00 p.m. |
Blessed Louis Martin,
the "incomparable father"
of St. Thérèse: how can he help Christian fathers today?
| Wednesday, September 23
at 2:30 p.m. |
"Lord, the one you love is sick": the spirituality of sickness and healing
in the Martin family
| Thursday, September 24
at 2:30 p.m. |
Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, ministers of charity and justice:
loving our neighbor and Christ's poor
| Thursday, September 24
at 8:00 p.m. | A map of the way of confidence and love
of St. Thérèse of Lisieux |
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
1723 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
All are welcome. Free admission.
Register here. Walk-ins welcome.
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Venerate the Reliquary of the Martin Family at the Cathedral Basilica from Monday evening, September 21 to Thursday evening, September 24
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Reliquary of the Martin Family at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, November 2013
Photo credit: Beth O'Riordan
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Venerate the Reliquary at the Cathedral
For the first time since November 2013, the reliquary of the Martin family, the only reliquary of a family in the world, will be available for veneration in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia from at least Monday evening, September 21, 2015 through Thursday evening, September 24, 2015.
Pilgrim Saints: Relics on Tour
The relics of St. Therese have been on an international pilgrimage since 1994. A deep atmosphere of prayer and reports of many graces have surrounded them. Louis and Zelie also have "traveling relics" which are on pilgrimage; right now they are in Madagascar. Read about the transforming effect of a single visit of the relics of the Martin spouses to Sainte-Therese Church in Metz, France. Louis and Zelie and St. Therese come to meet you where you are. We are truly blessed to have this reliquary in Philadelphia, the city where devotion to Therese was born in the United States. Please take advantage of this rare chance to pray in the presence of the relics at the Cathedral Basilica.
The First Reliquary of a Family
The reliquary, created by French sculptor Fleur Nabert, contains significant relics of Saint Therese, the gift of the Lisieux Carmel, and of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the gift of the former rector of the Shrine at Lisieux, Mgr Bernard Lagoutte, who accompanied the reliquary when it was entrusted to Philadelphia at the Magnificat Day of Faith in November 2013. The relics of each saint are in a separate pillar, which together form an ensemble. In front of the relics of St. Therese stands a rose; in front of the relics of Louis and of Zelie, a lily.
The Spiritual Program at the Cathedral Basilica
- Relics of St. John Paul II and of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patrons of the World Meeting, will be available for veneration.
- Eucharistic adoration will take place around the clock in the side chapel of the Cathedral beginning after the 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, September 20 and continuing until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24.
- For details about the rest of the Cathedral program, please visit www.cathedralphila.org
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How to Participate In This Companion Program If You Are Attending
the World Meeting of Families
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You may attend one or all of the conferences. No fee, tickets, or reservations are required for these conferences at the Cathedral. Walk-ins are welcome. But, if you can, I would appreciate your registering here.
If you're registered for the World Meeting of Families, you can integrate most of these conferences into your schedule without missing sessions. The World Meeting schedule ends before dinner, and three of the conferences are scheduled in the evening. A fourth takes place on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m., before the opening session of the World Meeting at 1:00 p.m. The Cathedral Basilica is six blocks west, and two blocks north, of the Convention Center where the World Meeting will take place.
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How to Participate in this Companion Program If You Are Not Attending
the World Meeting of Families
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If you can't attend the World Meeting, consider the Cathedral your home when you are free.
Conferences about the Spirituality of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin
You may attend one conference or all six of them. No fee, no tickets, no registration required. Everyone is welcome. But, if you can, I would appreciate your registering here.
Venerating the Reliquary of the Martin Family
Pray in the presence of the reliquary until 9:00 p.m. every night.
The Spiritual Program at the Cathedral Basilica
- From Monday through Thursday, Mass will be offered daily at 7:15 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.
- The sacrament of penance and reconciliation will be available from 11:00 a.m. till noon. Guided tours will also be offered.
- Round-the-clock Eucharistic adoration will begin after the 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, September 20 and continue until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24.
Why Not Make a Private Retreat?
This is a perfect opportunity to create your own urban days of retreat. Choose your own time for Mass and, if you wish, for confession. Attend the conferences, pray in the presence of the reliquary, bring some resources for prayer (Scripture and the writings of Therese and Louis and Zelie?), and spend your chosen hours of prayer and meditation in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, where the Eucharist is exposed. Go out for meals and walks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The nocturnal adoration of the Eucharist makes this a splendid opportunity for communal prayer for those whose work schedules usually prevent their participating in public events.
Join the World Meeting in praying for the whole human family, and spend time in prayer to prepare for the grace of the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.
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Travel Restrictions
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Note that all the conferences will be over before the restrictions on traffic and transit imposed by the Pope's visit go into effect.
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Please share the word!
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Please spread the word about these opportunities. Use these tools:
- Post this link on Facebook and other social media and on your Web site, and circulate it by e-mail.
- Tweet this hashtag: #louisandzelieatcathedral
- Word (for printing)
- PDF (for circulating via e-mail), and
- jpeg (for posting on social media and the Web)
- Submit this insert to a parish or religious group for its bulletin, e-newsletter, and Web site. Reach those not online!
Please share the news in your diocese. If you need any other resources, please let me know. Pray that the events will "help souls." Thank you.
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