Bishop Joseph Toal shares his hopes for the relics visit.

I hope the Pilgrimage of the Relics of St Therese will encourage us , through the inspiration and intercession of St Therese, to have confidence in God’s merciful love for each of us, and to share that love daily with all with whom we share our lives. In bringing St Therese’s relics to Scotland we will pray that we will be inspired by her to recognise and live to the full our vocation in the mission of the Church in our country as joyful witnesses of Jesus Our Lord.

Bishop Joseph Toal Diocese of Motherwell

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia comments on the visit of St Therese's relics to Glasgow

The relics of St Therese of Lisieux will be in the Archdiocese of Glasgow on 16-19 September 2019 after having toured the other 7 dioceses of the Catholic Church in Scotland. The visit of the relics is a God-given opportunity to honour the Little Flower, to pray for her intercession and follow her little way to holiness through Mary to Jesus by offering our daily joys, sorrows and sacrifices to the Lord, all for love. Typically, she is quoted as saying: Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.  Even as a contemplative Carmelite Sister, St Therese prayed for the missions and for the spread of the Gospel. She is in venerated as the patron saint of the missions. Her example encourages us to be active in the work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ at home and abroad. Famously, as a girl of 14, St Therese prayed for the conversion of a convicted murderer, who, although he never admitted his guilt, at the last, kissed the figure of the crucified Jesus just before his execution. Later, when she wrote about this, St Therese took this to be a sign that her prayer had been answered and that the man had asked forgiveness of God. Because of that, it is recommended that her relics, when they are on visitation, should, if possible, be taken to a prison. Accordingly, when the relics come to Glasgow, the first stop will be Barlinnie Prison. May St Therese’s prayers bring hope of forgiveness to prisoners and to all of us. May the visit of her holy relics to our country, our archdiocese and our city be an authentic time of grace, consolation and renewal for all who seek the presence of God.

XPhilip Tartaglia

Archbishop of Glasgow

Archbishop Leo Cushley comments on the visit of the Little Flower's relics.

The people of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh await the relics of the Little Flower with great anticipation. From the Carmelite Sisters of Dysart to people and parishes all over the Archdiocese, there is much affection here for this extraordinary woman who, in so short a life, became a profound inspiration to many as well as a doctor of the Church. We hope and pray for many blessings from the visit of her relics.

+Leo Cushley Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh