Pilgrims head to York Minster to see Saint Therese of Lisieux’s remains (From York Press)

Pilgrims head to York Minster to see Saint Therese of Lisieux’s remains

10:06am Friday 2nd October 2009 in News By Jeremy Small

A MASSIVE queue formed at York Minster last night as scores of people took advantage of a rare opportunity to see the remains of one of the major saints of the Roman Catholic Church.

The cathedral is host to the relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux – which are normally based in the French town of Lisieux – until noon today, as part of a five-week tour of England and Wales.

The saint, who died in 1897 aged 24, is one of only three women recognised as ‘doctors of the Church’ and many Christians of other traditions and denominations are influenced by her writings and life.

The Press spoke to people who had visited the Minster to look at the sacred exhibit, contained in a decorated casket. Melanie Eastwood, 61, of Poppleton, York, said she found the experience “very moving”.

“It’s been very special,” she said. “I am a Catholic and work in a Catholic school. We’ve been doing a lot of work on her at school.”

Margaret Dobson, of Clifton, York, made the pilgrimage with her friend Theresa Caddy, of Rawcliffe, York.

Margaret said: “We think it’s wonderful that she (Saint Therese of Lisieux) should come to York from so far away. We’re both Catholic, so we’ve learned about St Therese of Lisieux from a very early age.”

Stephen White, of Fulford, York, said: “It was thrilling to see such a prestigious relic here in the Minster.”

York Minster, a cathedral of the Church of England, is the only non-Roman Catholic venue in the programme of visits.

Minster chiefs were planning to hold an act of Christian worship or prayer every hour, on the hour, starting at 9pm last night and continuing until 11am today.