Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Spreads Flowers of Peace and Love in Lebanon

Father Nohra Sfeir, a Carmelite from the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Lebanon, in an Exclusive Interview with the MECC Media:

"The Relics of Saint Therese remind us of the steadfastness of faith and the importance of trust in God and surrender to Him

We are called to be messengers of love"

"I travel across Lebanon for the sake of love and peace." Saint Therese of the Child Jesus chose, on the centenary of her canonization, to travel across the Land of the Cedars from South to North, passing through various Dioceses, Churches, and regions, carrying flowers of hope and holiness to spread them in the land of holiness and faith.

While Lebanon is in dire need of a glimmer of hope at a time when it longs for stability and peace, the eyes of the Lebanese are fixed on the Relics of Saint Therese, which are returning to Lebanese territory for the second visit of its kind, between June 13 and July 20, twenty-three years after her first visit.

The heavens rejoice, the angels exult, and the faithful raise their Prayers, seeking the Saint's blessing and drawing from her strength, determination, and love. What is the significance of this visit? What are its implications for our lives today?

In an exclusive interview with the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Father Nohra Sfeir, a Carmelite from the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Lebanon, explains that "Saint Therese comes to our land, the land of holiness, the Land of Cedars, to remind us once again of the steadfastness of faith and the practice of faith in order to consolidate peace through the relationships we experience with those closest to us. We need to experience this peace and preserve it in our hearts, especially in light of the conflicts, turmoil, and wars that the region is passing through."

He adds, "Saint Therese's visit reflects what she experienced through her vocation and mission. She said, 'In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love.' In doing so, Saint Therese affirmed in her message that God is love, and He is always the God Who comes to our world and our humanity to reveal to us His great love, with all our weakness and fragility, and to create in us a new humanity."

He continues, "Saint Therese's visit is an opportunity to remind us of the importance of trust and surrender to God. Therefore, we must place our complete trust in God, who is always present with us, who accompanies us, and who guides our steps with great steadfastness. Thus, Saint Therese expressed in her writings the trust and surrender she experienced in her community life and her monastic life. Through her Prayers, she was able to preach Jesus, Crucified and Risen from the dead, affirming that our God is the God of love and peace."

At the end, Father Nohra Sfeir, the Carmelite, points out that "Saint Therese of the Child Jesus demonstrated that love is embodied in our reality through actions, deeds, and words. In her visit to Lebanon, we are called to be messengers of love in the name of Jesus, Whose love is an unfading light."

With Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, we raise our Prayers for peace, truth and justice, and we say with one heart: “O little Saint Therese, remember us of your promise to do good on earth, and spread abundantly your roses on all who call upon you and help us obtain from God the graces we hope for from His infinite compassion.”