(The Nationalist, 6 June 2003)
From April to June 2001, the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux were brought around Ireland, to cathedrals, churches and small chapels. People turned out in huge numbers to see and touch them, and pray before them. It has been estimated that more than half the population of the island turned out for them.
I must acknowledge that I was more than surprised by the nature no less than the numbers of the turnout. Near where I lived at the time, among those queuing up to venerate the relics were many people who did not often go to Mass. They waited their turn patiently, a good proportion went to confession, and everybody talked about the occasion as a high-point in their life.
Most priests I spoke to were no less surprised than I. What could account for it? At a time when a drift from the church has become, seemingly, an established pattern, how could this contraflow be explained?
I discussed this with a friend of mine, a married man with a family, who is active in the church. His view was that people wanted to draw closer to God, they wanted help in their many needs but felt unworthy to approach God directly. They felt the need of someone who was holy and therefore close to God, but also ordinary and therefore close to us, to act as a go-between. Saint Thérèse, with her evident holiness, simplicity and humility of life, seemed to fill the bill. That was his view of it.
I think he was right, but his answer raised more questions. He was saying that people were looking for a mediator with God, one who was holy and human. I asked myself, ‘Isn’t that what Jesus was? The role assigned to Saint Thérèse is exactly the one that Jesus had’. He was the Son of God and son of Mary, true God and true man, like us in all things, except sin. He is the mediator with God, the one who intercedes for us.
So why was his role assigned to Saint Thérèse? I don’t know. But I suggest that – unwittingly – we may have downplayed the humanity of Jesus and exalted his divinity to a degree which, in practical terms, obscured his humanity. Has Jesus been put on a pedestal out of people’s reach? If so, then we have gone seriously astray, because that misses the point of the Son of God becoming man. Maybe the visit of the relics holds up a mirror to us, revealing a defect in our devotion that needs to be corrected.