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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Griego Catolico, thanks for the informative post about Russian Orthodox Christians and Saint Therese of Lisieux. I have a great devotion to her, and find it very interesting to know that this devotion is shared by members of the Russian Orthodox Church. Is devotion to Saint Therese found only among Russian Orthodox Christians in France, or is it more widespread? Also, is Helene Iswolsky's book for sale anywhere online?
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When I was a religion teacher and a Latin Catholic some 17 years ago, one of my students, Therese, announced to our class that her brother, Anthony, had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. I decided to offer a novena prayer to Padre Pio (and St. Therese) by beginning each of my five classes each day with a decade of the Holy Rosary for nine class days. The day following the ninth day of our novena, Therese came back to our class and announced that her brother, Anthony had been to see the doctor an absolutely NO TRACE of the cancer could be found! I remember my Jr. High students cheering so loudly, giving high fives to each other in utter amazement. It was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed.
St. Pio, intercede for us!
Gordo
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Dear Gordo,
Yes, St Padre Pio is renowned for his miracles.
But what do we say to someone who has cancer and is not cured, even though they have in their possession a relic of St Pio?
And all they hear around them is all the miraculous cures through the intercession of St Pio?
What do we tell them that will "speak" to them?
Alex
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ALEX:
Sadly people believe that miracles are something we can "obtain" just because we ask for them and we want them.
Everything that happens in this world--the good, the bad, the happy, the sad, and the glad--God ALLOWS for some hidden reason that He knows is for our good. Some folks are given a miraculous second chance. How they use that second chance is another question. Some are not given a second miraculous chance. But God is good and loving and just when we realize that
1. This is NOT our permanent home. We are on pilgrimage here.
2. God is NOT some Person we can manipulate to do our will. We are here (and hereafter) called to do His.
3. Sometimes tragedy is for the benefit of the ones left behind.
4. Suffering is our chance to unite ourselves to Christ. (See the references to Father Matta in Scripture and Patristics).
God is not a coin-operated dispenser of miracles or the whole of creation would be in constant turmoil.
In Christ,
BOB
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Griego Catolico, thanks for the informative post about Russian Orthodox Christians and Saint Therese of Lisieux. I have a great devotion to her, and find it very interesting to know that this devotion is shared by members of the Russian Orthodox Church. Is devotion to Saint Therese found only among Russian Orthodox Christians in France, or is it more widespread? Also, is Helene Iswolsky's book for sale anywhere online? Devotion to Saint Therese certainly exists among Orthodox Christians outside of France, but probably not as collectively as found in France. Helene Iswolsky's book was first published in 1946. There is at least one online used bookstore that sells it. Another possibilty is visiting the library of a Catholic university or seminary where a copy may be found. Also, if your local library has an inter-library loan service you may want to try that.
Last edited by griego catolico; 12/04/07 07:38 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Bob,
Yes, thank you!
It's just that in a particular case (my wife's cousin), she was surrounded by all kinds of reports of miracles by St Padre Pio and somehow believed if she prayed hard enough, the same would be experienced by her.
She SEEMED to feel that somehow she may have been left out etc.
This only really occurred because of the many cancer-cure miracles she heard (even the priest at the new parish being built in honour of St Pio told her about how his father was cured of cancer).
So, yes to all you said. And I still don't know what to tell someone who reads and hears about all the people cured by one Saint, but not her.
Alex
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Dear GC,
The devotion to Ste Therese was to be found among the Western-educated, often aristocratic and cultured Russian Orthodox who were also devoted to Lourdes and La Salette.
The ROCOR would not see this as permissible for Orthodox Christians (perhaps in private, but even then . . .).
Alex
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But he still is a Wonderworking God and Lord of all Creation!
Stephanos I
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