St Therese of Lisieux

Despite best intentions, no time for model railway today.

So, instead, here are some photos of the railway station at Lisieux in North West France.

A dozen years ago, we visited the Basilica in Lisieux. Opened in 1954, it is devoted to the early 20th Century French Saint, Therese of Lisieux.

The town is small, the basilica is worthy of a city.

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Currently listening to:

Haven't had time to listen to any music today although I have found myself singing this old ditty by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren.

 

GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME

Her: Oh doctor, I'm in trouble.

Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

Her: For every time a certain man

Is standing next to me.

Him: Mmm?

Her: A flush comes to my face

And my pulse begins to race,

It goes boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,

Him: Oh!

Her: Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

 

Him: How often does this happen?

When did the trouble start?

You see, my stethoscope is bobbing

To the throbbing of your heart.

Her: What kind of man is he

To create this allergy?

It goes boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,

Him: Oh!

Her: Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

 

Him: From New Delhi to Darjeeling

I have done my share of healing,

And I've never yet been beaten or outboxed,

I remember that with one jab

Of my needle in the Punjab

How I cleared up beriberi

And the dreaded dysentery,

But your complaint has got me really foxed.

Her: Oh.

 

Her: Oh doctor, touch my fingers.

Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

Her: You may be very clever

But however, can't you see,

My heart beats much too much

At a certain tender touch,

It goes boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,

Him: I like it!

Her: Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

 

Him: Can I see your tongue?

Her: Aaah.

Him: Nothing the matter with it, put it away please.

Her: Maybe it's my back.

Him: Maybe it is.

Her: Shall I lie down?

Him: Yes.

Her: Ahhh...

 

Him: My initial diagnosis

Rules out measles and thrombosis,

Sleeping sickness and, as far as I can tell,

Influenza, inflammation,

Whooping cough and night starvation,

And you'll be so glad to hear

That both your eyeballs are so clear

That I can positively swear that you are well,

Ja-ja, ja-ja-ja-ja.

 

Her: Put two and two together,

Him: Four,

Her: If you have eyes to see,

The face that makes my pulses race

Is right in front of me.

Him: Oh, there is nothing I can do

For my heart is jumping too.

Both: Oh, we go boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom

Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,

Her: Goodness gracious,

Him: How audacious!

Her: Goodness gracious,

Him: How flirtatious!

Her: Goodness gracious,

Him: It is me.

Her: It is you?

Him: Ah, I'm sorry, it is us.

Both: Ahhh!

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Last night's dinner on a shoestring:

 

 

Plaice from the freezer, black pudding and a cheesy concoction of skinned peppers, asparagus and courgettes.

 

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St Therese of Lisieux:

Commonly known as The Little Flower.

Her basic thesis is that we should approach Christ with a child-like trust and simplicity.

 

 

I see this kind of religion (I use the term loosely) as the opposite of the intellectual approach of Thomas Merton. And, I am very drawn to the doctrine of simply trusting in Jesus. Another favourite Saint of mine is the Polish nun, Saint Faustina whose motto was, "Jesus, I trust in You." Is there any need for a more complex or esoteric approach to prayer?