Thérèse of Lisieux saved countless soldiers during the Great War

Summary:

Letters from soldiers poured in from the front by the sack-loads, giving precise details of Thérèse de Lisieux's spectacular interventions on their behalf.

Protection
Many soldiers claimed that their protectress deflected or stopped the bullet that should have killed them. One soldier, hit by shrapnel, found that his wallet and all the papers it contained had been pulverised, except for a picture of Little Thérèse. Another said that he had begged the young Carmelite nun to protect him, assuring her that he would come to her tomb if she granted him the grace to live. However, during combat, a bullet hit him in the head and went through his helmet, entering on the right, above the ear: "Logically, the bullet should have passed right through my head and exited towards my left ear. But it didn't! It deflected, went around the helmet and came out at the back of my head on the left and at the base of the helmet."

Healings
A letter from Louise Aillières, a nurse, reports an unexplained phenomenon: "A young soldier of twenty-four, wounded almost at the start of the war, was brought to the hospital where I was treating him. He had a bullet in his left shoulder with all sorts of complications. In short, the doctor and the surgeon had given up on him, when we started a novena to Sister Thérèse. On the ninth day, he was out of danger." The soldier was engaged to be married and promised that his first child would be given the name of Thérèse.

Visions
One soldier, named Paul Dugast, wrote: "I saw a cloud open up and the face of the saint stand out against the blue sky. I thought I was hallucinating. I rubbed my eyes several times, looking again at the vision, but I could not doubt anything because Sister Thérèse's face was more and more clear and resplendent. I was able to contemplate her like this for one or two minutes. I especially noticed her beautiful eyes, raised to heaven as if in prayer. From that time on, I remained always courageous; I no longer felt alone."

While under artillery attack, James Dalton prayed to Thérèse of Lisieux. Suddenly, "a nun appeared in front of me, six or seven feet away. She was very beautiful and was kneeling with her head bowed and her hands clasped, but her face had an expression of deep sadness, as if she felt great pity for us. I immediately recognised her as the Saint of Lisieux."

A voice clearly heard
Captain Mestre was suddenly interrupted in his prayer before the image of Thérèse, when he heard very distinctly and clearly a voice saying to him at intervals: "You will be wounded before the end of the month... You will be seriously wounded... But all the less because, from today, you will generously accept this sacrifice for God."

Sergeant Mulqueen recounted how it was impossible to survive during a terrible bombing. As he fixed his bayonet to the barrel of his rifle, he heard "very distinctly a voice, the sweetest voice I have ever heard in my life, saying in my ear: 'Take my relic'. I reached into my pocket and took the little relic. I dashed off eagerly. As we lay there, a shell burst and killed several men beside me. It seemed impossible to return to the trenches without being killed. I prayed with faith to Sister Thérèse, and again I heard the same voice telling me: "Go back, go back. So I obeyed and, with the relic still in my hand, I crawled back to the trench, while the shells were exploding so close that I was almost suffocated by the smoke. But they didn't hurt me."

A wonderful smell
Italian Mario Ciliberti was facing severe punishment for damaging military equipment in an accident to his car: "One evening, I was walking sadly in the countryside, brooding over dark thoughts, when I thought of the little book (The Story of a Soul). No sooner had I opened the book than I was enveloped in a wonderful smell. Surprised, I stopped and looked around, searching for the roses that were so fragrant: nothing, not a single flower around. I looked around a second time, but the scent was still inexplicable. I had to admit that it was a miracle: the little saint, whose relic I faithfully carry, had sent me a special sign. A few days later, an unforeseen circumstance enabled me to prove to my superiors that I had not been responsible for the accident. I was saved!"

Quotes from Stronger than Steel: Soldiers of the Great War Write to Thérèse of Lisieux (Angelico Press 2021) and from the archives of the Lisieux Carmelite Convent.

Beyond reasons to believe:

Many people today still claim to receive miraculous graces from Thérèse of Lisieux. When facing a dangerous or sensitive situation, they ask for her effective help and receive concrete proofs of her protection.

Going further:

Stronger Than Steel: Soldiers of the Great War Write to Thérèse of Lisieux by Les Poilus (Author), Sr. Marie of the ChildJesus (Translator), Angelico Press (May 12, 2021)

More information:

• Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux Thérèse and the First World War
• National Catholic Register's article French Soldiers Tell How St. Thérèse Helped and Protected Them in World War I