Friday, March 2, 2012

Manuscripts at Lisieux

Now available online.
It is now possible to quickly and comfortably access documents about Saint Therese from the archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.

Thanks to the website http://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr, any researcher, fan, or devotee of the Carmelite saint will be able to consult the Lisieux Carmel’s Theresian treasury without leaving home.

Digital technology provides easy and free access to high quality documents ranging from autobiographical manuscripts of “The Story of a Soul,” the foundation of the monastery of Lisieux, the posthumous history of the writings of the Patroness of the Missions, to letters to relatives, pictures, and all texts written by this young Doctor of the Church.

This site (http://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr) is the product of several years’ work by the Carmelites in collaboration with academicians and Theresian researchers from several countries, to present the texts, documents, images, and other objects relevant to the study of Saint Therese.

The website has four sections. All the writings of the saint along with pictures of their facsimiles and the originals of her poetry and pious recreational works can be found in the first section titled, “Works of Saint Therese.” Also included are reproductions, drawings, and artwork painted by her. The content is enhanced by a powerful search engine that enables quick query results. (Read entire article.)
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3 comments:

Juan said...

This is an incredible resource for those who love St. Therese. It is practically an on-line archive as well as museum. By Easter, the Carmel of Lisieux will begin posting materials translated into English. I find the most interesting aspect of the archives are those documents that tell the "after story"; how an unknown nun dead at 24 became the most beloved modern saint of the Catholic Church.

Juan said...

The Carmel of Lisieux has created a virtual St. Therese museum online. Having been to Lisieux numerous times on pilgrimage, I know that here are materials that, for reasons of space and conservation, cannot be displayed at the Carmel's own new museum-type spaces. Starting this Easter, materials translated into English will be posted, making Therese's history and message even more widely available. I find that the most interesting materials are the post-1897 letters among those who knew Therese. Slowly, her family and fellow nuns come to realize that the world was embracing the just deceased 24 year old nun as "the greatest saint of modern times." It is a thrilling story, still developing today.

elena maria vidal said...

Thank you, Juan! That is wonderful!