Tea at Trianon: Manuscripts at Lisieux

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

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.)

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.; March 2, 2012 at 9:04:00 AM EST
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.; March 2, 2012 at 9:16:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Juan! That is wonderful!; March 2, 2012 at 4:20:00 PM EST