Matthew Parris Assails the One True Faith

The last words of St Thérèse of Lisieux were, "My God. I love You!" Tip of the cap to Fr Christopher Back who alerted me to this.

Matthew Parris appears to suffer from some kind of journalistic schizophrenia. I recall him, several months ago, writing a very balanced and generous piece on the benefits of religion, based upon his experiences of meeting people who, because of their faith in God, care for those neglected by the rest of society in Africa. Now he has turned upon the Catholic Faith, in an albeit rather jocular manner, with a rousing 'call to arms' that the veneration of the relics of St Thérèse of Liseiux, in particular, be condemned outright and remain unreported in the national press because the idea of it is ridiculous to him. He forgets, however, that though we are a minority there are plenty of Times reading Catholics in this country who would find his words to be highly insulting. Try explaining your bewilderment in a similar fashion to those who make their annual pilgrimmage to Mecca, dear Brother, and see what you get in return! He forgets, also, that suddenly all of his self-proclaimed, secular ideas of 'tolerance' are so easily thrown out of the window when a display of true religion is presented to him and he feels a little bit threatened...O Mr Parris, you do protest a little too much! We Catholics know how hard life seems when you are kicking against the goads...

'If I believed in a God, I would be thanking Him now for sending me a sign (Not another one?! When will He ever stop?! Anyone would have thought He existed or something!). In yesterday’s newspaper arrived a story to rekindle my atheism. Just when my disbelief was flagging — not for want of certainty but out of weariness with banging on — comes a report that energises me with anger. The relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a 19th-century Roman Catholic nun, have arrived in Britain for a month-long tour of England and Wales. (What could be more innocuous than a casket of bones? Anyone would have thought that hate-preacher with a hook for a hand was back in town!)

What? And we’re reporting this deadpan — and not in the Wacky World pages of light magazines? “Organisers said that the arrival of the casket, containing pieces of her thigh and foot bones, was likely to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.” I’m sorry: “pilgrims”? Isn’t the word “dupes”? (Oi, Mr Parris! That's me you're talking about! And about 15 people from St Mary Mags!) Does balanced reporting require neutrality even towards the self-evidently preposterous? Would a conference of the Flat Earth Society get giggle-free treatment on the news?

The faithful will apparently be bringing roses, to be blessed by proximity to the bones. According to the BBC, the relics are thought to possess supernatural powers to promote reconciliation and were taken to Iraq; but it didn’t work. (Yeah, like the Sunnis and the Shias didn't all hug each other, go dancing in the streets and forget their history overnight! Still, just because peace didn't break out generally, does not mean her visit had no benefits at all. Heck! It was worth a try!) The casket will be visiting “28 centres of prayer” (Is that what the Bishops call them nowadays? Wouldn't surprise me!) including many Roman Catholic cathedrals. How can bishops sanction this paganistic nonsense? (Newsflash, Bro! Some of the Bishops probably don't. But hey, that's just their ignorance!) I had been wondering whether Richard Dawkins’s critics were right to complain that his atheism was intolerant; whether we atheists were wrong to rage with such certitude about what is really only an absence of belief. But these relics have performed a miracle: they have re-inspired in me a fiery conviction. We non believers must rage, insist, proclaim. (Chill out, Bro! Man, do you need a holiday or something?! You're so uptight!)

For pity’s sake (he couldn't bring himself to say 'God's'), closet atheists of Britain, come out! Don’t “respect” this credulous folly! (Why not? Is it because we is Catholic?) Don’t let the madnesses of these faith minorities go by default! Stop our politicians kowtowing to nutters! (You want Gordon Brown to put St Therese of Lisieux on the list of dangerous terrorist types who cannot enter the country?) Cease the embarrassed muttering about being “don’t knows” on religion, and shout it out. We do know! (How so?) It isn’t true! All that is necessary for the triumph of religion is that disbelievers should do nothing. God speed to this ludicrous casket of bones; they have reminded me of an eternal truth: agnosticism is not enough.' (Now, now. Don't be greedy!)

Hmm...Clearly the Little Flower has touched a nerve and let's face it...he's got some! This is the problem with atheism and atheists you see. At one moment they can be nice as pie about religion and talk of 'respect' and 'tolerance' and then, suddenly, just like that, they can just switch and go into an anti-religious frenzy that makes it sound like they want to crush any notion of God and snuff out the only Light that can bring true joy to this fallen and tragic World. His piece is rabidly irreligious and it sounds rather like Mr Parris needs some form of anger management counselling, for, in truth, he is raging against a practice which began as early as the Church Herself is.

I'm sure if he met St Thérèse of Lisieux when she was alive on Earth, he would have been absolutely bowled over by her warmth, tenderness, charm, charisma, humility, compassion and holiness and he may have found himself penning a piece entitled, 'The Day I Met a Saint'. Ah, Mr Parris! So are we! That is the reason we venerate her relics! We want to meet her in this life in prayer and know her intercession before the Throne of God, venerate this lady who was so dear, so sweet and close to the Blessed Trinity! It is well known that God wrought many great things through her on Earth and continues to do so in Heaven! We pray to her that we may know the power of her intercession in this life and that we may join her in the next! All of this fury he displays over the veneration of a canonized Saint! It may seem nonsense to you, dear man, but still, I'm quite sure the lady who has upset you for a while is smiling upon you now, even in your rage and gazing upon you kindly, wishing only good things for you. She had a habit of doing that on Earth. She has a habit of doing that now in Heaven. You know what?! I'll bet he hasn't even read her autobiography! But then, neither have I! All I know is she spent her Heaven doing good on Earth and now she still, to this very day, continues to spend her Heaven doing good on Earth. Oh yes, Mr Parris! Oh yes! That'll learn you, good and proper! That said, we still have places on the coach going to Aylesford Priory on the 10th October and you, sir, are welcome to come. Take it away, George!