The film "The Little Flower in South Africa" premieres on EWTN on October 1, 2011. See it on TV or online.

EWTN offers the premiere of their new film about the historic visit of the relics of St. Therese to South Africa in 2010, the first time the relics traveled to the continent of Africa.  View it tonight (Saturday, October 1) at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  You may view it on TV or online (live only) at http://www.ewtn.com/tv/index.asp

Photo thanks to Archdiocesan News, Johannesburg

(http://sacns.scripturelink.net/2010/07/south-africa-st-thesese-relics-at.html)

The film is about 50 minutes long and is exceptionally well done.  I am glad I got up at 5:00 a.m. to see it.  It includes remarks by representatives of the Church in South Africa on St. Therese’s life and spirituality; a brief history of the Church in South Africa; footage of the reception of the reliquary all over South Africa; and personal reflections by Carmelites, Poor Clares, priests, and bishops on the influence of the visit of the reliquary and the significance of that powerful spiritual event for the people of South Africa.  It captures a unique moment in the recent history of the Theresian event.  I believe that reflecting on what Therese means to the people of South Africa is helping me to see more clearly what she means for me and for all of us. Watching it is a superb way to celebrate the feast of St. Therese and to be present to her mission today.

Please also note that at 10:00 p.m. tonight EWTN presents “Heart of the Matter, the Focus: The Relics of St. Therese of Lisieux Visit Great Britain.”   Various guests reflect on that phenomenon,  including “Mgr. Keith Barltrop, National Coordinator of the British tour of the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux – an attraction that has had an even greater draw than Pope John Paul's visit to Ireland in 1979 – [who] talks of the many graces received during the tour.”