Topic: William Burroughs

PHO99122005 - 20 DECEMBER 1999 - PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Maria Fe Burroughs helps her husband, William Burroughs, touch the Reliquary of St. Therese de Lisieux, who is also known as the Little Flower, after the reliquary's arrival at St. Agnes Catholic Church In Phoenix, AZ, Monday. The Burroughs' prayed to the reliquary during earlier stops in Tucson, AZ, and Douglas, AZ. They credit prayer to St. Therese with helping them cope with the Parkinson's Disease, that has afflicted William Burroughs for more than 20 years. The reliquary, which contains several of St. Therese's bones, is in the midst of an international tour. It came to the United States from Argentina in October and is going to Asia after it completes the US leg of the tour early next year. St Therese de Lisieux was born Marie Francoise Therese Martin on Jan. 2, 1873 in Alencon, France. She entered the convent at age 15 and died of tuberculosis in the convent on Sept. 30, 1897. She was canonized in 1925. With no miracles or great acts to her credit, Saint Therese was canonized based on the strength her writings, which are examples of exceptional holiness and devotion to Christ's teachings. About 2,000 people greeted the reliquary when it arrived at the church. More than 30,000 people, from across Arizona and as far away as Texas, are expected to view the reliquary during its four day visit to the Phoenix area. jk/Jack Kurtz UPI