On 13th February, 2005, Sister Lucie of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died at the Carmel of Saint Teresa at Coimbra. She was 97 years old, having spent 57 of them at the Carmel, during her long pilgrimage on this earth.
The event was marked by the brothers of the Portugal Province, with a large gathering at the Carmel of Coimbra. We firstly organized a joyful fraternal meeting of Carmelite brothers, sisters and seculars in the parlour of the Carmel. Then, Sister Angela Coelho, ASM, vice-postulatrice for the cause of Sister Lucie’s canonization, gave a conference in the chapel of the Carmel, entitled: ‘Sister Lucie, a life between the Serra d’Aire and Mount Carmel’. Indeed, Sister Lucie’s earthly pilgrimage – at times happy, at times very painful – took place between her time as a shepherdess at the Serra d’Aire and then her time as a Carmelite, ascending Mount Carmel, at Coimbra.
Later, at 6 o’clock, the Bishop of Coimbra, Mgr Virgilio Antunes, celebrated a commemorative Eucharist in the chapel of the monastery. Besides the Carmelite brothers and sister, there were other priests, religious brothers and sisters, as well as many of the faithful who participated.
It was a beautiful and joyful day of jubilee pilgrimage and our hearts opened, we decided to walk the long road of Yes, walking in the steps of the Lord.
