Rare 1907 Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Contact Relic | Original Relic Cloth & Carmelite Seal

A rare early 20th-century devotional relic card associated with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, preserved in its original form from the period of her beatification cause.

This original French devotional card features an early photographic-style image of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, together with a small fragment of cloth attached along the lower edge.

The original inscription reads:

“ÉTOFFE AYANT TOUCHÉ À LA SERVANTE DE DIEU”
“Fabric having touched the Servant of God.”

The card also bears the seal of the Carmel of Lisieux / office connected with the cause of Thérèse, adding important historical context to the object.

The reverse contains a prayer requesting the beatification of Thérèse and provides a remarkable glimpse into the period before she was officially beatified and canonized.

Most importantly for dating the piece, the reverse bears:

“Permis d’imprimer : Thomas, év. de Bayeux et Lisieux — 21 nov. 1907”

This places the devotional card firmly within the early period of the promotion of Thérèse's cause.

Historical collections document very similar 1907 prayer cards with a sewn-on piece of cloth described as having touched the Servante de Dieu, confirming that this was an established form of early Thérèse devotional relic.

Thérèse of the Child Jesus died in Lisieux in 1897 and was canonized in 1925. These early devotional pieces are particularly interesting because they preserve the memory of her before her beatification and canonization.

Details

• Saint: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
• Born: 1873
• Died: 1897
• Type: Early Catholic contact relic / devotional relic card
• Relic: Small textile fragment
• Original wording: “Étoffe ayant touché à la Servante de Dieu”
• Associated institution: Carmel of Lisieux
• Seal: Original ecclesiastical/Carmelite-related seal
• Printed permission: Thomas, Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux, 21 November 1907
• Language: French
• Material: Printed paper, textile fragment, thread
• Approx. size: 12.5 × 6.5 cm
• Period: 1907
• Condition: Original antique condition

Condition

The card has been preserved in its original devotional form for more than a century.

It shows natural age-related discoloration, foxing, paper wear and minor imperfections. The protective covering has some surface marks, while the original textile fragment and stitching remain present.

The original printed text, ecclesiastical seal and 1907 printing permission remain clearly visible.