Scottish Catholic Observer

Paul Thomson, 49, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour two years ago, and has now been told he only has a few months to live.

However, Mr Thomson, a parishioner of St Margaret Mary’s Church in Castlemilk, has told of how the recent visit of the Little Flower’s relics and a trip to Lourdes have brought comfort.

“As soon as I knew St Thérèse was coming I started to feel a bit better,” he said. “All I knew was that she was a young lady when she died and that she helped people. I thought to myself, maybe she can help me out.”

Prayers

Mr Thomson’s tumour is on his neck, jaw and face, ending at his ear.

It is incurable, affects his speech and has caused him to lose a lot of weight. Although his cancer diagnosis is terminal, Mr Thomson said the tumour ‘shrunk massively’ through prayer to Our Lady and the Little Flower.

He said: “I knew I had to go to Lourdes after being told it was terminal, and the Knights of St Columba have prayed and prayed for me.

“There’s only a bit of the tumour left. The doctors were concerned they wouldn’t be able to do any surgery because of where it is on my neck, but it’s healed a bit there now.”

Comfort

Mr Thomson attended Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, when St Thérèse’s relics were present, and said he was ‘comforted’ by her presence.

“Everybody’s since been praying for me through St Thérèse, and the Knights have been fantastic to me by taking me to Lourdes.

“I definitely think a miracle has happened here. I hope all the help and prayers happening will continue to help. I’ve got a great support network here.”

It has been an emotional journey for Mr Thomson, who said he hadn’t cried in many years before being anointed in Lourdes.

“I hadn’t cried in years, but I cried when they put the oil on me and at the Mass with St Thérèse,” he said.