With stones gathered from the martyrs’ arena of the Colosseum, Celine and Therese next visited Rome’s catacombs, the tomb of St. Cecilia and the house where she was martyred. From that visit, St. Cecilia became Therese’ “patroness and intimate confidante,” because of her total abandonment to and confidence in God, “which enabled her to purify souls who had never desired anything but the joys of the world.”

On the seventh day of their Rome pilgrimage, the Martin family attended Mass in the Holy Father’s private Vatican chapel, then a Papal audience. The Gospel of the day encouraged Therese in her desire to ask the Pope’s permission to enter Carmel, “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased the Father to give you a kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) [Therese admits forgetting at that point Christ’s other words, “I dispose to you as my Father hath disposed to Me a kingdom.” (Luke 22:29) and “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26)]

Despite the strict admonition by Father Reverony that no pilgrim speak directly with His Holiness, but with encouragement from Celine, Therese knelt before Pope Leo XIII, raised her eyes brimming with tears, and appealed, “Most Holy Father, in honor of your Jubilee, let me enter Carmel at fifteen.”