Blessed Dominic Barberi, the great Passionist missionary who was to receive Blessed John Henry Newman into the church, also knew and loved Teresa Higginson as a child as he was a regular guest at her family home in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. At that time in the 1840's it also served as the local Catholic mission as their house chapel served the district. He was to baptise Teresa's sister Louisa Higginson, and he took much delight in carrying little Teresa in his arms. Lady Cecil Kerr was to comment:
'...did he, to whom the future was so often shown, perhaps foresee the heights of
sanctity to which this child would reach — how steadfastly she would scale the
path to Calvary, there to be ennobled by our Lord Himself with the sublime title
of “Spouse of the Crucified”? Surely we cannot doubt that his fervent prayers
won for her a share in his own heroic zeal for souls, and that his burning words
sank deep into the opening mind of this little one whose infant heart was aflame
already with the love of God.'
He lies buried in Sutton near St. Helens along with his fellow Passionists Fr. Ignatius Spencer and Mother Elizabeth Prout. For a full biography (this blog's author has no time!) please click here.
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