Relics of Saint Thérèse Return to Mary’s Shrine
November 20-22, 2025
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is honored to once again host the reliquary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux for veneration by the faithful from November 20-22, 2025. The reliquary returns to Mary’s Shrine 26 years after its first historic visit in 1999. Then, thousands of the faithful came to venerate the relics of this beloved saint and Doctor of the Church.
Now, in 2025, during the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse, which coincides with the celebration of the Jubilee Year, the faithful are invited to make a pilgrimage to Mary’s Shrine to venerate the relics of “The Little Flower” and obtain a Jubilee plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, at this specially designated national Jubilee site.
Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, will welcome the reliquary of St. Thérèse on Thursday, November 20, at 9:00 a.m., in the Great Upper Church, where it will remain until its departure immediately following the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Saturday, November 22. Veneration will be available throughout the reliquary’s stay, except during the celebration of the 12:10 p.m. Mass each day.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Thursday, November 20; Cardinal Seán O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop Emeritus of Boston, will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Friday, November 21; and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Saturday, November 22.
Following each of these Masses, the Blessing of Roses will take place in honor of St. Thérèse, who said, “When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens; I will spend my heaven doing good upon the earth.”
For more information, please visit https://www.nationalshrine.org/event/veneration-of-the-relics-of-saint-therese-of-the-child-jesus-lisieux/.
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ABOUT THE BASILICA
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, and it is among the ten largest churches in the world. Dedicated to the patroness of the United States, the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica is the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine and patronal church and has been designated a national sanctuary of prayer and pilgrimage. Among those who have visited the National Shrine during its 100-year history are Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Pope John Paul II, and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
