Beloved for her reflections in The Story of a Soul, St. Thérѐse of Lisieux is one of the best-selling authors of all time. Though she viewed herself as an ordinary “Little Flower” treasured by God, her extraordinary spiritual insights have been translated into over 38 languages, with millions of copies in print. In 1997, she became the youngest person to be designated as a Doctor of the Church, and today, her words of wisdom continue to inspire the faithful around the world.
This month, as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Thérѐse of Lisieux on October 1, we invite you to explore where she is portrayed in the art and architecture of the Basilica.
1. The St. Thérèse of Lisieux Oratory
In the Great Upper Church of the Basilica, you can find St. Thérèse of Lisieux honored with her own oratory. Here, St. Thérèse is portrayed in a bronze sculpture with doves at her feet, holding a crucifix to her heart along with a bouquet of roses. In this depiction, she looks down at the visitor with a calm serenity, her mantle flowing gently behind her.
St. Thérѐse’s connection with flowers – and roses specifically – is multifaceted. She referred to herself as a “Little Flower” in God’s garden, glorifying Him in her own simple way. She once said:
“Jesus has been gracious enough to teach me a lesson about the mystery of the differences in souls, simply by holding up to my eyes the book of nature. I understood how all the flowers God created are beautiful – how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away from the perfume of the violet or the simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wildflowers.”
Today, many of the faithful associate roses with the intercession of St. Thérѐse, recalling her promise to “send down a shower of roses from the heavens” after her death.
2. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel
St. Thérѐse joined a Carmelite convent in Lisieux when she was 15. In the Basilica’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, you can find her portrayed along with five other Carmelite saints encircling the Blessed Mother: Andrew Corsini, Teresa of Ávila, Simon Stock, Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and John of the Cross. Made of Botticino marble, these statues by Theodore C. Barbarossa are set against a vivid blue mosaic with gold accents. Here, St. Thérѐse is once again portrayed with her arms full of roses, her gaze directed at Mary. On the frontal of the altar, you can find a quote from St. Thérèse’s Memoirs which reads: “Mary is more Mother than Queen.”
3. The West Portico
On the exterior of the Basilica, you can find St. Thérѐse portrayed in a high-relief sculpture by George Snowden in the west portico, along with St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Francis of Assisi. In this portrayal, she holds a crucifix and a wreath of roses.
The National Shrine and St. Thérѐse
St. Thérѐse has a special relationship with the Basilica. In 1923, Fr. Bernard McKenna, the first director of the National Shrine, visited the monastery in Lisieux, France, and spoke with one of Thérèse’s sisters, who was also a Carmelite nun, and promised to pray for the success of the National Shrine. Fr. McKenna gave a photograph of the Shrine to the Mother Superior, which she hung in the cell once occupied by St. Thérèse. Fr. McKenna again visited the convent at Lisieux in 1925, the year of St. Thérèse’s canonization. At the chapel of “the Little Flower” in the convent church, Fr. McKenna offered Mass for the success of the National Shrine.
If you’re interested in learning more about the life of “the Little Flower,” you can read our “5 Things to Know About St. Thérèse of Lisieux” post.
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of Saints, ed. Bernard Bangley.
“Choosing to see roses with St. Thérèse,” Aleteia.
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
“St. Thérèse of Lisieux,” Britannica.
“The Life of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux,” The Vatican.
The Way of Saints, Dr. Tom Cowan.