The sweetest saint
St Thérèse of Lisieux — her life, her parents Zélie and Louis Martin, her relics, and the extraordinary sweetness of her shrine. (4 min read)
St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face likes profiteroles. I know this because I felt her presence opposite me during dessert in her home town of Lisieux. How sweet she is!
But for St Therese, Lisieux would be a very ordinary town in Normandy, about one hour by train from Rouen. While the town has some charming medieval buildings and the surrounding countryside is beautifully green and hilly, the Basilica of St Therese and the Carmelite monastery are the main attractions. Lisieux is the most popular place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes.
The Basilica of St Therese, which seats 2000 people, is the largest church built in France in the 20th century. It was commenced around the time of St Therese’s canonisation and funded by donations from individuals from around the world. It is a very impressive building which was completed in under 10 years (1929-1937). The walls and ceilings are covered in beautiful mosaic tiles with images of the saints and related decoration. Around the perimeter of the Basilica are chapels from various countries where St Therese is loved, including Brasil.
The Basilica has a special chapel devoted to St Therese. The main feature of this chapel is a reliquary containing two bones from her arm. It is the centrepiece and many candles surround this chapel. I did not find the main part of the Basilica particularly energised, but there is a beautiful bright blue orb and some other spirit activity in one of my photos of this space. In contrast, the crypt has a very strong, loving energy and I found it was difficult to leave this space. The relics of Therese’s parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, are in the crypt, along with those of several other holy people.
It is possible to receive a blessing at the Basilica and I found this experience very moving. The energy of St Therese came through very strongly (from above, rather than through the priest) and charged the rosaries I am carrying for my dear ones.
© Paul McCarthy & Iluminar.au
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