Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese Church
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 Location in Texas
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| Location | 1715 N. Zarzamora St., San Antonio, Texas |
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| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | 1926-1931 |
| Architect | Monnot, Charles L. Jr.; Dennehy Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000843 |
| Added to NRHP | July 09, 1998 |
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower is a historic Catholic church in San Antonio, Texas. It is also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thérèse Church.
This church has a special title, "minor basilica," given by the Pope to churches that are important for their history and art. It is one of only 84 minor basilicas in the United States and one of just four in Texas.
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History of the Basilica
The church is dedicated to a saint named Thérèse de Lisieux, who was known as "The Little Flower." Construction on the church began on October 15, 1929, when its cornerstone was laid.
Even though it was built in modern times, the church is filled with beautiful art and amazing craftsmanship. It was built during the Great Depression, a very difficult time for the country. The money to build it came from people all over the world who admired St. Thérèse.
The Discalced Carmelite Friars, a group of Catholic priests and brothers, came to San Antonio in 1926. They dreamed of building a national shrine for St. Thérèse, and this basilica is the result of their hard work and the support of many people.
The Famous Painting of St. Thérèse
One of the most special treasures in the basilica is a painting of St. Thérèse. It was a gift from the convent in Lisieux, France, where Thérèse had lived. The painting was created for the ceremony in 1925 when Thérèse was officially named a saint by the Catholic Church.
The model for the painting was designed by St. Thérèse's own sister, Céline Martin, who was also a nun. An artist named Pascal Blanchard then painted large versions based on her design. Céline and another nun would then touch up the face on each painting to make it perfect.
A priest from San Antonio, Father Raymon Gomez, traveled to France in 1927. He visited the nuns at the Lisieux convent and told them about the plan to build the shrine. The nuns, including St. Thérèse's sister Pauline, loved the idea and sent gifts to help, including this special painting.
The painting is very large, measuring 7 ft (2.1 m) wide by 10 ft (3.0 m) tall. It was restored in 2007 and now hangs in a place of honor inside the church.
Why is a Basilica Special?
Because the church is a minor basilica, it has a special chair called an ecclesiastical throne. This throne is a symbol of the Pope's connection to the church.
The throne has been in the basilica for over 70 years. It is used by important church leaders, like the archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, during special events and services.
Sacred Relics in the Church
The basilica holds sacred items called relics. These are objects connected to saints. This church has relics of St. Thérèse and her parents, who are also saints.
Relics of St. Thérèse
The church has three first-class relics of St. Thérèse. A first-class relic is a physical part of a saint's body, like a piece of bone or hair. Two of these relics are kept in a special tomb chapel inside the basilica. They are often displayed for visitors to see and honor.
Relics of St. Thérèse's Parents
The basilica also has first-class relics of St. Thérèse's parents, Saints Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin. These relics, which are particles of their hair, were given to the church in 2015.
They are kept in a special container called a reliquary. The back of the reliquary shows a picture of a biblical couple, Sara and Tobias. This image was on the medal that Louis and Zélie Martin chose for their wedding in 1858.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Pequeña Flor (San Antonio) para niños
- List of basilicas
