National Shrine of St Therese facts for kids
The National Shrine & Museum of St. Therese in Darien, Illinois is a special Roman Catholic church and museum. It is dedicated to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, also known as the "Little Flower." This Shrine is part of the Aylesford Carmelite campus, which is run by the Carmelite Order. The Society of the Little Flower helps support and serve the Shrine, encouraging people to learn about St. Therese.
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A Look Back: The Shrine's History
Early Days in Chicago
The very first National Shrine for St. Therese started in Chicago in 1923. People loved St. Therese, and her popularity grew quickly. Because so many people wanted to visit, the Shrine moved to the larger St. Clara's Church in Chicago. Thousands of devoted friends came to special prayer services there.
Around this time, the Shrine received important items from St. Therese herself. These included relics (small pieces of her belongings or body) from the Carmelite Nuns in Lisieux, France. They sent these gifts to thank the Carmelite Order for helping with St. Therese's beatification and canonization. St. Therese became a saint in 1925.
Becoming a National Shrine
In the 1950s, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops officially recognized the site as a National Shrine. This meant it was a very important place for Catholics across the country.
Moving to Darien
Over time, fewer people visited the Chicago location. Then, in 1975, a huge fire destroyed St. Clara's Carmelite Church. This also destroyed the National Shrine of St. Therese. It was a big challenge for the Carmelites to rebuild.
However, a very generous gift from a devoted Lay Carmelite made it possible. The Carmelites were able to build a brand new Shrine. They chose the Aylesford Carmelite campus in Darien, Illinois as the new home.
Designing and Expanding the Shrine
Fr. Terry Sempowski helped design and build the new Shrine. He wanted it to reflect Carmelite beliefs and St. Therese's "little way" of simple faith. The new Shrine building was officially opened on November 1, 1987.
In 1999 and 2000, the Carmelites organized a special tour. The relics of St. Therese traveled all over North America. Huge crowds came to see them, especially at the National Shrine in Darien. This amazing event brought many more people to the Shrine for daily Mass and other events.
Because so many people were visiting, a decision was made to make the Shrine bigger. They doubled its size to welcome more visitors. The expanded Shrine was blessed in February 2002.
A Brand New Building
A kind gift from the Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation allowed for even more growth. The Society of the Little Flower began building a new Shrine building. This new building is right next to the current Shrine Museum. Work on this larger Shrine was finished in 2018. It has many special prayer areas for different Carmelite saints. It can also hold large groups of worshipers in its main sanctuary.
Exploring the Shrine Museum
The National Shrine Museum is like a treasure chest filled with items from St. Therese. It has the largest and most complete collection of "Little Flower" objects outside of Lisieux, France.
What You Can See
Highlights of the museum include:
- Several first-class relics of St. Therese.
- Photographs of her life.
- Paintings showing scenes from her journey.
- A special Prayer Gazebo.
- A full-sized, exact copy of her convent cell (her small room). This replica even includes second-class relics.
- Video screens that explain everything you see in the museum.
Special Artworks
A huge stained-glass window is a beautiful part of the museum. It shows the soul's journey to God. This journey is based on the teachings of St. John of the Cross, another Carmelite saint. St. Therese's own spiritual path was very similar to his teachings.
On the side of the National Shrine Museum, there is a massive wood carving. It tells St. Therese's entire life story in a visual and beautiful way. It is the largest religious wood carving in the United States.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
St. Therese was a Carmelite nun who lived a quiet, prayerful life. She was very devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is the special patroness (protector) of the Carmelites. Our Lady of Mount Carmel teaches us to be aware of God's love and presence in our daily lives. The National Shrine Museum has a large collection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel statues from all over the world.
Visiting the Shrine
Mass is celebrated in the Shrine at 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. The Shrine welcomes both individual visitors and organized tour groups. Each year, thousands of pilgrims (people on a religious journey) from around the world come to visit.
There is a religious gift shop inside the Shrine building. Visitors can buy books, prayer aids, and other items related to St. Therese.
Every year on October 1, the Feast Day of St. Therese is celebrated at the National Shrine. This special event includes Mass, a chance to honor the relics of St. Therese, and talks about the saint known as the "little flower."
