France 2025 - Day 6 (June 6)

Happy Birthday Jennifer!  

Today was a busy day.  We woke up early, had breakfast, and were on our way by 9AM.  Our first stop was at the Carmelite Carmel of Lisieux, where Therese and her three biological sisters were Carmelite nuns.  Her fourth sister, Leoine, was a nun in Caen. They had a great museum which housed relics and items from the life of Therese.  After finishing with the museum, we walked over to the Shrine where Therese was buried.

St. Pierre, parish church of 
Therese

Statue in the gardens at Carmel

The popes who played key roles
in the life & canonization of 
Therese

She thought about staying.

I love how the church is visible
all over town

This stream reminded us of Lourdes

Capture the photographer

Resting place of Therese, Pauline,
Marie, and Celine

The place where St. Therese is buried

There are roses everywhere

Happy birthday beautiful

Windows inside the chapel

When Therese appealed to
Pope Leo XIII

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also called Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, was born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alençon, France. She was the youngest of nine children born to Louis and Zélie Martin, both of whom were later canonized as saints. Only five of the children survived to adulthood, and all five daughters became religious sisters.

After the death of her mother when Thérèse was only four, the family moved to Lisieux. Thérèse was emotionally sensitive and spiritually precocious. She had a deep religious longing from a young age and experienced a profound personal conversion at the age of 13, which strengthened her resolve to enter religious life.

At age 15, after appealing to Pope Leo XIII during a pilgrimage to Rome, Thérèse was granted special permission to enter the Carmelite convent in Lisieux. She took the religious name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.

In the convent, she lived a hidden, humble life of prayer, service, and sacrifice. Struggling with illness and spiritual dryness, she developed her now-famous “Little Way” of spiritual childhood: a path of simplicity, trust, and doing small things with great love for God. Thérèse believed that holiness was not reserved for extraordinary feats, but accessible to all through daily acts of love and humility.

She was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1896 and died at age 24 on September 30, 1897, after intense physical and spiritual suffering.

Her memoir, Story of a Soul (L’Histoire d’une Âme), published posthumously in 1898, became an instant spiritual classic and spread rapidly around the world. It revealed the depth of her love for God and her spiritual genius despite her short and hidden life.

Thérèse was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997, making her one of only four women to receive that title at the time. She is a patroness of missions, France, and florists, and is lovingly known as “The Little Flower.”

We left the Carmel and walked to the Basilica of St. Therese.  It was quite the jaunt, with the last 1/4 mile being a 30 degree uphill walk.  The Basilica of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, located in Lisieux, Normandy, France, is one of the largest churches built in the 20th century and a major pilgrimage site in Europe. It was constructed to honor St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of the most beloved Catholic saints.

Origins and Inspiration

Shortly after St. Thérèse’s canonization in 1925, devotion to her spread rapidly across the world. Thousands of pilgrims began visiting Lisieux, particularly her Carmelite convent and family home. In response to this growing devotion, plans were made to construct a grand basilica to accommodate the influx of visitors and to enshrine her legacy.

Construction

• Foundation stone laid: September 30, 1929 — the 2nd anniversary of Thérèse’s death.

• Architect: Louis-Marie Cordonnier and later his son, Jacques Cordonnier.

• The building was designed in a neo-Byzantine style, characterized by its massive dome, white stone facade, and ornate mosaics.

Construction was interrupted during World War II but resumed afterward. Despite the war, the structure itself remained unharmed, and locals saw this as a sign of St. Thérèse’s protection.

Dedication and Completion

• The basilica was consecrated in 1954.

• It was granted the status of a minor basilica by the Vatican.

• Pope Pius XII and later Pope John Paul II supported the development and recognition of the site. John Paul II visited in 1980 and called it "a center of spiritual radiance."

Features

• The basilica can hold up to 4,000 people.

• The crypt contains beautiful mosaics that depict Thérèse’s “Little Way.”

• A relic of St. Thérèse is kept in the basilica.

• The ex-voto chapel displays hundreds of tokens from people who attribute miracles to her intercession.

• Nearby, the Carmelite convent and her childhood home, Les Buissonnets, are also visited by pilgrims.

Significance

Today, the Basilica of St. Thérèse is the second most visited pilgrimage site in France, after Lourdes. It is a center of prayer, healing, and spiritual renewal, drawing people from all over the world who are inspired by the simplicity and love of the “Little Flower.”  We attended Mass in crypt church with some pilgrims from Brazil.  After the Portuguese Mass, we went upstairs to the main church and were in awe.  I have seen some magnificent churches in my time on the earth.  This had to be one of the most impressive ones I have seen to date.

We walked from the Basilica to a boulangerie where we picked up a ham/cheese sandwich and drinks for lunch.  After lunch we walked back to our hotel to rest for a bit before heading to the childhood home of Therese, Les Buissonnets.

Les Buissonnets is the name of the childhood home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in the town of Lisieux, Normandy, France. This quiet and modest house holds deep historical and spiritual significance, as it was where Thérèse lived during some of the most formative years of her life.

The dome of the Basilica

Close up of the mural in the dome

The outside of the dome

Wow, just wow

The apse where the high altar is found

Chapel of St. Patrick

Birthday portrait

Altar in the crypt church

Crypt church

Where St's Louis and Zelie are interred

A beautiful day and a beautiful Basilica

Early History of Les Buissonnets

Les Buissonnets, which means “The Little Bushes,” is a charming 19th-century house set in a peaceful garden. It became the Martin family’s residence in November 1877, a few months after the death of Zélie Martin, Thérèse’s mother. Following this tragedy, Louis Martin moved with his five surviving daughters from Alençon to Lisieux to be closer to relatives and to provide a fresh start.

Thérèse’s Life at Les Buissonnets

Thérèse was just 4 years old when she moved to Les Buissonnets, and she lived there until she entered the Carmelite convent at age 15 in 1888. These years were marked by both emotional struggles and intense spiritual development:

• After her mother’s death, Thérèse became extremely sensitive and dependent on her sisters, especially Pauline, whom she considered a second mother.

• At Les Buissonnets, Thérèse received private education, played in the gardens, and had many moments of quiet prayer and reflection.

• In 1883, she experienced a mysterious and miraculous healing from a serious illness after praying to the Virgin Mary, who she later said smiled at her.

• On Christmas Eve 1886, Thérèse underwent a powerful spiritual conversion, which she called her “complete conversion.” It marked the beginning of her deeper trust in God and her desire to enter the Carmel.

Later History and Pilgrimage Site

After Thérèse entered the convent, Les Buissonnets was preserved by the family and local Church authorities. It later became a museum and pilgrimage site dedicated to her memory. The house has been carefully maintained to reflect the way it looked during Thérèse’s time there.

Visitors today can see:

• Her bedroom, where she prayed and wrote.The staircase where she ran to greet her father.

• Family furniture, photos, and personal belongings.

• The garden, where she played and meditated.

When we arrived at her home, we ran into the pilgrims from Brazil and had to wait for them to clear the house before we could go in.  The lady who greeted us was a bit abrupt with us, but that was about to change.  While we waited we walked around the gardens, taking in all of the history that was surrounding us.  There was an area in the garden called Le Petit Jardin de Therese, where she would spend a lot of her free time sitting.  This was the area of the property where Therese would setup the family nativity set every year.  There was a statue in the backyard of Therese and her father.  This marked the spot where she told her father that she wanted to join the convent.  I could only imagine his anxiety.  His wife died, and all of his daughters left for religious life.  

The Brazilian pilgrims vacated the house and were able to visit.  The house was so small inside and full of history.  In the room where Therese was sick, they had a replica of the Blessed Mother marking the spot where she appeared to Therese and healed her.  There was the fireplace where Therese put her shoes out for Christmas and had her spiritual conversion.  The tour guide we had gave us some great stories and insights into the life of Therese.  We exited the house and went to the front to take some photos.  To our amazement, the two guides at the house invited us back in to take more photos and give us even more insights.  We must have spent another 40 minutes with them, where they kept taking photos for us and allowing us to linger in the space.  When we left, they wished us a great pilgrimage and sang Happy Birthday to Jennie in French and English.  What a tremendous blessing that time was.

Our hotel, Manoir de l'Eveche

Courtyard outside our hotel

Entrance to Les Buissonnets

The spot where Therese told her father
she wanted to enter Carmel

A beautiful rose 

Le Petit Jardin de Therese

Front of the house

Jennie sitting in the room where the Blessed
Mother healed Therese

A gift given to Therese from her sister after she
was denied entry into Carmel.

The backyard of Les Buissonnets

Birthday girl in the Jardin

We trekked over to the main part of the town for dinner and wine.  As I reflected on our visit to Lisieux, I couldn't help but think of our connection with St. Therese.  I was born on her feast day, October 1. I married Theresa Rose and St. Therese is known as the little flower who leaves roses for people.

Theresa was baptized Southern Baptist, but came into the Catholic Church after high school. She chose St. Genevieve as her confirmation saint. Little did I know that Genevieve is the French name for Jennifer. After Theresa reposed, I met my Genevieve who had an incredible love for St. Therese.

It was not until several years after we married that I remembered Theresa chose Genevieve as her confirmation saint. I wish I could remember why she chose that, but it it crazy to think of the thread that has been woven between all of us.

St. Therese of Lisieux, Ora pro nobis

St. Genevieve, Ora pro nobis.