Relics of St. Therese of Lisieux to Travel the USA this Fall for Anniversary of ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’
The relics of Saint Thérèse will travel the U.S. this fall. The reliquary containing some of her bones first came from France to the U.S. in 1999 and drew more than 1 million people in 25 states. The relics were at Shrine in 1999 and drew more than 75,000 visitors in one day.
What are relics?
The bodies of saints have always received special veneration by Catholics. A fragment of a saint’s body is a relic. It is venerated as something holy pertaining to the saint. Venerating the relic of a saint inspires one to pray confidently for the saint’s intercession.
In the Gospels a woman was healed simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Mt 9:20-22). When handkerchiefs or aprons that had been touched to Paul were applied to the sick, people were healed and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts 19:11-12).
Anniversary
Now, 25 years later, it is a special blessing that the reliquary will be visiting the U.S. during the 100th anniversary year of her canonization and for the Jubilee Year of the Church, according to the tour’s U.S. coordinator, Fr. Donald Kinney, a Discalced Carmelite priest at the Carmelite House of Prayer in California.
The first stop is here at Shrine and corresponds with her feast day, Oct. 1. The tour will make 40 stops in 11 states.
Fr. Kinney noted that St. Thérèse, herself, wrote in “Story of a Soul,” her autobiography:
“I would like to travel over the whole earth to preach the Gospel.”
“There have been great crowds and great blessings everywhere,” Fr. Kinney said. “Such continued worldwide acclaim is unprecedented in the history of the Church. St. Thérèse continues to be loved as ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’”
Rector's Welcome
Dear St. Thérèse devotee,
As the Rector of The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, I cordially invite you to this blessed visitation of our patroness, St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Our patroness is numbered among the Doctors of the Church and is one of the most beloved saints of modern times. Devotion to her worldwide ranks her among the top five of all saints.
Her followers, who strive to live in accordance with St. Thérèse's spirituality, demonstrate God's great love in little ways — a childlike path of love and trust in God that is accessible to all.
In this Year of Hope, this is a blessed opportunity for all of us to venerate such an influential intercessor.
Shrine is honored to host the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in the 100th year of her canonization as a saint and our 100th year as a parish.
All who come to experience Mass and veneration of these relics will be invited into a sacred experience with the saint of the "Little Way."
We look forward to seeing you at our beautiful basilica, dedicated to "Sharing the Love of Jesus through the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux."
St. Thérèse, Pray for Us!
— Rev. John R. Bettin, Rector
SCHEDULE Her relics visit the United States
October 1 - December 8, 2025
the 100th anniversary of her Canonization
and the Jubilee Year
-Royal Oak, Michigan (October 1-8, 2025)
-Ten dioceses in California (October 10-30)
-San Antonio, TX; several Carmels in the South (October 31-November 14)
-Holy Hill, Wisconsin (November 15-18)
-Washington, DC and environs (November 19-30)
-Miami, Florida (December 1-8)
Source: https://shrinechurch.com/
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