On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Thérèse of Lisieux her relics will be coming to the United States from October 1—December 8, 2025.
Pope St. John Paul II said, “The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments of the Church’s history.” God is using the relics of St. Thérèse to stir up the hope of the Christian faithful. The presence of the relics of St. Thérèse is a special blessing for us in this Holy Year, renewing our hope in God’s loving care for us.
As we celebrate our Parish Centennial, we are honored to be included as one of the host parishes, with her relics coming to COTLF from December 2nd—4th!
The reliquary is an impressive work of art made of jacaranda wood and gilt silver, designed and made in Brazil for St. Thérèse’s Beatification in 1923. It contains some of the bones of St. Thérèse. It is protected by a clear, plexiglass shell which is permanently mounted on a wooden tray. Devotees will have the opportunity to walk past the reliquary case during the times of public veneration and may take some time to pray in the church before departing.
| Tuesday, December 2 | Wednesday, December 3 | Thursday, December 4 |
| 11:00am Arrival and Welcome by School Children 11:30am – 5:15pm Public Veneration 5:00pm Rosary 5:30pm Spanish Daily Mass 7:00pm Welcome Mass with Archbishop Wenski 8:00pm – 6:00am Public Veneration | 6:15am Daily Mass 6:45am – 7:45am Public Veneration 8:00am Daily Mass 8:45am – 11:00am Church Closed for School Mass 11:00am – 5:15pm Public Veneration 5:00pm Rosary 5:30pm Spanish Mass 7:00pm Holy Hour and Carmelite Reflection 8:00pm – 6:00am Public Veneration | 6:15am Daily Mass 6:45am – 7:45am Public Veneration 8:00am Daily Mass 8:30am – 9:30am Public Veneration 9:45am Farewell Ceremony 10:00am Departure of Relics |
Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.
St. Therese of the Holy Face, pray for us.
St. Therese, child of Mary, pray for us.
St. Therese, devoted to Joseph, pray for us.
St. Therese, angel of innocence, pray for us.
St. Therese, model child, pray for us.
St. Therese, pattern of religious, pray for us.
St. Therese, flower of Carmel, pray for us.
St. Therese, converter of hardened hearts, pray for us.
St. Therese, healer of the diseased, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with love for the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with Angelic fervor, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with an Apostle’s zeal, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with loyalty to the Holy Father, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with a tender love for the Church, pray for us.
St. Therese, filled with extraordinary love for God and neighbor, pray for us.
St. Therese, wounded with a Heavenly flame, pray for us.
St. Therese, victim of Divine Love, pray for us.
St. Therese, patient in sufferings, pray for us.
St. Therese, eager for humiliations, pray for us.
St. Therese, consumed with love, pray for us.
St. Therese, rapt in ecstasy, pray for us.
Who desired always to be as a little child, pray for us.
Who taught the way of spiritual childhood, pray for us.
Who gave perfect example of trust in God, pray for us.
Whom Jesus filled with a desire for suffering, pray for us.
Who found perfection in the little things, pray for us.
Who refused God nothing, pray for us.
Who sought bitterness in this life, pray for us.
Who told us to call you little Theresa, pray for us.
Who offered her life to God for priests and missionaries, pray for us.
Who gained countless souls for Christ, pray for us.
Who promised, after her death, a shower of roses, pray for us.
Who foretold: “I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth,” pray for us.
Pray for us, St. Therese.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
O Lord, Who has said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow in humility and simplicity of heart the footsteps of St. Therese, the virgin, that we may obtain everlasting rewards. Who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
The Chaplet of Saint Theresa (the Little Flower Rosary) consists of 24 beads which commemorate the 24 years of her life, plus one additional bead.
On the medal, the following prayer is said:
“Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus,
Patroness of Missions, pray for us.”
On the other 24 beads is said the Glory Be To The Father to honour the Holy Trinity in thanksgiving for having given us the Little Saint who lived in this world for only 24 years.
The chaplet is concluded by saying the Prayer to St. Therese:
Prayer to St. Therese
St. Therese, the Little Flower, please pick me a rose from the Heavenly Garden and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore, and tell Him I will love Him each day more and more. Amen.
+ The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux
+ Maurice and Therese: The Story of a Love
+ Everything is Grace: The Life and way of St. Therese of Lisieux
+ The Poetry of Saint Therese of Lisieux
+ St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations
+ Advent with St. Therese of Lisieux: An Advent Devotional Inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux
+ The Little Way: Reflections on the Joy of Smallness in God’s Infinite Love
+ The Little Way for Every Day: Thoughts from Thérèse of Lisieux
For Kids:
+ Sacrifice Beads Activity
St. Therse was taught by her sister Pauline to prepare for her First Holy Communion by making sacrifices. She was given a small string of beads and kept it in her pocket. The goal was to slide a bead each time she made a sacrifice. When she went through the entire string, she started all over. We make them with 10 beads so that it can also be used as a finger rosary.
+ The Little Way: The Extraordinary Life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux with 100+ Fun Facts and Trivia
+ Papa and the Little Queen: A Walk with St. Therese and her Papa
+ The Little Flower: A Parable of St. Therese of Lisieux
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