National Shrine of the Little Flower

     

      On Thursday, January 15, 2015 Mom and I met our friends from the 55+ Club of Bethany Lutheran church at the National Shrine of the Little Flower named in honor of  Saint Thérèse de Lisieux in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Our Docent Barbara was wonderful, she really took time to show us around and gave us a lot of historic information about the church and Father Coughlin.

      We were also blessed to have one of the organist show us how the organ works and he explained to us about there are 3 consoles and demonstrated how they sound when played separately and in unison.   He played 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation' for us.  It was beautiful.   He is a very talented organist.  Please forgive me for not remembering his name.

       I have always wanted to see the inside of the Shrine of the Little Flower.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  The Parish was founded by Father Charles E. Coughlin in 1925.  The Shrine was built between 1931 and 1936 in the Art Deco style. 

                                                     Father Coughlin preached from this balcony.

                                             I love all the detail on the ceiling in the octagonal sanctuary.

                                                  Station of the Cross   |   Jesus Carrying the Cross

      The altar is made from a solid block of pure white Carara marble from Mount Cavalla Italy and it took 2 years to carve.  It weighs 18 tons.  The monolith was shipped to New York, then shipped to Detroit; it was rolled on logs on Woodward Avenue from downtown Detroit to Twelve Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak.    The octagonal sanctuary was built around the altar.   

Baptismal Font

 

St. Thérèse Chapel

The Charity Crucifixion Tower is 104 feet. 

Garden Grotto  

 

      We really enjoyed the tour.  I would love to go there for Mass one weekend.  Keith and Mom both said that they would like to go as well.  If you're ever in the Metro-Detroit area this is definitely a must see.  Royal Oak is a great area to visit, and the Detroit Zoo is less than 3 miles away!  Of course we enjoy heading out to the Woodward Cruise every year.  Last year we went on Friday evening---- it was a lot less crowded.

 

                                                                            ~Marcie