National Shrine of St. Thérèse — Darien, Ill.

Destination: The Observer is no stranger to the National Shrine of St. Thérèse in Darien, a pleasant day trip away from the Rockford Diocese. Years ago, when we featured this shrine, it held the largest collection of relics and memorabilia of St. Thérèse of Lisieux outside of France — and it still does! Now the shrine is also home to a “family reunion” of the relics of St. Thérèse’s parents, SS. Louis and Zélie Martin. 

The shrine is hosting the traveling relics from Sept. 17 through St. Thérèse’s feast day Oct. 1. Daily hours  during this time are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (Typically, these are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). The Society of the Little Flower, who sponsors both the shrine and the visit, encourages guests to visit before Oct. 1, when large crowds are expected. 

Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.

Photos: Top — Visitors view the Centennial Reliquary of St. Thérèse and the reliquary of her parents, SS. Louis and Zélie Martin. The national shrine in Darien is hosting the relics for two weeks through Oct. 1 (Photo provided/https://www.littleflower.org/national-shrine-and-museum-of-st-therese/).

Bottom — The entrance of the National Shrine of St. Thérèse (Photo/Wikimedia Commons).

Why to go: SS. Louis and Zélie (Guerin) Martin married in 1858 after individually attempting to enter religious vocations. They had nine children, and all five who survived infancy entered religious life. Together the couple strove to raise their children with love and virtue and taught them to seek holiness through the devotions of the Church. They were beatified in 2009. 

The shrine and museum include highlights like photographs and paintings of scenes from St. Thérèse’s life, a prayer gazebo, and a full-sized exact replica of her convent cell which includes several second-class relics. 

Admission: Unless visiting in a tour program, admission is always free and no reservation is needed. 

Accessibility: The shrine and the retreat center are wheelchair-accessible. Ample parking is available.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course! They might enjoy finding the map of North America that St. Thérèse made when she was 12. Just like them, the “Little Flower” was once small too.

Info: Address — National Shrine of St. Therese, 8501 Bailey Road, Darien, IL 60561 
Phone — 800-621-2806
Website — https://www.littleflower.org/national-shrine-and-museum-of-st-therese/

—By Megan Peterson, features/multimedia editor, with some information provided by Sharon Boehlefeld. Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

National Shrine of St. Therese - Darien, Illinois

(Photo provided/www.saint-therese.org)

Destination: The shrine dedicated to St. Therese, the Little Flower, in nearby Darien, boasts the largest collection of relics and memorabilia outside of Lisieux, France.
Masses in the chapel are at 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday.
Why to go:  Therese Martin, who was the youngest of nine children, was born in 1873 and grew up in the Alencon region of France. Sickly as a child, her health remained a problem throughout her short life. She died at age 24.
Her mother, Marie Zelie Guerin,  and her father, Louis Martin, a watchmaker and jeweler, married in 1858. Therese was only 4 when her mother died of cancer. Of the Martins’ nine children, all five who survived entered religious life. Marie and Louis were beatified in 2009.
Therese, herself, was canonized in 1925, when she would have been only 52 years old. In October, 1997, Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, because of the influence her spirituality has had on so many people.
Among the items in the shrine’s collection are several items on display only through October. Among them are a chalice, paten and ciborium that she prepared regularly for Masses at the convent in Lisieux.
Amenities: The Carmelite Spiritual Retreat Center, which is on the grounds, hosts retreats and day programs and offers lodging and meals to Shrine guests. Info:  630/969-4141 or www.carmelitespiritualcenter.org.
Access: The shrine and the retreat center are accessible to the handicapped.
Admission: Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children will especially appreciate seeing the map of North America that Therese made when she was 12.
Info: Address — National Shrine of St. Therese, 8501 Bailey Road, Darien, IL 60561. Phone — 630/969-3311. Web — www.saint-therese.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld; CNS contributed to this story
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org