National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, MI is kind of one of those hidden treasures. I heard about it many times, passed by it on several occasions, and finally go the opportunity to stop by last year.
The story of St. Theres can be read by clicking on the link below. In part, it reads: Thérèse was a spiritual prodigy. At age three, she began to "refuse nothing of what God asks of me." Recalling an ocean sunset observed at age five, Thérèse wrote in her autobiography, "In the evening, at that moment when the sun seems to bathe itself in the immensity of the waves, leaving a luminous trail behind, I went and sat on a huge rock with Pauline. I contemplated this luminous trail for a long time. It was, to me, the image of God's grace shedding its light across the path the little white-sailed vessel [Thérèse herself] had to travel ... I made the resolution never to wander far away from the path of Jesus in order to travel peacefully toward the eternal shore."
The history of the church can be read in full on the link below, but it starts out as: In early May 1925, Michael J. Gallagher, the Bishop of the Diocese of Detroit, traveled to Rome to witness the canonization of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Determined to establish the first parish in her honor in the United States, he telephoned from Rome with instructions to name the new church after her. The Bishop chose Royal Oak for the new parish, although only 28 Catholic families resided there at the time because he foresaw that the booming auto industry would attract many Catholics to the area. The new pastor was to be a young priest who already had earned a reputation for stimulating Mass attendance: Father Charles E. Coughlin.
We would love to hear your feedback about this church, post photos you have taken, etc.
Pat Deere
LINKS:
The Story of St. Therese
National Shrine of the Little Flower Home Page
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