St. Therese Chapel

The St. Therese Chapel

As you walk into the St. Therese Chapel you’ll notice paintings of angels above the doorways, guarding the entrances to the chapel.

The angels hold inscriptions from St. Therese’s book, “Story of a Soul.”

Incidentally, these paintings, and all of the paintings in the chapel and the entire church, were done by Chicago artist Beatrice Wilczynski. She employed methods of old Italian and Flemish masters up to the 16th century. She used the faces of Shrine parishioners, priests and friends of Fr. Coughlin as models to paint the faces in her work.

St. Therese had a tremendous love and deviation to Jesus from early childhood. With special permission from Rome, she became a nun at the age of 16.  She became ill and died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. During her illness, she was asked to write about her life and her love of Jesus.

After she died, her writings were published, and the whole world fell in love with her. In her book, “Story of a Soul,” she referred to herself as one small flower in the garden nurtured by God. St. Therese had radical confidence in God’s love for her despite her littleness. She became known as the Little Flower. St. Therese is a powerful example of spiritual childhood, having confidence in God in all things. She also wrote that after she died she would let fall “a shower of roses from Heaven.” Upon Therese’s death it was reported that miracles occurred worldwide. It has been said that those miracles were sent by Therese and were evidence of God’s love for the world.

The sculpture located above the altar in the St. Therese Chapel shows Jesus sitting on Mary’s lap while handing a rose to St. Therese. This sculpture is also reminiscent of St. Therese’s conversion experience after midnight Mass on Christmas of 1886. In St. Therese’s book, “Story of a Soul,” she tells us that God is real, His love is real, and she wants all to love God as much as she did.

As a reflection of that, you’ll notice the glass panels of falling roses at the sides of the statue.

St. Therese wrote that she wanted to spend her time in Heaven doing good for those on earth.  She also wrote about doing the little things out of love for each other. Remember, Jesus tells us to love our neighbors. You’ll enjoy reading St. Therese’s book, “Story of a Soul.” It is very uplifting and will be very beneficial to your own spiritual journey.  

Above the doorway leading back into the church, the Latin words translate as, “This is the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven.”