Say a prayer, make a wish at the Shrine of St. Therese

MANILA, Philippines - Every year, Catholics prepare for the Lenten season, a time for penitence, sacrifice and renewal.

Along with the traditional Lenten activities like Visita Iglesia, Seven Last Words and Recollections, devotees seek inspiration in their favorite pilgrimage sites. One such sanctuary exists at the heart of the Newport Area in Pasay City — the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

The shrine sits on a sprawling 6,244-square-meter property and is a testament to the life and devotion of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Therese of Lisieux. It was developed by Magnificat Ventures Corporation (MVC) and is owned by the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (MOP) headed by Most Rev. Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD.

Many accounts attest to miracles and prayers granted through the intercession St. Therese. “My mission is to make God loved and it will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth,” she said. 

Known as the “Little Flower of Jesus,” she has been acclaimed the greatest saint of modern times, a doctor of the church, and the saint of the third millennium, in tribute to the powerful way her spirituality has influenced people all over the world.

Every detail of the Shrine is dedicated to the life and spirituality of St. Therese, God’s Little Flower. It also houses a primary relic that her devotees can venerate. This relic was given as a gift to the Shrine by Monsignor Bernard Lagoutte, the rector of the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux.

The shrine’s architectural design was patterned after the reliquary of St. Therese in Lisieux, France.

As one enters the cross-shaped structure there is a 50-meter aisle. The Shrine can seat close to 2,000 people, making it a perfect venue for Eucharistic celebrations, healing masses, weddings and events such as the “Talulot Festival” celebrated every first Sunday of October in honor of St. Therese’s feast day.

Talulot is the Filipino word for petal. Devotees believe that if you pray through her intercession, St. Therese sends a flower or a shower of flowers to signify that your prayer has been granted.

Fourteen stained glass windows also adorn the church walls, depicting the life and times of St. Therese.

All details of the Shrine — from the doors, to the pews to the ceiling — represent an aspect in the life of St. Therese. She died at the age of 24.    

Below the Shrine is a columbarium named after St. Therese. Within it is an ecclesiastical museum where devotees can reflect on the Way of the Cross as annotated in the words of St. Therese.

The Shrine is a worthy tribute to this saint who touched the world with her simple love and profound faith. Those who will visit it will surely find inspiration within its walls.

For those who wish to enrich their Visita Iglesia this Lenten season, the Shrine is worth a visit. The Shrine will also host the return of the pilgrim relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in 2013. 

For more information, call 854-3024 or MVC at 636-MARY (6279) or log on to www.therese.ph.