“After my death I will cause a rain of roses to fall.” These words of Saint Thérèse echo through the Chapelle de l’école Sainte-Thérèse. It is a sanctuary dedicated to her memory. We stand before a testament to faith and devotion.
The Chapelle de l’école Sainte-Thérèse is in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. It resides within the Apprentis d’Auteuil headquarters. This chapel holds a special place in history. It was the first shrine dedicated to Sainte Thérèse of Lisieux in 1925. This was after her beatification.
Father Daniel Brottier launched this site in 1925. That was the very year of Sainte Thérèse’s canonization. Consecrated in 1930, it stands as the first sanctuary globally. It was erected in honor of Sainte Thérèse of Lisieux.
Look closely at the chapel’s architecture. Henri Chailleux and his son designed it in neo-Gothic style. Its lines are pure and its dimensions are small. The activities of the orphans of Auteuil are carved into the capitals. Gargoyles also proliferate around the building.
Notice the two oak doors of the porch. Apprentices of the carpentry of Auteuil sculpted them. They welcome visitors with a statuette of Saint Thérèse.
Inside the Chapelle de l’école Sainte-Thérèse, beauty abounds. The stained-glass windows and mosaics are the work of the Mauméjean brothers. The chapel boasts around fifty stained glass windows. They were crafted by the Mauméjean brothers company in 1927.
The nine stained-glass windows in the choir depict angels. They bear the instruments of Christ’s Passion. The twelve bays in the nave reference the litanies of the Virgin. The rose window on the facade evokes the “rain of roses”. Saint Thérèse herself announced this rain. Four smaller berries represent lilies and roses. Fourteen bays evoke saints. They are presented as models for the orphans of Auteuil. These include Antoine de Padoue, Genevieve of Paris and Joan of Arc.
Relics of Saint Thérèse are kept here. Also the tomb of Blessed Daniel Brottier lies within these walls. A transept is dedicated to him. Father Brottier’s vision and dedication shaped this sacred space.
Apprentis d’Auteuil is planning a rearrangement. They want to magnify the chapel. The aim is to facilitate access for visitors. They also want to create spaces for prayer. The transepts dedicated to Sainte Thérèse and Daniel Brottier will be enhanced. The space dedicated to Sainte Thérèse will be a place of reflection. The transept dedicated to Daniel Brottier will also be entirely redone. His tomb will be elevated.
As we leave the Chapelle de l’école Sainte-Thérèse, remember its significance. It is a beacon of faith, hope, and artistic beauty. It embodies the spirit of Sainte Thérèse of Lisieux and the dedication of Father Daniel Brottier.