Love and Sacrifice

In 1926, Discalced Carmelite Friars who had been expelled from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution chose to establish a parish in San Antonio, Texas, little knowing that their desire to serve the Hispanic population would lead to the construction of one of the city’s most iconic buildings. April 4, 2021 marked 95 years since the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in the parish. To commemorate this anniversary, which this year falls on Easter Sunday, we offer you a review of one of the often overlooked beauties of the Basilica: the mosaics which adorn the altars and other features so integral to the celebration of the Mass.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower has a variety of altars, each embellished in its own unique style. In keeping with traditional design, the high altar, with its altar piece, marble reliefs, and mosaics, dominates the view upon entering the Shrine. It is not until the main altar is approached that other altars come into view. To the south stands the Tomb Chapel and its altar, which provides this issue’s cover.

Much of the artistry in the Tomb Chapel harkens back to the original design of the Tomb of St. Thérèse in Lisieux. Looking at more recent pictures of the chapel in Lisieux, visitors to the Basilica may see very little resemblance. At one time, however, the chapel in Lisieux had a large cross reposing on the clouds amid the roses as one element in the grand sculptural design. In San Antonio, the desire to incorporate an altar into the design was accommodated by reimagining this source of inspiration. Thus. the cross with roses sculpture became instead the mosaic we see today: a cross covered in roses, surrounded by gold tesserae, and bordered in clouds.

In her writings, St. Thérèse used the rose to signify both love and sacrifice. This mosaic, then, is uniquely suited to both the Easter season and the Basilica itself. The roses adorning the cross aptly reflect Christ’s sacrifice and love for us. Similarly, it is through the love and sacrifice of the faithful that the Basilica was built and can be restored. We look forward to the coming issues where we can explore more sights such as these in the Basilica. 

This Easter season let us pray that as the risen Lord welcomed Thérèse into new life at her death, so we, too, may be welcomed into His arms.

As seen in the Apostolate of the Little Flower, VOL. 89, NO. 1