“The first thing that struck my eye was the statue of ‘the Little Jesus’ smiling at me from the midst of flowers and lights. Immediately afterwards my glance was drawn to the snow: the monastery garden was white like me! What thoughtfulness on the part of Jesus! Anticipating the desires of his fiancee, He gave her snow. Snow! What mortal bridegroom, no matter how powerful he may be, could make snow fall from heaven to charm his beloved?”

— St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Royal Oak — If the weather outside was any indication of whether St. Thérèse of Lisieux approved of the National Shrine of the Little Flower’s being officially made a basilica on April 22, it was a resounding “yes.”

It was snowing in April — not unusual for Michigan — but as Fr. Robert Fisher pointed out, that was a good sign.

“Depending on where you were today, maybe you saw some snowflakes,” said Fr. Fisher, rector of the newly dedicated National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak. “Maybe you saw more than just snowflakes. One of my parishioners today sent me an email reminding me of St. Thérèse’s love of snow; she indeed does approve.”

Before a full church of nearly 2,000 people, the 79-year-old Shrine was elevated to the status of a minor basilica, the second in Michigan and 82nd in the United States, during a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron. The Mass was concelebrated by nearly 30 priests along with three bishops: Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon, Grand Rapid Bishop-emeritus Walter Hurley and Steubenville, Ohio, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton.

Both Archbishop Vigneron and Fr. Fisher noted the significance of having several former Shrine priests in attendance, including Bishop Monforton, who served the parish as a newly ordained priest, and former pastor Fr. Edward Prus. But the most fitting tribute was saved for a priest who was surely there in spirit.

“If you will indulge me, I would like particularly to call to mind Msgr. (William) Easton, who began this process and who I am sure is united with us in prayer tonight,” the archbishop said at the start of his homily, referring to the former Shrine pastor who died in December 2013 and was instrumental in pushing for the Shrine’s designation as a basilica. “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” the archbishop said, to the congregation’s unanimous reply, “And let perpetual light shine upon him.”

Everybody’s shrine

Before the liturgy began, Deacon Thomas Avery read the special papal decree designating the Shrine as a minor basilica to an uproarious ovation from the congregation. The decree was dated Dec. 23, 2014, and signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, then-prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.

Deacon Avery, who has served at Shrine since 2007, said afterward that “words can’t really describe” the honor of being asked by the archbishop to proclaim the decree.

“The privilege of announcing to all of southeast Michigan that this place is a big part of the New Evangelization and is united to the papacy in a very special way is a wonderful gift to all the people of this church, this parish and all of southeast Michigan,” Deacon Avery said.

Archbishop Vigneron noted that though the new basilica is already one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit with nearly 4,100 families, “we all claim a kind of membership at Shrine,” especially now by virtue of the basilica’s special connection with the pope.

“This church now is in some sense an honorary parish church within the city of Rome,” the archbishop said. “All of our churches, of course, are in communion with the Holy Father. But we might think of Shrine now as a basilica as a particular outpost for the Roman church.”

One of the rights of a basilica is the display of ornamentation traditionally associated with the papacy, such as the papal symbol of the crossed keys. The Shrine Basilica is enlisting the help of a local priest-artist, Fr. Timothy Pelc of St. Ambrose Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, to develop a coat of arms that will make use of such symbols, Fr. Fisher said.

Other papal symbols, such as the ombrellino, which looks like a partially opened umbrella embroidered with the basilica’s crest and used during liturgies with papal significance, and the tintinabulum, a bell used in processions, will be ordered after the crest is designed.

The signage in front of the church will also change to reflect the basilica’s new name, said Fr. Fisher.

“There are at least two other ‘National Shrines of the Little Flower’ in the United States. One of them, in San Antonio, Texas, is also a basilica, and they chose the ‘Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower,’ so ours had to be a little different. So we put it at the other end,” Fr. Fisher said.



Sacrament of sacraments

Archbishop Vigneron described the basilica as a sort of “sacrament of sacraments,” drawing its connection with the Eucharist and the priesthood as symbols of the unity of the Church, but also to the wider Christian family.

“You and I and all the people of God, we are this sign, this sacrament, this real presence of the Body of Christ in the world,” he said. “So that Christ is present in Royal Oak. Christ is present in Oakland County. Christ is present in Metro Detroit.”

And the connection to the papacy isn’t superfluous, the archbishop added.

“That’s why we’re glad to belong to the pope’s church. Because Peter’s successor is the guarantee that this is not a fairy tale.”

Frank Lawrence Sr., a three-year Shrine parishioner, said being in attendance for the landmark liturgy was “something I couldn’t pass up, naturally.”

“It’s a great honor to be a parishioner here,” Lawrence said, citing the “solemn manner” in which Masses are celebrated and the parish’s 24/7 adoration chapel “which is very rare.”

“There’s always someone present with the Lord, so it’s a great honor to have that,” Lawrence said.

Maria Djonovic said the festive liturgy reminded her of the day her son, Fr. Marko Djonovic of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion, was ordained.

“It was exactly that joy I felt,” said Djonovic, who doesn’t belong to Shrine but said she “had to be here” for the Mass. “And all these priests, I felt like I was in Rome with the pope.”

“I felt the Holy Spirit here, like (St. Thérèse’s) presence was here. It was completely wonderful. I loved it,” she added.

Tim McGinnity attended 12 years of parochial school at Shrine and said he felt privileged that his childhood parish was now recognized worldwide.

“It’s a great honor when you consider so few are minor basilicas around the world,” he said. “To have the Shrine of the Little Flower one, I grew up right across the street, so I spent a lot of time here.”

Credit to the Little Flower

Deacon Avery said since the announcement of the basilica title in January, noticeably more pilgrims have come through the Shrine — “more people walking around with their heads up in the air, looking around,” he said — which he credits to none other than the basilica’s patroness: the late 19th century French Carmelite nun and doctor of the Church.

“I think the only thing you can really point to is St. Thérèse,” he said. “Listening to the voices of people who come here, who are drawn here, who are part of the RCIA program — St. Thérèse and now soon to be her parents are just a phenomenal message and a beacon to all the people of this area. You just can’t believe the number of people who have said ‘It’s St. Thérèse.’”

Fr. Fisher acknowledged that media attention toward the Shrine has increased since the announcement as well, a spotlight he tries his best to direct toward the real purpose behind the celebration:

“It’s certainly a great honor for the church and for the parish, but more than that, I keep reminding people that it’s a challenge for us to use that title as one more drawing card to bring people to Christ, to bring them to the Church.”

 

Shrine Basilica at a glance

Parish founded: 1926

Current church built: 1936

Architectural style: Zig-zag Art Deco

Parishioner families: 4,100

Founding pastor: Fr. Charles Coughlin

Current clergy: Fr. Robert Fisher, pastor and rector; associate pastors Frs. Joseph Lang, Patrick Gonyeau and Ryan Adams; and Deacon Thomas Avery

Architecture: At the time it was commissioned, the cutting-edge design by New York architect Henry McGill was considered by many a radical departure from the more traditional churches of centuries past. With the altar in the center of its octagonal-shaped nave — symbolizing the Resurrection on the eighth day — the church seats approximately 3,000 congregants on two levels on all sides, including an adjacent chapel with several first-class saints’ relics.

Another defining feature of the Shrine is its prominent limestone “Charity Crucifixion Tower,” with its 28-foot sculpture of Christ crucified hovering over Woodward Avenue and 12 Mile Road. According to the parish’s history, the tower was constructed as a response to the Ku Klux Klan burning a cross on the parish’s front lawn; it was a “cross they could not burn.” It features numerous other carvings, including symbols of the four Evangelists, the seven last words of Christ, five archangels, the Apostle John, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and a Roman centurion holding a spear.

Mass times: Saturdays at 8:30 a.m., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; Sundays at 7:30, 9 and 10:45 a.m., 12:30, 4 and 6 p.m.; daily at 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.

Confessions: Daily after 6:30 a.m. Mass; Saturdays at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

Tours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays except during services

Parish features: Perpetual Eucharistic adoration; K-12 Catholic schools; various ministries, commissions and social groups.

Contact: (248) 541-4122; www.shrinechurch.com

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