Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese Church
historic place
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese Church, also known as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, is a historic Catholic church in Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas. Spanish Discalced Carmelite friars established the parish in 1926. The church is dedicated to St. Thérèse de Lisieux, known as "The Little Flower." Construction began with the laying of the cornerstone on October 15, 1929. The church was built during the Great Depression and was dedicated in 1931. Architect Charles L. Monnot designed the structure in the Beaux-Arts style. In 1998, the shrine was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica and added to the National Register of Historic Places. The church houses a painting of St. Thérèse, a gift from the Carmel of Lisieux in 1927, and first-class relics of St. Thérèse and her parents. This site is significant for its architectural style, its dedication to St. Thérèse, and its role in the religious history of San Antonio.