The story begins in 1914, following the bloody battle of Torreon during the Mexican Revolution, when three Discalced Carmelite priests were left to bargain for their lives with the outlaw Pancho Villa. American influence changed a death sentence to exile, and the padres found themselves on a cattle train bound for El Paso, eventually establishing themselves in Oklahoma. From there, a mission in San Antonio was formed in 1926 and a small, frame church was erected in honor of St. Therese, a young Carmelite nun known as "The Little Flower" and canonized a saint by the Catholic church in 1925. A modern saint, she was a contemporary of the original refugee Carmelites, though they had never met.

No matter what your religion, you cannot help but be inspired by the beautiful basilica erected in St. Therese's honor in 1931 through the contributions made by people from across the United States. Two massive towers flank the church front. The larger rises 116 feet and contains a carillon of six bronze bells -- weighing 8,000 pounds -- from Coblentz, Germany. The largest bell is called "The Little Flower of Jesus" and the others bear the names "Christ the King," "Our Lady of Mt. Carmel," "St. Joseph" and "St. Teresa of Avila," with "St. John of the Cross" the smallest at 700 pounds.

The 7 1/2-foot bronze statue of St. Therese atop the smaller tower weighs more than 1,000 pounds and was cast in Italy. In preparation for the recent international visit from France of the sacred relics of St. Therese, the statue was cleaned and restored to its original brilliance, as was the 7-by-10 foot portrait of the saint that was painted by her sister, Celine, and was present at her canonization in Rome. This past December, 80,000 faithful stood in lines weaving through the modest neighborhood surrounding the basilica, waiting to view and touch the clear case protecting the ornate gold and carved jacaranda wood reliquary containing the relics during the three days they rested in the basilica.

A 32-foot, circular, stained-glass window at the rear of the basilica forms the interior of a majestic dome. Depicted on it are the shield of the Carmelite Order surrounded by roses, which appear to cascade down on the viewer below. Roses, St. Therese's flowers, are featured throughout the basilica. They are carved into the magnificent white Carrara marble altar, designed by local artisan Louis Rodriguez. Rodriguez's designs for the 18-foot altar were sent to Italy, where master stone cutters worked for a year creating the thousands of pieces that were shipped back to be assembled by the loving hands of Rodriguez and his crew. Inset in the altar are mosaic panels of the four evangelists and a scene from the Prophet Elias, while onyx columns guarded by angels support the small altar domes. Rising above the main altar is a stunning Spanish artist's concept of a scene in heaven, skillfully hand-carved in Spain. It is dominated by Christ's Cross, with the Blessed Mother passing an armful of roses down to St. Therese, who scatters them to the world below, all surrounded by a profusion of angels and billowing clouds.

Hundreds of hand-crafted, wrought-iron roses are worked into the impressive grill work in front of the nearby Tomb Chapel, a replica of St. Therese's Tomb Chapel in Lisieux. Atop the Carrara marble and mosaic altar rests a hand-carved, gold-leaf sepulcher with a life-sized, hand-carved image of "The Little Flower" in final repose. More wrought-iron roses adorn the baptistery gate, and delicate roses are carved into the white marble pulpit that rises from winding stairs to overlook the pews. Stories of saints significant to the Shrine, the history of the Carmelite Order and aspects of St. Therese's life are depicted in intricately detailed stained-glass windows created of German "bubble glass," which specially filters the brilliance of the colors.

The walls of the basilica are lined with marble blocks inscribed with the names of donors from throughout the United States. Two notable gifts are the white-marble, holy-water fonts at the basilica's entrance, inscribed with the names of their donors -- actress Barbara Stanwyck and husband, Frank Fay. The basement lecture hall has held its share of celebrities, too. The Von Trapp Family Singers (on whose lives "The Sound of Music" was based) performed here in days past, and Helen Keller, who powerfully communicated though unable to see, hear or speak, was once a guest lecturer in the hall.

Visitors are welcome to call (210) 734-4002 for a free tour of this extraordinary architectural and spiritual masterpiece. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is located at 906 Kentucky Ave. at Zarzamora.