St. Peter's Cathedral in Lisieux was built in the late 1100s. During the French Revolution it was used for secular purposes. After
Napoleon's
Concordat of 1801 it returned to religious use but was no longer the seat of a bishop. It still played a central role in the life of the town and was used by
St. Therese of Lisieux for ten years before she became a Carmelite.
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St. Peter's Cathedral |
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Detail on the door |
The nave has the classic openness and brightness found in medieval cathedrals.
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Nave |
Inside is a replica of the statue of St. Peter found in
St. Peter's in Rome.
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St. Peter |
Many of the furnishings are related to St. Therese. The high altar was donated by Therese's father in 1888.
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High altar |
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Altar detail |
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Angel flanking the altar |
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The other angel statue |
Behind the high altar is the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in the 15th century by
Bishop Pierre Cauchon who was also a judge at
Joan of Arc's trial. He is buried in the chapel. Therese attended daily Mass here and here she prayed for the repentance of criminal Pranzini in 1887.
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Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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Bas relief |
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More bas relief |
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Reliquary |
One side chapel has a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Here Therese's sister Pauline prayed and entrusted her vocation to Mary.
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel |
The cathedral also has many photographs of Therese on display.
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Therese as Joan of Arc in a play |
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Nearby statue of Joan of Arc |
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I thought this was a little tacky |
The church also has an altar to St. Joseph!
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St. Joseph altar (depicting his happy death) |
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