St. Peter's Cathedral, Lisieux, France

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.

St. Peter's Cathedral

Detail on the door

The nave has the classic openness and brightness found in medieval cathedrals.

Nave

Inside is a replica of the statue of St. Peter found in St. Peter's in Rome.

St. Peter

Many of the furnishings are related to St. Therese. The high altar was donated by Therese's father in 1888.

High altar

Altar detail

Angel flanking the altar

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.

Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Bas relief

More bas relief

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.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The cathedral also has many photographs of Therese on display.

Therese as Joan of Arc in a play

Nearby statue of Joan of Arc

I thought this was a little tacky

The church also has an altar to St. Joseph!

St. Joseph altar (depicting his happy death)