Our Loretto Carmel has a very special devotion to St. Thérèse from our very foundation and it is featured primarily in our Annual Solemn Novena from September 23 to October 1 every year.
This is our only preached Public Novena of the year. Since Loretto is a big farming area, a solemn Novena in the summertime for the Solemn Commemoration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel — July 16th — was never a possibility or an attraction for the local community. We still have a private Novena at that time but the big public event for the people is now in the Fall Harvest-time in honor of St. Thérèse. It is always a huge event drawing devotees even from surrounding States.
- The first recorded miracle occurred at the very first Novena after our foundation in 1927 when Mrs. Eurana Schwab herself was cured of severe eczema after being blessed with the holy Relic of St. Thérèse. She became a life-long friend of our Carmel as a result, even to being nick-named “Lady Carmel”.
- Since that time, innumerable cures and spiritual graces of healing have continued to occur and many, many conversions have taken place. Truly, a “shower of roses” is still falling on Loretto!
