St. Therese of Lisieux
1873-1897
📅 Feast Day: Oct 1
📖 Life Timeline
1873
Born Marie-Francoise-Therese Martin in Alencon, France
1877
Family moves to Lisieux; father becomes director of Carmel
1879
Mother died; Therese was 4 years old
1886
Enters Carmelite monastery at age 15 (special papal dispensation)
1887
Professes first vows; writes 'My Offerings to the Holy Spirit'
1894
Writes 'Story of a Soul' — develops the 'Little Way'
1896
Dies of tuberculosis at age 24
1925
Canonized by Pius XI
1927
Declared Doctor of the Church by Pius XI
✝ Biography
Born Marie-Francoise-Therese Martin on Jan 2, 1873 in Alencon, France, to Saints Zelie and Louis Martin. Youngest daughter; two older sisters (Pauline and Marie) became Carmelite nuns; two sisters (Pauline and Marie) became Carmelite nuns. Entered the Carmel of Lisieux on Apr 27, 1888 at age 15, after personally obtaining permission from Pope Leo XIII. Took the religious name Therese of Jesus Child and of the Holy Face. Developed her 'Little Way'—the path of spiritual childhood, doing small acts with great love: 'In God's garden I am a little rose who only wants to look at You in faith and run into Your arms.' Wrote her autobiography 'Story of a Soul' (Histoire d'une Ame) at the request of her superiors, which became one of the most widely read spiritual books after the Bible. Died Sept 30, 1897 of tuberculosis at age 24, saying: 'I can never leave earth without showering it with flowers from heaven.' Canonized in 1925 by Pius XI. Doctor of the Church (1997) as the Doctor of Spiritual Life. Patron of missionaries, France, and flower sellers.
🛡 Patronage
Patron of: Missions, France, florists, tuberculosis patients, and the USA (co-patron).
💬 Words of the Saint
My little way is to see God in everything, to love Him in all things.
📜 Key Facts
Born
January 2, 1873, Alençon, France
Died
September 30, 1897, Lisieux
Feast Day
Oct 1
Canonized
1925 by Pope Pius XI
🕊 Legacy
'Story of a Soul' translated into 70+ languages. Her 'Little Way' influenced countless saints including Pope Francis. One of the most popular saints in history.
📜 Personal Writings
Read excerpts from the saint's own words — their personal letters, spiritual writings, and teachings.
📖 Story of a Soul (Histoire d'une âme)
Story of a Soul: Opening
I was born for great things, and sought the means to attain them, it was made known to me interiorly that my personal glory would never reveal itself before the eyes of men, but that it would consist in becoming a Saint. This aspiration may very well appear rash, seeing how imperfect I was, and am, even now, after so many years of religious life; yet I still feel the same daring confidence that one day I shall become a great Saint. I am not trusting in my own merits, for I have none; but I trust in Him Who is Virtue and Holiness itself. It is He alone Who, pleased with my feeble efforts, will raise me to Himself, and, by clothing me with His merits, make me a Saint. At that time I did not realise that to become one it is necessary to suffer a great deal; but God soon disclosed this secret to me by means of the trials I have related. I must now continue my story where I left off. Three months after my cure Papa took me away for a change. It was a very pleasant time, and I began to see something of the world. All around me was joy and gladness; I was petted, made much of, admired--in fact, for a whole fortnight my path was strewn with flowers. The Wise Man is right when he says: "The bewitching of vanity overturneth the innocent mind."[2] At ten years of age the heart is easily fascinated, and I confess that in my case this kind of life had its charms. Alas! the world knows well how to combine its pleasures with the service of God.
— St. Therese of Lisieux
📖 Story of a Soul
The Little Way
little way--very short and very straight, a little way that is wholly new. We live in an age of inventions; nowadays the rich need not trouble to climb the stairs, they have lifts instead. Well, I mean to try and find a lift by which I may be raised unto God, for I am too tiny to climb the steep stairway of perfection. I have sought to find in Holy Scripture some suggestion as to what this lift might be which I so much desired, and I read these words uttered by the Eternal Wisdom Itself: "Whosoever is a little one, let him come to Me."[4] Then I drew near to God, feeling sure that I had discovered what I sought; but wishing to know further what He would do to the little one, I continued my search and this is what I found: "You shall be carried at the breasts and upon the knees; as one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you."[5] Never have I been consoled by words more tender and sweet. Thine Arms, then, O Jesus, are the lift which must raise me up even unto Heaven. To get there I need not grow; on the contrary, I must remain little, I must become still less. O my God, thou hast gone beyond my expectation, and I . . . "I will sing Thy mercies! Thou hast taught me, O Lord, from my youth and till now I have declared Thy wonderful works, and thus unto old age and grey hairs."[6] What will this old age be for me? It seems to me that it could as well be now as later: two thousand years are no more in the Eyes of the Lord than twenty years . . .
— St. Therese of Lisieux
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