Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

The path of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

1. Before Jesus. She was the youngest daughter of Louis and Zélie Martin. Her mother died when she was 4. Benedict XVI, general audience of April 6, 2011
2. Before Jesus. The family moved to Lisieux. At Christmas 1886 she lived what she called her “complete conversion.” John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
3. Before Jesus. In Rome, in 1887, she asked Pope Leo XIII for permission to enter the Carmel at age 15. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
4. With Jesus. On April 9, 1888, she entered the Carmel of Lisieux. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
5. With Jesus. There she lived her “Little Way”: trusting like a child in God’s hands and loving in little things. Benedict XVI, general audience of April 6, 2011
6. With Jesus. In 1896 she fell ill, and she lived through a hard trial of faith until her death. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
7. With Jesus. She died on September 30, 1897. Her last words were: “My God, I love you.” John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
8. Afterward. Her book, The Story of a Soul, was translated into about fifty languages. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 3

Words of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

“It is confidence, and nothing but confidence, that must lead us to Love.” Letter 197 (September 17, 1896), quoted in Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 1

In a letter to her sister, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart.

“In heaven I will desire the same thing I desire now on earth: to love Jesus and to make him loved.” Letter 220 (February 24, 1897), quoted in Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 9

In a letter to Abbé Bellière, one of her missionary spiritual brothers.

“The elevator which must raise me up to heaven is your arms, O Jesus! And for this I do not need to grow up; on the contrary, I must stay little and become smaller and smaller.” Manuscript C, 3r, quoted in Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 16

Telling how she discovered her Little Way.

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” Manuscript C, 25r, in Catechism 2558

Explaining what prayer is for her.

“My God, I love you.” John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5

Her last words, on September 30, 1897.

What they were like

• As a girl she was very sensitive. At Christmas 1886 she overcame that fragility. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
• She knew The Imitation of Christ almost by heart. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 9
• Her writings contain more than a thousand quotations from the Bible. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 9

The greatest thing they did

• She taught a way of holiness that everyone can follow, in any state of life. Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 14
• Without leaving her convent, she is patron of the missions. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 2

Not to be confused with

• Saint Teresa of Avila: Teresa of Jesus lived in Spain in the 1500s and reformed the Carmel. Thérèse followed her path. Benedict XVI, general audience of February 2, 2011; John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 5
• Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Mother Teresa took the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. vatican.va, biography of Mother Teresa

In the Church today

Feast day: October 1, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (memorial). General Roman Calendar; the date: Benedict XVI, Angelus of October 1, 2006 (“whose memorial we celebrate today”)

Patron of: Of the missions, together with Saint Francis Xavier (Pius XI, December 14, 1927) John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 2; One of the patron saints of France (Pius XII, 1944) Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 6

In art, recognized by: Roses: she promised that after her death she would be “like a shower of roses” Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 44; The crucifix in her hands Benedict XVI, general audience of April 6, 2011

What people ask

Why is she called “the Little Flower”?

She called herself a “little Flower” of Jesus, and in English she is known as the Little Flower. Benedict XVI also calls her “Little Thérèse.” Benedict XVI, general audience of April 6, 2011

What is her “Little Way”?

A way of trust and love: giving yourself up like a child into God’s hands. Benedict XVI, general audience of April 6, 2011

What is the “shower of roses”?

She promised that after her death she would be “like a shower of roses.” Pope Francis explains that these are the graces God gives through her intercession. Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 44 and 53

How could she be a Doctor of the Church so young?

She had not studied theology, but John Paul II recognized in her a “science of divine love.” He proclaimed her a Doctor in 1997. John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 1, 7 and 12

How is she patron of the missions if she never left the convent?

She wrote that she entered the Carmel “to save souls.” Pius XI named her patron of the missions in 1927. Pope Francis, C’est la confiance 9; John Paul II, apostolic letter Divini Amoris Scientia 2

Who Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is connected to

• Saint Teresa of Avila · followed her path
• Saint Teresa of Calcutta · took her name
• Saint Francis Xavier · patrons of the missions
• Saint John Paul II · made her a Doctor of the Church
• Mary · “the smile of the Virgin”
• Jesus · “My God, I love you”

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible