St. Thérèse of Lisieux

The Little Flower, who entered Carmel at fifteen, died at twenty-four, and taught the Church the Little Way.

The story

Thérèse Martin lost her mother at four, begged the Pope in person to let her enter Carmel early, and spent nine hidden years there. She discovered that she could not climb the rough stairway of perfection, so she would take the elevator: the arms of Jesus. Her Story of a Soul, published after her death from tuberculosis, made her the most popular saint of modern times. She promised to spend her heaven doing good on earth.

What Thérèse teaches

Holiness is not in great deeds but in great love in little things, and in total confidence in God's mercy.

Patronage

missions, France, florists, those with tuberculosis.

Prayer

St. Thérèse, teach us your Little Way of confidence and love, and send us a rose of grace. Amen.