St. Theresa
Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Early Years
Saint Therese of Lisieux (St. Theresa) was born Marie Francois Therese Martin on January 2, 1873 in Alencon, France. She was the youngest of nine children, but only five girls survived into adulthood: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine, and Therese. Her parents are Saints Louis and Zelie Martin.
Theresa was spoiled, proud, sensitive, attention-seeking, and stubborn. One day, Leonie had a box of dress-making materials for dolls that she offered to Celine and Theresa. Celine chose one ball of wool, but Theresa took the whole box and said, “I choose all!” Eventually, she would learn to choose all not for her own sake but for love of God.
Theresa's mum sadly died in 1877 bringing tragedy into the previously happy family. Four-year-old Theresa adopted Pauline as her mother for the next six years.
In 1883, Pauline entered the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux. Shortly afterwards, Theresa contracted a mysterious illness. She was miraculously cured by a smile from a statue of Our Lady of Victories. Shortly after Theresa’s cure, Marie also entered the Carmelite monastery.
Little Theresa had wished to become a nun since the age of three, and now - at the age of ten - she begged to join the Carmelite monastery following in the footsteps of her two older sisters. However, the local bishop suggested she wait until she was older.
The Christmas Miracle
When Theresa was thirteen she had what she calls her “Christmas conversion.” She says in her autobiography Story of a Soul, “In an instant I grew up.” It was at this moment that she stopped being self-centred and became determined to save the souls of others. This Christmas miracle increased her desire to become a Carmelite nun and gave her back the joy she lost when her mother died ten years earlier. For the rest of her life she would be remembered for the joy she radiated.
A Hidden Life
At the age of fourteen, Theresa sought permission to enter the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux as soon as possible. The local bishop asked her why she wished to enter when she was so young. She replied, “I wished it since the dawn of reason.” After the local bishop refused, she travelled to Rome with her father and Celine and appealed to Pope Leo XIII for permission to enter. He told her, “do what the superiors tell you.” Theresa tried again saying “Oh, Holy Father, if you say yes, everybody will agree!” She wrote in Story of a Soul, “He gazed at me speaking these words and stressing each syllable: “Go – go – you will enter if God wills it.” The tearful Theresa had to be carried out by Swiss Guards but this did not stop her determination.
On New Year’s Day 1888, permission was finally granted. On April 9, 1888, at the age of fifteen, Theresa entered the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux – the desert of her dreams.
Theresa received the habit at the age of sixteen, and made her religious profession at the age of seventeen, on September 8th, 1890, the birthday of the Blessed Mother. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. During her time as a sister, she was known as an ordinary, good, reliable, and talented nun. She served as sacristan and mistress of novices, painted pictures, and wrote poems and short plays.
The Little Way
Theresa is most known for her “Little Way.” She spoke not of doing great things, but of small things with great love. She saw herself as a child who lived in complete dependence on God. Theresa acknowledged her littleness and believed this showed more clearly God’s greatness. She once said, “If all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose its springtime beauty.” Theresa saw herself as a tiny flower in the garden of God and believed His power shone more clearly through her weakness. She had a practice that helped her count her little deeds for God that is simple and perfect for children of all ages.
Going Home
Theresa got sick from tuberculosis and grew gradually weaker and weaker from the illness. The last few months of her life were shrouded in complete spiritual darkness in which she felt completely separated from God. However, the same perseverance that characterised her whole life stayed with her even in her final days. Surrounded by her blood sisters and the sisters in Carmel, Sr. Theresa died on September 30, 1897 when she was only twenty-four years old. She gazed at her crucifix and said, “My God…I love you.”
Pope Pius XI canonized Saint Theresa of Lisieux on May 17, 1925. If she was still alive she would have been only fifty-two years old.
On World Mission Sunday on October 19, 1997, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed Saint Therese of Lisieux a Doctor of the Universal Church. In his own words, “Theresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face is the youngest of all the “Doctors of the Church”, but her ardent spiritual journey shows such maturity, and the insights of faith expressed in her writings are so vast and profound that they deserve a place among the great spiritual masters.” She was the only Doctor of his pontificate.
A Family of Saints
Of all the Martin sisters, four entered the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux. Pauline, Marie, and Theresa were the first. Celine entered in 1884 after the death of Louis Martin. Marie Guerin, one of the Martin’s cousins also entered the same monastery. Leonie was the only sister to not become a Carmelite. She entered the Visitation monastery in Caen after Theresa died, and took the name Sr. Francois Therese, in memory of her sister. Leonie was the first follower of St. Thérèsa and the first to put into practice Thérèse’s “Little Way.” She is now a Servant of God. In addition, Pope Francis canonised Louis and Zelie Martin on October 18, 2015.
“Believe that I shall be your true little sister for all eternity.”
Saint Theresa of Lisieux has many names such as the little flower, the saint of the little way, and the greatest saint of modern times. Her message of simplicity and childlike trust in God is timeless and lives on in many hearts as a spirit of courage and hope. In 1927, Pope Pius XI declared her the universal co-patron of the missions with St. Francis Xavier. Her love for the missions and her power of intercession were so strong that she was a missionary in spirit even though she never physically left the monastery in Lisieux. In 1994, Pope St. John Paul II named her co-patroness of France with St. Joan of Arc.
Saint Theresa is also the patroness of florists. She loved flowers and mentioned them often. “When I die, I will send forth a shower of roses from the heavens.” Throughout the years, she has proven faithful to her promise of intercession and will never forget those she loves.
“I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth.”
Saint Theresa’s feast day is October 1, but her message reaches all people at all times. God wants to meet us wherever we are and He is accessible to all who seek Him. The little way is a way of forgiveness, confidence, trust, and love. It is selfless and simple. St. Theresa of Lisieux is a great saint who arrived at holiness by a simple path we all can follow. She is with us and will help us.
A simple prayer to Saint Therese of Lisieux is:
O Saint Theresa the little flower please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favours I now place with confidence in your hands. Saint Theresa, help me to always believe as you did in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day. Amen.
Saint Theresa wants us to love God with the same simple trust with which she loved him.
St. Theresa of Lisieux – Pray for us!