Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (January 2, 1873 – September 30, 1897), or
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, O.C.D., was a French
Discalced Carmelite nun. She is popularly known as "The Little Flower of Jesus" or simply, "The Little Flower".
Thérèse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for Roman
Catholics and for others because of the "simplicity and practicality of
her approach to the spiritual life." Together with St.
Francis of Assisi, she is one of the most popular saints in the history of the church.[1][2][3] Pope Pius X called her "the greatest saint of modern times."[4]
Therese felt an early call to religious life, and overcoming various
obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, she became a nun and joined
two of her elder sisters in the
cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices such as sacristan and assistant to the novice mistress, and having spent her last eighteen months in Carmel in a night of faith, she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24.
All
her life St. Thérèse suffered from illness. As a young girl she
underwent a three-month malady characterized by violent crises, extended
delirium and prolonged fainting spells. Afterwards she was ever frail
and yet she worked hard in the laundry and refectory of the convent.
Psychologically, she endured prolonged periods of darkness when the
light of faith seemed all but extinguished. The last year of her life
she slowly wasted away from tuberculosis. And yet shortly before her
death on September 30 she murmured, "I would not suffer less."
Truly she was a valiant woman who did not whimper about her illnesses
and anxieties. Here was a person who saw the power of love, that divine
alchemy which can change everything, including weakness and illness,
into service and redemptive power for others. Is it any wonder that she
is patroness of the missions? Who else but those who embrace suffering
with their love really convert the world?
My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice,
these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than
words, I know it by experience.
Story of A Soul, Chapter X
I have not the courage to force myself to seek
beautiful prayers in books; not knowing which to choose I act as
children do who cannot read; I say quite simply to the good God what I
want to tell Him, and He always understands me.
Story of A Soul, Chapter X
