Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, was a French Catholic nun who lived from 1873 to 1897. She is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and is renowned for her “Little Way” spirituality which emphasized doing small everyday tasks with great love. She lived a cloistered life in a Carmelite monastery in Lisieux, France and died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis. She was canonized in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II.
Thérèse was born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin in Alençon, France on January 2, 1873. Her parents were Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin. She had four sisters, three of whom also became nuns. Thérèse’s mother died when she was only 4 years old, leaving her father to raise the five girls. The family eventually moved to Lisieux to be closer to family. Even from a young age, Thérèse felt a calling to religious life. At the age of 15, she sought special permission from the bishop to enter the Carmelite monastery, as she was considered too young at the time. She took the name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face upon entering the convent.
The Carmelite order emphasizes prayer, silence, solitude and sacrifice. As a cloistered nun, Thérèse lived a simple life devoted to prayer. She suffered from scrupulosity and spiritual dryness at times, but maintained her steadfast faith through it all. Her autobiography “The Story of a Soul” describes her spirituality as her “Little Way” which consisted of doing small, ordinary tasks with great love. She believed that even little acts done with love have great value in God’s eyes. She offered up her sufferings for the salvation of souls. As her health declined from tuberculosis, she continued to write spiritual reflections and poetry until her death on September 30, 1897 at just 24 years old.
After her death, her memoirs were published on the order of her superiors. Her spirituality and sacrificial life soon inspired many around the world. She was beatified in 1923 by Pope Pius XI and canonized in 1925 by him as well. Her parents Louis and Zélie Martin were also canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, making them the first married couple to be canonized together. Thérèse was declared one of only four women Doctors of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997 for her significant contributions to theology and spirituality.
Some key teachings from Thérèse’s spirituality include:
- The Little Way – Doing small, ordinary tasks with great love for God has deep value.
- Spiritual Childhood – Having childlike trust, confidence and self-surrender to God’s will.
- Living in the Present Moment – Focusing on the now versus the past or future.
- Selfless Love – Putting others’ needs before oneself and making sacrifices out of love.
- Redemptive Suffering – Uniting one’s sufferings to Christ on the cross for the salvation of souls.
Thérèse saw herself as a little flower, small and insignificant in the world’s eyes, but doing what she could with love each day. Her humility, trust in God, and perseverance despite inner and outer struggles made her a relatable and inspirational figure for many. The impact of her brief 24 years of life continues to resonate today across the world.
Some key events and dates in Thérèse’s life include:
- January 2, 1873 – Born in Alençon, France to Louis and Zélie Martin
- 1877 – Mother Zélie Martin dies, leaving five daughters including Thérèse
- October 15, 1882 – Prays to the Virgin Mary to be cured from an illness, which she believes happened miraculously
- May 1883 – Makes first communion and confirmation
- November 1887 – Enters the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux and takes the name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
- September 8, 1890 – Takes her vows as a Carmelite nun
- June 9, 1895 – Writes her first manuscript of her spiritual autobiography “The Story of a Soul”
- April 1896 – Begins writing poetry including her famous poem “Living on Love”
- June 9, 1897 – Becomes prioress despite her young age and declining health
- July 1897 – Second manuscript of “The Story of a Soul” completed
- September 30, 1897 – Dies at age 24 from tuberculosis
- September 14, 1898 – Third manuscript of “The Story of a Soul” published posthumously
- August 19, 1914 – The Martin parents Louis and Zélie are beatified
- April 29, 1923 – Thérèse is beatified by Pope Pius XI
- May 17, 1925 – Canonized by Pope Pius XI, becoming Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- October 19, 1997 – Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II
- October 1, 2015 – Her parents Louis and Zélie Martin canonized together by Pope Francis
Some key miracles attributed to Thérèse after her death include:
- The healing of Gabriel Gargam from tuberculous meningitis in 1910, leading to her beatification.
- The miraculous healing in 1925 of two-year old Joseph Dien from intestinal tuberculosis, leading to her canonization.
- In 1929 Estelle Faguette was cured of tuberculous peritonitis after praying to Thérèse for her intercession.
- Marceline Trouvé was miraculously healed from tuberculosis of the neck glands after praying to Thérèse in 1933.
- A mother’s prayers to Thérèse in 1937 resulted in the miraculous healing of her son from leukemia and pneumonia.
- Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos, one of the children of Fatima, credits Thérèse with helping to cure her from pleurisy in 1925.
Some key places associated with the life of Thérèse include:
- Alençon, France – Birthplace
- Lisieux, France – Where she entered the Carmelite monastery and lived as a nun
- Les Buissonnets, Lisieux – House where the Martin family lived, now a museum
- Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux – Built after she was canonized, contains her relics
- Carmelite monasteries around the world – Her religious order of Carmelites has monasteries globally
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan – Major U.S. shrine built in her honor
- Basilica of St. Therese, Darien, Illinois – Another U.S. basilica named for her
- St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City – Where she was canonized and named a Doctor of the Church
Thérèse remains enormously popular today, over a century after her death. Some key reasons for her continued appeal include:
- Her Little Way spirituality is accessible and relatable to everyday people seeking holiness.
- Her candid writings in Story of a Soul reveal her struggles and humanity.
- She valued small sacrifices and acts of love done with great devotion.
- Her simplicity and humility connects with ordinary believers more than scholarly theology.
- She inspires countless religious and lay vocations in the Church.
- Her sacrificial life and premature death moved many hearts.
- The numerous miracles attributed to her intercession reveal her sanctity.
- She is a model of childlike trust, spiritual poverty and self-surrender to God’s will.
- Her love for the Incarnate Christ resonates with Catholics worldwide.
In closing, Thérèse of Lisieux lived a humble yet holy life as a Carmelite nun. Her Little Way spirituality, sacrificial love, and devotion to God continue to inspire Catholics today. She showed the power of doing small things with great love and remains a beloved saint across the world.