“To be a saint is to

be yourself.”

Thomas Merton

Therese of Lisieux(2/2/1873-9/30/1897)

• Marie Francoise Therese Martin• Sr. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face• The Little Flower

Introduction:

• Canonized a saint in 1925• Co-patron of the missions

with St. Francis Xavier• Co-patron of France with

St. Joan of Arc• Thirty third Doctor of the Church Youngest Third Woman

Who is Therese?Family Background:

• Born in Alencon, France on February 2, 1873• Father Louis Martin (watchmaker, jeweler)• Mother Zelie (successful lacemaker)

• 9 children: 5 daughters survived to adulthood• In the 6 years before Therese’s birth, Leonie (sister)

suffered convulsions; 2 brothers died at 5 and 8 months respectively; Helene (sister) died at 5 years of age (no vaccinations); Melanie (sister) died at 2 months

• Zelie determined to have one more child (Therese)

Birth and Survival:

• Therese with intestinal virus• Stayed with Rose Taille (“wet nurse”) for 15 months• Read before the age of 3• “Delightful character”, intelligent, stubborn• Home schooled by Zelie and Pauline (older sister)• Zelie’s diagnosis of breast cancer; gave up lace business Pilgrimage to Lourdes for a miracle

• Zelie’s death in August 1877: Marie (17), Pauline (16), Leonie (14), Celine (8), Therese (4)

• Family moved to Lisieux near Uncle Isidore Guerin (2 daughters); pharmacist

Early Years:

• Sent to Benedictine sisters private school at 8 years of age

• Resented by older classmates; quiet; attached herself to her cousin (Marie Guerin)

Disposition changed after her mother’s death: “I had been so lively and open, now I was oversensitive. It was only in the intimacy of my own family that I could be myself.” (Therese’s Double Life)

• Martin/Guerin families as devout Catholics Hatred in France for Catholic Church People with enclosed life:

no mingling with neighbors #1 concern: loving sense of God Good to their servants Devotion to Blessed Mother

• “Second Mother” (Pauline) entered Carmel when Therese was 9 years old

Shock reawakened trauma of Zelie’s death Nervous tremors; couldn’t speak; frequently sick Wanted to join Carmel (too young) Recovery: BVM statue “smiled”

• 13 years of age: withdrawn

from Benedictine school Private tutor “Scruples” Inseparable from Celine (sister) Marie entered Carmel

• 14 years of age: Christmas Eve 1886 “Turning Point”: overheard chance comment from her father (pampered)

“I overcame pressures that I had faced since the death of my mother. God worked a little miracle in me to make me grow up in an instant.”

• May 1887: Asked her father

for permission to enter Carmel Louis recovering from a stroke

(used flower analogy) Superior at Carmel against her

entrance because of her young

age Went to see the Bishop

(attempted to look older)

• Story of Henri Pranzini (convicted of the murder of 2 women and a child); showed no remorse

Therese prayed 2 months for the conversion of his soul Neck on guillotine: grabbed a crucifix and kissed it 3 times According to Therese, her prayer had “saved his soul”

• November 1887: Louis, Celine, Therese on diocesan pilgrimage to Rome (jubilee of Leo XIII); spoke to Pope and removed from room

Bishop gave permission (April 1888 – entered Carmel)

• 1889: Celine entered Carmel after Louis’ death (3 years in a sanitarium)- brought her camera; Cousin Marie Guerin entered Carmel

• Leonie entered Visitation sisters (4th attempt at religious life)

Therese in Carmel:

• Typical day: 4:30am to 9:30pm; brief “siesta”; 6 hours in prayer; meatless meals; 1 hour of recreation (sewing, simple chores); 5 hours of manual labor (kitchen, laundry, sacristy)

• Aridity in prayer; dozed• Felt alone• Prayed the psalms,

Passion of Jesus,• Hiddeness of Jesus• Prayed for priests

• Novice at 16 years of age: Name “Holy Face of Jesus” (associated with Veronica’s veil)

• Probationary period of 8 months before vows• Pauline elected prioress 3 years later• Appointed Therese to be Assistant Novice Directress,

helping Mother Gonzague (former prioress) – resented Therese’s appointment

• Novices older than Therese: gentle but firm, honest, simple

• Became Novice Directress when Mother Gonzague was re-elected prioress 3 years later

Spirituality of Therese:

• Not necessary to accomplish heroic deeds to attain holiness

• “Little Way Of Therese” God as humble, compassionate, forgiving Called to please Jesus in the present moment Love can be repaid only by love Love proves itself by deeds My vocation is love “The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these

flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the

doing of the least actions for love.”

• Pauline asked Therese to write down her spiritual reflections (memoirs of their childhood); first manuscript as The Story of a Soul; sent to all Carmelite convents after Therese’s death

• Second manuscript included more reflections, letters, and poems (life in Carmel)

• Holy Thursday 1896: coughed up blood• 1897: serious symptoms of tuberculosis (TB); no

painkillers; fever; feelings of abandonment; suicidal; nightmares

• Died on September 30, 189 after an agonizing illness• Buried in Lisieux at Carmel

• Canonized in1925• 50 year wait for process

suspended• Political implications “France exhausted from WWI”

• Relics tour the world• Patron Saint: aviators, AIDS,

florists

• Roses are all the acts of love, hidden sacrifices• “After my death, I will rain down a shower of roses.”