Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, also known as Ste-Thérèse of Lisieux.
Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin was born on 2 January 1873 in Rue Saint-Blaise, Alençon (Normandy) in France. She felt an early call to religious life, and overcoming various obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, became a nun and joined two of her elder sisters in the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux. 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 the Carmel in a night of faith, she died at aged 24, following a slow and painful fight against tuberculosis.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (her religious name) is widely venerated even today. She is commonly referred to as the Little Flower of Jesus or simply as the Little Flower.
She is one of the little children - not unlike the one that Jesus placed in the midst of the disciples when they began to argue (cf Lk 9:46-47). With the simplicity, clarity and directness of a child, Thérèse was able to explain faith in very simple language. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why she has always been so widely loved. Her simple Way of following Jesus has inspired so many people that the Basilica that stands in her native Lisieux is the second-largest place of pilgrimage in all of France, only outnumbered by Lourdes.
Lying in her sick bed, Thérèse made a promise to spend her heaven doing good on earth. To this day, if someone asks for her intercession, they will often encounter roses as a sign of celestial assistance. Today, ask Thérèse to help you, and then be prepared to see the signs that she has indeed done her part.
Have a great day.
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