Theresa was born January 2, 1873, in
Alencon, France. Her parents had nine
children. Of these, four died in their
infancy and five entered the cloister. The
father and mother were worthy examples of true Christian parents. Every morning they assisted at Holy Mass; together
they received Holy Communion.
To be a spouse of Christ had been
Theresa’s ardent desire since the early age of three.
When she was nine and again when ten years old, she begged to be received
into the Carmel of Lisieux. When she
completed her fifteenth year, the door of the convent finally opened to her. There the superiors put her virtues to the
sharpest test. On January 10, 1889, she was
invested with the holy habit and received the name Sister Theresa of the Child Jesus and
of the Holy Face. She pronounced her holy
vows on September 8, 1890, and gave herself to the practice of the interior life. On the path of spiritual childhood, of love and
confidence, she became a great Saint.
Theresa suffered much during her
short life, but it was hidden suffering, which she offered out of love for the conversion
of sinners and for the sanctification of priests. She
writes: “I know of one means only by which to attain perfection: Love! Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing
else. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He
makes me understand that He alone is perfect happiness.
The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul. Love can supply for length of years. Jesus, because He is eternal, regards not the
time, but only the love.:
Shortly before her death Theresa
said, “I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of bringing others to
love our good God as I love Him, and teaching souls my little way of trust and
self-surrender. I will spend my heaven in
doing good upon earth.” Her mission is
to teach souls her way of spiritual childhood. She
practiced all the virtues of childhood, but those that attracted her above all were the
confidence and tender love that little ones show toward their parents. Love, confidence, and self-surrender are the keys
to her spiritual life.
On September 30, 1897, Theresa, a
true victim of Divine Love, died of tuberculosis, a disease that in her case had assumed a
very painful character. A moment before she
died the patient sufferer once more made an
act of perfect resignation, and with a loving glance at her crucifix, said, “Oh, I
love Him! My God, I love You!” She was twenty-four years old when she died.
Saint Theresa was canonized only
twenty-eight years after her death. She was
declared patroness of the Foreign Missions. She
was canonized by her devoted client, Pope
Pius XI. The Pontiff said: “That light
enkindled a love by which she lived and of which she died, having given nothing to God but
love alone and having resolved to save a multitude of souls that they might love God for
eternity. Her shower of mystical roses is
proof that she has begun her work, and it is our most keen desire that all the faithful
should study Saint Theresa so as to copy her example.”
Her feast is celebrated on October 1.
NOVENA PRAYER
Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus,
during your short life on earth you became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as
death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God. Now
that you rejoice in the reward of your virtue, turn your eyes of mercy upon me, for I put
all my confidence in you.
Obtain for me the grace to keep my
heart and mind pure and clean like your own and to abhor sincerely whatever may in any way
tarnish the glorious virtue of purity, so dear to our Lord.
Most gracious Little Rose Queen,
remember your promises of never letting any request made to you go unanswered, of sending
down a shower of roses, and of coming down to earth to do good. Full of confidence in your power with the Sacred
Heart, I implore your intercession in my behalf and beg of you to obtain
the request I so ardently desire: (Mention
your request).
Holy “Little Theresa”,
remember your promise “to do good upon earth” and shower down your
“roses” on those who invoke you. Obtain
for me from God the graces I hope for from His infinite goodness. Let me feel the power of your prayers in every
need. Give me consolation in all the bitterness of this life, and especially at the hour
of death, that I may be worthy to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.
PRAYER
Father in heaven, through Saint
Theresa of the Child Jesus, You desire to remind the world of the merciful love that fills
Your Heart and the childlike trust we should have in You.
Humbly we thank You for having crowned with such great glory Your
ever-faithful child and for giving her wondrous power to bring to You, day by day,
innumerable souls who will praise You eternally.
O Lord, You said, “Unless
you….become like little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of God” (Mt
18:3); grant us, we beg of You, to walk in the footsteps of Your virgin, Saint
Theresa, with humility and purity of intention so that we may obtain eternal rewards. You live and reign forever. Amen.
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