St. Thérèse of Lisieux (aka “the Little Flower”) is one of the most beloved saints. Her “Little Way” to God emphasizes having a radical childlike trust in the Father and doing ordinary things with much love. It’s a spirituality that can easily be adopted by laity, clergy and religious alike.
St. Thérèse was also a Carmelite nun, so her feast day on October 1 is a big event for members of the Carmelite family.
In celebration of her upcoming feast day, here are seven things you should know about this great saint:
1. Her first name was Marie.
In fact, her second name wasn’t even Thérèse. Her full name was Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin. Her parents gave all five of their daughters the first name Marie, likely in honor of Our Lady.
2. Both of her parents are canonized saints.
Saints Louis and Zélie Martin were originally convinced they would enter religious life. A providential meeting on a bridge in Alençon, France, led to marriage. They are one of the few canonized couples in the Church.
3. She had a pet dog named Tom.
In 1884, St. Thérèse’s father surprised her with a white spaniel called Tom. He was so devoted to the Little Flower that after she joined the Carmelite convent, he tried to jump the gate that separated them.
4. She asked the pope to become a Carmelite.
Since the age of 9, St. Thérèse knew she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. At age 14, she asked to enter the convent, but the priest directing her said to wait until she was 21. Convinced that she had to enter sooner, she was bold enough to ask Pope Leo XIII for permission to join the community at age 15. He assured her that it would happen if God willed it.
5. Her four sisters became nuns.
Three sisters also became Carmelites in Lisieux, France. Her sister Léonie joined the Visitandines in the nearby town of Caen.
6. She died at age 24.
On September 30, 1897, the Little Flower succumbed to tuberculosis. Her final words were, “My God, I love you!”
7. She is a Doctor of the Church.
Pope St. John Paul II declared St. Thérèse of Lisieux a Doctor of the Church in 1997. She is one of four women Doctors of the Church to receive this honor and the youngest of the 37 Doctors.
St. Thérèse promised to “send down a shower of roses from the heavens” on those who prayed to her. Take this month to become acquainted with her and pray to this powerful, yet humble, saint.
In fact, her second name wasn’t even Thérèse. Her full name was Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin. Her parents gave all five of their daughters the first name Marie, likely in honor of Our Lady.
2. Both of her parents are canonized saints.
Saints Louis and Zélie Martin were originally convinced they would enter religious life. A providential meeting on a bridge in Alençon, France, led to marriage. They are one of the few canonized couples in the Church.
3. She had a pet dog named Tom.
In 1884, St. Thérèse’s father surprised her with a white spaniel called Tom. He was so devoted to the Little Flower that after she joined the Carmelite convent, he tried to jump the gate that separated them.
4. She asked the pope to become a Carmelite.
Since the age of 9, St. Thérèse knew she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. At age 14, she asked to enter the convent, but the priest directing her said to wait until she was 21. Convinced that she had to enter sooner, she was bold enough to ask Pope Leo XIII for permission to join the community at age 15. He assured her that it would happen if God willed it.
5. Her four sisters became nuns.
Three sisters also became Carmelites in Lisieux, France. Her sister Léonie joined the Visitandines in the nearby town of Caen.
6. She died at age 24.
On September 30, 1897, the Little Flower succumbed to tuberculosis. Her final words were, “My God, I love you!”
7. She is a Doctor of the Church.
Pope St. John Paul II declared St. Thérèse of Lisieux a Doctor of the Church in 1997. She is one of four women Doctors of the Church to receive this honor and the youngest of the 37 Doctors.
St. Thérèse promised to “send down a shower of roses from the heavens” on those who prayed to her. Take this month to become acquainted with her and pray to this powerful, yet humble, saint.
