The Life of St. Therese of Lisieux

Name : Marie Francois Thérèse Martin
Born : Jan. 2, 1873
Place : Alencon, Northern France

“God was pleased all through my life to surround me with love and the first memories I have are stamped with smiles and the most tender caresses.  But although he placed so much love near me, He also sent much love into my little heart making it warm and affectionate.  I love Papa and Mama very much and showed my tenderness for them in a thousand ways, for I was very expressive.”

Jan. 4, 1873 – Therese was baptized at the Our Lady of Notre Dame Church.

Therese was sent to Rose Taille for breastfeeding.

Aug. 28, 1877 – Her mother died of breast cancer.

“The touching ceremony of the last anointing is deeply impressed in my mind.  I can still see the place where I knelt beside Celine.  All five of us were lined up according to age and Papa was there too, crying.  The day after Mama’s departure, Papa took me in his arms and said: ‘Come, kiss your mother for the last time.’  Without saying a word I kissed her forehead, I looked and listened in silence.”

Isidore Guerin, the younger brother of Zelie, invited all of them to live with him and his family in Lisieux.

Nov. 15, 1877 – They stayed in a beautiful house called Les Buissonnets in Lisieux.

Oct. 3, 1881 – At the age of 8, Therese joined her sister Celine at the Benedictine Abbey.

Oct. 2, 1882 – Pauline entered the Carmelite Monastery.

Five months after Pauline’s entrance to Carmel, Therese became seriously ill.

May 13, 1883 – Therese was cured by the Our Lady of the Smile.

“Suddenly the Blessed Virgin let me see her beauty, the beauty that surpassed all  my experience.  Her face had such a look of kindness and tenderness.  But what went right to the depths of my soul was her entrancing smile.  All my pain vanished and big tears flowed down my face but they were tears of joy.”

May 18, 1884 – Therese received her first communion at the Benedictine Abbey.

June 14, 1884 – Therese received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Hugonin at the Abbey.

1885 – Therese entered a period of scrupulosity.

Oct. 15, 1886 – Marie entered the Carmelite convent.

“The answer was not long in coming, for soon peace poured into my heart with its delightful waves and I knew then that if I was loved on earth, I was also loved in heaven.  Since that moment my devotion to my little brothers and sisters in heaven has grown and I love to speak with them frequently.  To speak with them about the sadness of our exile; about my desire to join them soon in the Fatherland.”

Dec. 25, 1886 – Therese received the grace of conversion.

Therese was 14 when Henri Pranzini was charged for the murder of 2 women and a girl in Paris. She prayed for Pranzini’s conversion.

May 29, 1887 – Therese asked permission from her father to enter Carmel.  He allowed her.

The Monsignor would not give her permission until she was 21. Later he referred the matter to Bishop Hugonin.

Nov. 4, 1887 – Pilgrimage to Rome, for  the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood of Pope Leo XIII.

Nov. 20, 1887 – Audience with the Pope.

“ All’s well, all’s well, you will enter if it is God’s will.”

April 9, 1888 – Therese entered the Carmelite convent.

Jan. 10, 1889 – Clothing Day.  Therese received the Carmelite habit.

Sept. 8, 1890 – Wedding Day. Religious Profession of vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

She often fell asleep during prayer.

“ I don’t worry about falling asleep during my prayers.  I think that little children are as dear to their parents when they are asleep, as when they are awake.  Our Lord knows our weakness.  He remembers we are only dust.  I have long felt deep down in my heart that God is more tender than any Mother.”

1893 – Pauline (Mother Agnes of Jesus) was elected Prioress.  Therese became Assistant Novice.

She saw to it that their recreations were enjoyable.  She composed poems for them and wrote plays.

July 29, 1894 – Louis Martin died.

Sept. 14, 1894 – Celine entered Carmel.

April 3, 1896 – (Good Friday) Therese experienced the first signs of her final illness.

May 1897 – She was confined in the infirmary.

July 1897 – She became gravely ill.

A few months before her death, she wrote to her spiritual brother:

“ I am not dying, I am entering into Life.”

Sept. 30, 1897 – At 7:20 in the evening Therese looked at her crucifix and said in a low voice,

“Oh, I love Him… My God, I love You…”

After Her Death

Sept. 30, 1898 – First publication of her autobiography “Story of A Soul.”

Aug. 12, 1910 – Initial steps in the Process for her canonization.

April 29, 1923 – Beatification by Pope Pius XI.

May 17, 1925 – Canonization in Rome by Pope Pius XI.

May 3, 1944 – Pope Pius XII named St. Therese Patroness of France, along with St. Joan of Arc.

Oct. 19, 1997 – World Day of Missions, Pope John Paul II declared St. Therese, Doctor of the Church, in Rome.

Her Prayer 

God our Father, You have promised Your Kingdom to those who are willing to become like little children.  Help us to follow the way of St. Therese with confidence so that by her prayers we may come to know Your eternal glory.  Amen.


St. Thérèse Columbarium

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