Portrait of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux in the Carmelite Convent’s inner court yard, she holds in her left hand a parchment on which she has written these words of Teresa of Ávila: “I would give a thousand lives to save a soul”; and in her right hand the book by Léonide Guiot, La Mission du Su-tchuen au XVIIIᵐᵉ siècle : Vie et Apostolat de Mgr Pottier, son fondateur (1892). From Wikimedia Commons
October 1: Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
My daughter has dressed up as Thérèse of Lisieux a couple of times, inspired by learning about her simple yet profound zeal of love and the way she lived her life, as well as by the beautiful imagery of the Little Flower.
“My vocation is Love!”
On October 1, the Church celebrates St. Thérèse of Lisieux, affectionately known as the Little Flower. Born in France in 1873, Thérèse entered the Carmelite monastery at Lisieux at only fifteen and died of tuberculosis at twenty-four. Though her life was short and largely hidden from the world, her simple spirituality continues to influence Catholics around the globe.
Thérèse discovered what became known as the “Little Way” by trusting completely in God’s mercy and seeking holiness through small, ordinary acts performed with great love. She wrote:
“There is only one thing to do: throw the flowers of the small sacrifices to Jesus.”
While reflecting on St. Paul’s teaching about the Church as the Body of Christ, Thérèse discovered the heart of her vocation:
“I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was aflame with Love.”
Her conclusion was beautifully simple: “My vocation is Love!”
In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed Thérèse a Doctor of the Universal Church, praising the spiritual wisdom contained in her writings and describing her teaching as a scientia amoris—a “science of love.” Divini Amoris Scientia — Vatican
Patroness of the Missions
Although Thérèse never traveled to a foreign mission, she prayed and sacrificed for missionaries and longed to bring souls to Christ. In 1927, Pope Pius XI proclaimed her Patroness of the Missions, alongside St. Francis Xavier.
Pope Francis later explained that although Thérèse was physically weak and remained in Carmel, “her heart was vibrant, it was missionary.” Pope Francis on St. Thérèse and Missionary Zeal
She is especially recognized as patroness of Catholic missions and missionaries, and is also traditionally associated with florists, aviators, and those suffering from tuberculosis.
Reflection
St. Thérèse reminds us that we do not have to accomplish extraordinary things to become saints. Holiness can begin with the person standing beside us: showing patience, forgiving an offense, helping someone unnoticed, praying for another person, or faithfully completing an ordinary responsibility.
What small act of love is God asking of me today?
The Little Way invites us to trust God’s mercy and transform ordinary moments into offerings of love. As Thérèse hoped near the end of her life:
“I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.”
May we follow the Little Flower by seeking Christ not only in great moments, but in the small opportunities to love that God places before us each day.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Sources
St. John Paul II, Divini Amoris Scientia, October 19, 1997. Vatican source
Pope Francis, General Audience, “Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Patron of the Missions,” June 7, 2023. Vatican source
