Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (Thérèse of Lisieux)

Virgin & Doctor of the Church

Co-Patroness of the Missions

October 1: Celebrated as a Feast with proper texts.

Popularly known today as “the Little Flower,” Thérèse Martin was born in Alencon in France in 1873. Whilst still young she entered the Discalced Carmel of Lisieux, where she lived in the greatest humility and evangelical simplicity and confidence in God. By word and example she taught the novices these same virtues. Offering her life for the salvation of souls and the spread of the Church, she died after a long and painful illness on September 30th 1897. She was canonized in 1925 and successive popes have referred to her as “the greatest saint of modern times.” She was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1999. She is co-patroness of the Missions and secondary patron of France.

Prayer

God our Father,

you promised your kingdom

to those who are willing to become like little children.

Help us to follow the way of St Thérèse with confidence

so that by her prayers

we may come to know your eternal glory.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 66:10-14c; 1John 4:7-16; Gospel - Matthew 11:25-30 or 18:1-4.

Texts taken from the “Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours,”

Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome: 1993.

Image courtesy of the Carmelnet webmaster, USA.