Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

Cheerfulness and transparency together with an original wisdom and strength are some traits of this young and popular saint of Carmel. Therese Martin was born on January 2, 1873 in Aleócon, France. A few years later the family moved to Lisieux upon the death of the mother when Therese was on four years old.

In April of 1888 she entered the Carmel of Lisieux "only for Jesus." Her two older sisters had already entered there. The Franciscan priest Alexis Prou launched her "full sail on the waves of confidence of love." At eighteen years of age she discovered the fascinating teachings of St. John of the Cross. But above all, her spiritual nourishment was the Word of God, especially the Gospels. The malady of her father around this time was a cause of great moral sufferings.

Always mindful of the missions, the collection of her letters with her two spiritual brothers who were missionaries, Maurice Bullière and Adolphe Roulland, put her in contact with the exceptional dimension of the evangelizing Church. The missionary awareness was strengthened by the knowledge of the possibility that she might be sent to the Carmel in Saigon and Hanoi in Vietnam, a prospect that was never realized due to her illness. From her own interior life and as the assistant to the Novice Mistress she acquired an admirable experience of how Jesus communicates directly to souls. Feeling the attraction of various vocations, charity gave to her the key to her contemplative vocation in the Church: "In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I shall be Love... and thus I shall be everything." (Ms B v3)

The great discovery of her life was that God is merciful love and that He is approached by confidence and simplicity while remaining always in humility and spiritual poverty.

By Easter of 1896 a grave and mortal illness was manifested. At the same time, she entered into a devastating spiritual night which lasted until her death. Learning from her own experience, sshe comprehended the antheists for whom she now felt doubtly a sister. In the infirmary of the convent of her Sister Agnes of Jesus began to write down the words and observations of the sick and dying Therese. These constitute the Last Convfersations. In the afternoon of September 30, 1897 she dies with the words: "My God, I love you."

The Story of a Soul or Autobiographical Manuscripts is the most read religious book after the Bible in the 20th century. It was the origin of numerous religious and priestly vocations and many conversions. Also important are the letters, poems, plays for convent recreations and prayers. Authentic photographs of her are also printed.

She was called the "greatest saint of modern times" by Pope Pius XI considered her "the star of my pontificate,"and he canonized her on May 25, 1925. On Deccember 14, 1927 he proclaimed her the universal patron of the Missions. With the Papal Bull "Divini Amoris Scientia" on October 19, 1997 Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a Doctor of the Church.