Grace and Space

A Carmelite of Lisieux, better known as the Little Flower of Jesus, she was born at Alencon, France on January 2, 1873. She was the ninth child of pious parents, Louis and Zélie Martin, both of whom had wished to consecrate their lives to God as religious. The vocation denied to them was given to their children instead; five of whom became religious (one to the Visitation Order and four in the Carmelite Convent of Lisieux). Thérèse’s vocation manifested itself when she was still a child, for at the age of 15, she already entered the Carmel with the permission of the Pope. St. Thérèse spent 11 years as religious, where she showed her love for God in all the details of her simple life in the convent. Sanctity for her is best achieved when we put our love in everything we do. Her autobiography, “The Story of My Soul,” reveals the intensity of her relationship with Jesus who in one conversation with her, revealed his name as “Jesus of Thérèse.” Her great desire was to go for missions and prayed a lot for all missionaries. That’s why, she was declared Patroness of missions and missionaries. She died on September 30, 1897 in Lisieux.

 Novena to St. Theres of the Child Jesus