Saint of the Day for 1 October: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
The saint of the little ones: a path to holiness for all
Name
Marie-Françoise Thérèse Martin
Title
Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Birth
3 January 1873, Alençon
Death
30 September 1897, Lisieux
Recurrence
01 October
Martyrology
2004 edition
Beatification
29 April 1923, Rome, Pope Pius XI
Canonisation
17 May 1925, Rome, Pope Pius XI
Prayer
O St. Therese, dear little flower of Jesus, for the ineffable sweetnesses of divine childhood, reserve for us too your mystical roses, spread your smiles over all men, which remind us of the immense goodness of God and the eternal joy of the Cycle where by Intercession we hope to be united and sing with you the divine mercies. O most glorious St Therese of the Child Jesus pray for us.
Patron Saint of
Pescate
Protector of
Aviators, florists, aids sufferers, tuberculosis patients, missionaries, orphans
Roman Martyrology
Memory of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and Doctor of the Church: She entered the Carmelite convent of Lisieux in France while still an adolescent, and became, through purity and simplicity of life, a teacher of holiness in Christ, teaching the way of spiritual childhood to reach Christian perfection and placing all mystical solicitude at the service of the salvation of souls and the growth of the Church. She ended her life on 30th September, at the age of twenty-five.
The Saint and Mission
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, often recognised as the Saint of the little way, offers us an intense meditation on the nature of Christian mission. Her existence, although short and spent in seclusion, was a vibrant ode to evangelical mission, lived through simplicity and humility. Mission, as St Teresa teaches us, does not always require grand gestures or a world stage. Her ‘little way’ shows us that mission can be lived in the everyday, in silent and constant love, in humble and discreet service. Her life represents a profound dialogue with the divine, a continuous search for holiness through daily dedication and love. St. Teresa’s mission was embodied in her aspiration to be ‘love in the heart of the Church’. She ardently desired and was willing to perform every small gesture with love, to honour God and serve humanity. This attitude of loving dedication and unconditional service delineated her mission, a mission that resonated with a deep echo despite its apparent simplicity. In the cloistered context, Thérèse of Lisieux found fertile ground for a mission of prayer, offering her suffering and daily actions for the good of the Church and the world. Her mission was imbued with a profound understanding of God’s presence in every moment of life, and a total willingness to serve with humility and love. Her mission extended beyond the confines of the convent through her writing and prayers. Her words, full of gentle wisdom and deep spirituality, touched the hearts of many, guiding the faithful around the world along the ‘little way’ to deep union with God. Teresa illuminated the mission as a journey of love, an inner journey expressed in a life of humble service and total dedication. The life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminds us that mission can be discovered and lived in every corner of life, regardless of external circumstances. Here mission is revealed not only as an external activity, but as a commitment of the heart, a burning desire to live in deep communion with God and to serve others with a simple but profound love. In this way, St. Thérèse of Lisieux offers us a renewed and inspiring vision of Christian mission, one that resonates with a gentle urgency in our tumultuous world.
The Saint and Mercy
St Therese of Lisieux embodied a profound dimension of mercy in her spiritual journey. Her life and writings continue to be a palpable testimony of divine mercy, which manifests itself through simplicity, humility and unconditional love. Mercy, in St. Teresa’s thought and life, is the very essence of God’s love, a love that welcomes every soul with gentleness and understanding, regardless of its frailty and sinfulness. Teresa had the profound insight that God’s mercy is not just a response to our failures, but is the life force that invites us to grow towards holiness. Furthermore, St Teresa teaches us that mercy is not just something we receive, but is also something we are called to live and reflect in our relationships with others. In her cloistered life, she exemplified how every small act of kindness, every gesture of understanding, every word of comfort, are manifestations of the mercy that flows from the heart of God through our hearts to the hearts of others. St Teresa had a particular fondness for the image of Jesus’ merciful face. She saw Jesus not as a harsh judge, but as a loving and merciful friend who welcomes every repentant soul with joy and love. This vision of Jesus’ merciful face enabled her to approach God with confidence, even in times of trial and desolation. Mercy, in Teresa’s spirituality, is also manifested in her ‘little way’, which is an invitation to accept our littleness and frailty with love, and to place our trust in God’s infinite mercy, rather than in our own abilities. St Teresa, through her life, testified that God’s mercy is an inexhaustible source of hope and spiritual renewal. The depth with which St Teresa lived and reflected on divine mercy continues to be a light for many who seek to deepen their understanding of the mystery of God’s merciful love. Her ability to find joy and meaning even in the challenges and sufferings of life invites us to see God’s mercy in every circumstance of our existence. The life and teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux remain a profound and moving reminder of mercy as the beating heart of the Gospel message and a transforming force in our lives and communities. Through her ‘little way’ of love and trust, St. Thérèse continues to guide us towards a deeper understanding and experience of God’s mercy, inviting us to become, in turn, faces of mercy in a world that is so much in need of love, understanding and forgiveness.
Hagiography
On 2 January 1873, around midnight, the home of Joseph Stanislaus Martin and Zelie Guerin was brightened up by a new, fragrant little flower: Maria Theresa, who joined the bouquet of flowers of those lucky parents. The little girl grew up delicate, lively and graceful, beautiful to her…