Meet St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Photo by Pascal Deloche / Godong) St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Thérèse of Liseux and St. Thérèse of the Little Flower, is the patron of missions. Reflecting on her story, Pope Francis wrote a special apostolic exhortation for her 150th birthday last year.

In his message, he wrote: “St. Thérèse is one of the best known and most beloved saints in our world. Like St. Francis of Assisi, she is loved by non-Christians and nonbelievers as well. The earthly life of St. Thérèse was brief, a mere 24 years, and completely ordinary, first in her family and then in the Carmel of Lisieux.

The extraordinary burst of light and love that she radiated came to be known soon after her death, with the publication of her writings and thanks to the countless graces bestowed on the faithful who invoked her intercession.

Thérèse, for her part, wished to highlight the primacy of God’s action; she encourages us to have complete confidence as we contemplate the love of Christ poured out to the end. At the heart of her teaching is the realization that since we are incapable of being certain about ourselves, we cannot be sure of our merits. It is most fitting, then, that we should place heartfelt trust not in ourselves but in the infinite mercy of a God who loves us unconditionally and has already given us everything in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Thérèse does tell us of certain moments of grace experienced amid the simplicity of daily life, like the sudden insight she had when accompanying a sick and somewhat irascible sister. Even so, those experiences of a more intense charity came about in the most ordinary ways.

A century and a half after her birth, Thérèse is more alive than ever in the pilgrim Church, in the heart of God’s people. She accompanies us on our pilgrim way, doing good on Earth as she had so greatly desired.

The most lovely signs of her spiritual vitality are the innumerable “roses” that Thérèse continues to strew: the graces God grants us through her loving intercession in order to sustain us on our journey through life.”