St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus or The Little Flower, is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church today.

Born in France in 1873, she entered the Carmelite convent at the young age of 15. Although she lived only 24 years, her simple but profound way of holiness touched millions of people around the world.

The “Little Way”

St. Thérèse is famous for her “Little Way” — a spiritual path for ordinary people. She believed that we don’t need to do great things to please God. Instead, we can offer Him small daily acts with great love: washing dishes, smiling at someone difficult, doing our work well, or enduring small sufferings with patience.

She said:

> “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.”

Patron Saint

In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, a great honor given to very few saints. She is the patron saint of:

- Missions

- Florists

- People suffering from tuberculosis

- Those who feel spiritually small or weak

Her autobiography, “Story of a Soul”, is one of the most widely read spiritual books in the world.