Story of St Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
St Therese of Lisieux
Therese Martin died of tuberculosis on 30 September 1897, at the early age of twenty-four. Her last words before she died as she looked at her crucifix were an expression of her Faith and Love for God. "I am not dying," she said to the assembled Sisters in the Convent, "I am entering eternal life."
She was the youngest of nine children born to Zelie and Louis Martin in Alencon, Normandy, four of whom died in infancy. When Therese was 4 years old her mother died from cancer and the family moved to Lisieux, Zelie's hometown. At the early age of 15 with her father's permission and the reluctant agreement of the Convent, because of her age, Therese entered Carmel in 1888 where two of her sisters had already entered.
St Therese of Lisieux
For nine years she lived the ordinary life of a Carmelite Sister combining prayer, work and recreation. When she spoke about life and the loss of her mother, she was encouraged to write about these things. The writings in a simple copybook were published after her death under the title: The Story of a Soul.
She was canonized in 1925. The simplicity and profundity of Therese's approach to God and the things of the spirit, which she called her `little way', has influenced millions of people all over the world. She was made a Doctor of the Church in 1997.
"I will spend my heaven doing good on earth", was one of her sayings. When someone once said that "life is sad", she replied : "No, life is not sad; exile is sad. Life is a beautiful word, and we ought to keep it for the things that never die. "