St. Therese of Lisieux

A long time ago, in France, there lived a little girl named Thérèse Martin. She was born in 1873 and was the youngest in her big, loving family. Her family loved Jesus very much and prayed together often.

When Thérèse was only four years old, her mother died, and she was very sad. Her big sister Pauline helped take care of her and became like a “second mother.” Thérèse loved her family deeply and prayed to Our Blessed Mother Mary when she was scared or sad. One day, when Thérèse was very sick, she looked at a statue of Mary and prayed. The statue seemed to smile at her—and right away, she felt better!

Thérèse loved flowers and liked to look at all the different kinds in the garden. She saw that some flowers were big and fancy, like roses and lilies, and others were small and simple, like daisies and violets. She realized that God made every flower special, and He loves them all—big or small!

Thérèse thought people are like flowers too. Some are famous and do great big things for God, and others do small things quietly. Thérèse wanted to do small things with great love, just for Jesus. She called this her “Little Way.”

When she grew up, Thérèse wanted to be a nun and live in a convent with her sisters who had already joined. Even though she was only 15, she begged to be allowed to enter. She even asked the Pope for permission! Finally, she was allowed to become a Carmelite nun in Lisieux, France.

In the convent, Thérèse was gentle and kind. She helped the other sisters, even when they weren’t kind to her. She smiled, prayed, and did her chores with love for Jesus. She believed that even a small smile or kind word could make God happy if it was done with love.

Thérèse got very sick when she was still young. She offered her sickness and pain to Jesus, praying for missionaries and for people to know God’s love. Before she died, she said,

“I will spend my Heaven doing good on Earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”

Now, people all over the world call her “The Little Flower” and remember her for her love, her gentleness, and her “Little Way” of doing small things for God with a big heart.

Saint Thérèse shows us that we don’t have to do big, fancy things to be holy. We just need to love Jesus in every little thing we do—every smile, every prayer, and every act of kindness.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, pray for us!