Also
known as Francoise-Marie Therese Martin, Teresa of the Infant Jesus, the Little
Flower of Jesus, the Little Flower, Therese of the Child Jesus
Memorial 1 October Profile Born to a pious middle-class
French family of tradesmen; daughter of Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azelie
Guérin Martin, and all four of her sisters became nuns. Her mother died when Francoise-Marie
was only four, and the family moved to Lisieux, Normandy, France to be closer
to family. Cured from an illness at age eight when a statue of the Blessed Virgin
smiled at her. Educated by the Benedictine nuns of Notre-Dame-du-Pre. Confirmed
there at age eleven. Just before her 14th birthday she received a vision of the
Child Jesus; she immediately understood the great sacrifice that had been made
for her, and developed an unshakeable faith. Tried to join the Carmelites, but
was turned down due to her age. Pilgrim to Rome at for the Jubilee of Pope Leo
XIII whom she met and who knew of her desire to become a nun. Joined the Carmelites
at Lisieux on 9 April 1888 at age 15, taking her final vow on 8 September 1890
at age 17. Known by all for her complete devotion to spiritual development and
to the austerities of the Carmelite rule. Due to health
problems resulting from her ongoing fight with tuberculosis, her superiors ordered
her not to fast. Novice mistress at age 20. At age 22 she was ordered by her prioress
to begin writing her memories and ideas, which material would turn into the book
History of a Soul. Defined her path to God and holiness as The Little Way, which
consisted of child-like love and trust in God. She had an on-going correspondence
with Carmelite missionaries in China, often stating how much she wanted to come
work with them. Many miracles attributed to her. Declared a Doctor of the Church
in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. Born 2 January 1873 at Alcon,
Normandy, France as Francoise-Marie Therese Martin Died
7pm Thursday 30 September 1897 at Lisieux, France of tuberculosis Venerated
14 August 1921 by Pope Benedict XV Beatified 29 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI Canonized
17 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI Patronage African missions,
against bodily ills, against illness, against sickness ,AIDS patients ,air crews
,aircraft pilots, Anchorage, Alaska, archdiocese of ,Australia aviators ,Belgian
air crews ,black missions ,Cheyenne, Wyoming, diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska, diocese
of, florists, flower growers, foreign missions, (1927) France (1944 by Venerable
Pope Pius XII) Fresno, California, diocese of Juneau, Alaska, diocese of Kisumu,
Kenya, diocese of ,loss of parents, missionaries ,parish missions ,Pueblo, Colorado,
diocese of ,restoration of religious freedom in Russia, tuberculosis ,World Youth
Day Representation roses, Discalced Carmelite nun
holding a bunch of roses, nun with roses at her feet , nun holding cross of roses Back
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