Thérèse of Lisieux

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) or the “Little Flower of Jesus” was the youngest of five girls. Quite spoiled at first, she was also drawn to prayer as a child. With special permission, she joined the Carmelite convent of Catholic nuns at Lisieux at fifteen. Accepting failing health and the end of her dream of becoming a missionary, Thérèse developed a “Little Way,” a spirituality of embracing the challenges and events of everyday life for the love of God. Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, was a bestseller soon after her death at twenty-four. Thérèse was canonized in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997.