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St. Therese of Lisieux - The Little Flower
Therese Martin was born in Alencon, France in 1873. At the age of 16, she entered the Carmel of Lisieux. She died at the age of 24. What at first glance seemed to be a short life, lived in almost total obscurity, is today seen as a full, rich walk with God. Just 27 years after her death, Pope Pius XI canonized her in 1925, as St. Therese of the Child Jesus and patroness of the missions. In 1997, Pope Pius II declared her a "Doctor of the Church." Today she is known and loved universally as The Little Flower.
In life, St. Therese chose to seek God by her own "Little Way". From her early childhood, Therese had desired to become a saint, but she was deeply aware that her own efforts were insufficient. By constantly reminding herself of God's presence and love, she offered all the "little things" that made up her daily life, from morning prayers, to washing clothes, to greeting friends, for His honor and glory. All this she did quietly and gently, for it was her wish in life to be as "obscure as a grain of sand". Her great mission would begin later, for she said, "After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my time in heaven doing good upon the earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved."
Therese saw that her path was to seek God through humility, confidence in His love, and abandonment to His care. She thought of her way as a spiritual childhood and holiness in little things. Now, St. Therese of Lisieux, the patroness of our school, reminds parents, faculty, and students of their responsibility to maintain a Christ-centered environment.
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