Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- Feast
- 1 October
- Patron of
- missionaries, France, florists and the sick
Thérèse Martin was born in Alençon in 1873, the youngest daughter of Louis and Zélie Martin, both now saints themselves. She entered the Carmel at Lisieux at fifteen, having asked Pope Leo XIII in person to let her in early. She never left the convent again, and died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of twenty-four.
Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, set out her "little way": doing small things with great love and trusting God like a child. "My vocation is love," she wrote. She was named a Doctor of the Church in 1997. Painters show her in the Carmelite habit, holding a crucifix and an armful of roses.
Thérèse is often chosen by girls at confirmation, and by anyone who feels too ordinary for great things. She showed that a hidden life of small kindnesses, given with love, can be a whole road to holiness.
The print of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux?
The feast of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is kept on 1 October.
What is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux the patron saint of?
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is the patron saint of missionaries, France, florists and the sick.
Is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux a good confirmation saint?
Thérèse is often chosen by girls at confirmation, and by anyone who feels too ordinary for great things. She showed that a hidden life of small kindnesses, given with love, can be a whole road to holiness.
Is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux the patron saint of people named Thérèse?
Yes. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is the traditional name saint for anyone called Thérèse, Therese and Theresa, and the feast on 1 October is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours