The Life of St Thérèse 1873-1897
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Patroness of all Missionaries and the Missions, Patroness of France and Doctor of the Church was born in Alençon on 2 January 1873 the last of nine children born to Louis and Zélie Martin. She was christened Marie-Françoise-Thérèse. Four of the children died before Thérèse was born – Joseph Louis, Joseph-Jean-Baptiste and Mélanie-Thérèse died in infancy and Hélène died when she was five. Thérèse and three of her surviving sisters Marie, Pauline and Céline became Carmelite nuns in Lisieux in Normandy a geographical region in the north-west of France. Her fourth sister Léonie entered the Visitantine Convent in Caen also in Normandy.
Her parents Louis and Zélie were beatified in 2008. They will be canonised in October 2015. The Cause of the Beatification and Canonisation of her sister Léonie – the Servant of God Sr Françoise-Thérèse was announced by the Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux on 2 July 2015. read more…