Sainte Therese of the Jesus Child and Holy Face' , more known under the name Sainte Therese de Lisieux' is a Sœur Carmélite died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the 24 years age. Leaving a literary relation of its mystical experiments, she is canonized in 1925, then proclaimed holy owner secondary of France and Doctors of the Church.

A Life…

Therese Martin is born with 12 rue Saint-Blaise with Alençon the January 2nd 1873.

His/her father, Louis Martin (°1823- † 1894), is clock and watch maker and his mother, Zélie-Marie Guerin (°1831- † 1877), lacemaker of the point of Alençon. Both, of greatest piety, belong to the upper middle-class of Alençon. Louis would have liked to become canon in the congregation of the regular canons of the Grand Saint-Bernard (Valais - Suisse), but his ignorance of Latin prevented some. Zélie-Marie had wanted to enter to the convent, but it had been answered him that it did not have the vocation. Also she had promised herself, if she married, to give if possible all her children to the Church.

Louis and Zélie-Marie meet in 1858 and marry on July 13rd, while having decided to live like brother and sister in a perpetual continence. Their confessor while having dissuaded, they have nine children, but only five girls arrive at the adulthood. Therese is youngest; it is it which becomes in religion “Therese of the Child-Jesus and the Holy Face”. His/her four sisters all become also nuns:

• Marie, born the 2/22/1860, dead the 1/19/1940, Carmelite nun (Marie sister of the Sacred Heart).
• Pauline, born the 9/7/1861, dead the 7/28/1951, Carmelite nun (Mother Agnes of Jesus).
• Léonie, born the 6/3/1863, dead the 6/16/1941, Visitandine (Francoise-Therese sister).
• Celine, born the 4/28/1869, dead the 2/25/1959, Carmelite nun (Genevieve sister of the Holy Face).

At four years, Therese loses her mother carried by a breast cancer. The family settles then with Lisieux to approach the brother of Zélie, pharmacist Isidore Guerin. Its education is work, mainly, of the Bénédictines of Lisieux. After the entry of her older sister in the orders, Therese falls seriously sick. She passes close to dead but is saved, according to her, by the appearance of the Virgin who comes to smile to him.

At the fifteen years age, it becomes finally Carmélite, after having vainly tried earlier to obtain an exemption of Leon XIII than it had solicited directly at the time of a family voyage to Rome.

Six years later, in 1896, it is reached Tuberculose. At the same time, she suffers from dereliction (night of the faith) which she crossed “while throwing herself in the Love”.

She dies of tuberculosis with Lisieux the September 30th 1897 at 24 years, leaving an autobiography, the History of a heart , that his/her higher “Agnès mother” had asked him to write. She explains there what she calls the “small way”, a small way, according to her, any line to go to God, made humility and of absolute confidence in Its Mercy, a practicable way by all.

Recognition and canonization

With its death, it is quasi unknown. Its funerals are celebrated in the presence of small about thirty people. Very quickly however, its tomb becomes a place of pilgrimage.

During the introduction of its cause in Beatification, the the June 10th 1914, higher of its monastery expresses initially its surprise. Nevertheless, it is béatifiée the canonized April 29th 1923 and the May 17th 1925 by Pie XI which calls it the star of its pontificate . Its importance increases so quickly that it is necessary to find a solution with the reception of the pilgrims: one builds for this purpose immense the Basilique Holy-Therese de Lisieux starting from 1929.

Therese is proclaimed holy owner secondary of France in 1944 by Pie XII.

The October 19th 1997, Therese, owner of the Missions, is proclaimed Doctors of the Church by Jean-Paul II. In its apostolic letter Divini amoris scientia , it explains:

“In the writings of Therese de Lisieux, undoubtedly we do not find, as in other doctors, a scientifically organized presentation of the things of God, but we can discover there an enlightened testimony of the faith which, while accommodating of a love entrusting the miséricordieuse condescension of God and safety in Christ, reveals the mystery and the holiness of the Church. ”

The parents of holy Therese were declared “worthy” by Jean-Paul II on March 26th, 1994. Moreover, Therese said them that it had had parents “worthier of the Sky than of the ground”.

Monuments dedicated to Therese de Lisieux

Before even its canonization (1925), the first monuments dedicated to the small Therese were built.

In 1923, the P. Daniel BROTTIER which has just been appointed Directeur of the work of the Orphans Apprentices of Auteuil, decides the construction of a vault dedicated to the " Happy Therese of the Jésus" Child;. Happy Daniel Brottier is convinced to be protected by it during the Great War and that it kept it so that he deals with his children of Auteuil. Its conviction is reinforced when he learns that Therese requested already for the children of Auteuil before her death. It will be the " small mom of the children of Auteuil". The vault will be finished in record time and the mass will be celebrated there since 1925. It is the first sanctuary in France created and dedicated to co. Therese. Today still, within the Foundation of Auteuil (40 rue de J. Fountain, Paris 16th) it shelters relics of Holy Therese and is open all the year to the public.

About in same time, the college Saint-François-of - Dirty of Alençon the construction of a vault in the honor of holy Therese of the Child-Jesus undertakes. This vault is always within the school unit Saint-François the Dirty ones in Alençon, the birthplace of Therese.

The vault of Logelbach (Haut-Rhin), built in 1855 like vault deprived by the Herzog family, was dedicated in 1925 to holy Therese de Lisieux; of style neogothic, it is a counterpart of the Ste Chapelle of Paris and contains a relic of holy, embedded in the gate vault. Out of pink sandstone of the Vosges, construction is equipped with pinnacles, Gargouille S, stained glasses of Munich and beautiful woodworks.

Antoine Herzog, founder of the factories, were on the initiative of the construction of the building. The inauguration took place in 1865. The church was reserved to the owners until March 19th, 1893, date of opening to the public.

In Toulon the vault Saint Therese was built in 1938, it is still opened with the public.

In Metz, the church of the " news ville" in the shape of open Book to gather between its pages all the believers is dedicated to him. Started in 1934, it will be finished only after the war.

Random links:

Young fireman | Low clarinet | Papajohns.com Bowl | Station Galin (Tram of Bordeaux) | District of Ngorongoro