Living on Love by St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower

Therese Martin was born to Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin on January 2, 1873. At the age of 15, she entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux, France. With the religious name of Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, she lived a hidden life of prayer. She was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and darkness, she remained faithful, rooted in God's powerful love. She died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. The world came to know her through her autobiography, "The Story of a Soul." She described her life as "a little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with unshakable confidence in God's love. What matters is, "not great deeds, but great love." The inspiration of her life and her powerful presence from heaven touched so many people that sh was solemnly canonized on May 17, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Had she lived, she would've only been 52 years old at the time of her canonization. In 1997, St. Therese was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. "My mission -- to make God loved -- will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." Countless lives have been touched by her intercession, and millions have imitated her "little way." She has been acclaimed the "greatest saint of modern times." Everywhere in the world, her roses continue to fall. "I will let fall from heaven a shower of roses." --St. Therese, The Little Flower. Biographic Synopsis copied from a prayer card called "St Therese of the Child Jesus," published by the Society of the Little Flower and The Monastery of Mt. Carmel. Here's an excellent website about St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Therese The Little Flower). http://www.thereseoflisieux.org/