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1. THÉRÈSE’S BAPTISM

Thérèse, born in Alençon on 2 January 1873, is baptized two days later at Notre-Dame church. Her sister Marie, eldest daughter of the family, 13 years old, is her godmother; Paul-Albert Boul, a boy of about the same age, is her godfather.

2. THE LITTLE ROSE

Unable to breastfeed her own infant girl, Zélie Martin entrusts Thérèse to a wet nurse, Rose Taillé, who lives with her family in Sémallé, on a small farm a few kilometres from Alençon.

3. ALENÇON

After turning one year old, little Thérèse returns home to Alençon where her father, Louis Martin, and mother Zélie live, together with her four older sisters: Marie, Pauline, Léonie and Céline. In this same house, Zélie makes lace.

4. SURROUNDED BY LOVE

“God was pleased all through my life to surround me with love, and the first memories I have are stamped with smiles and the most tender caresses…”

5. ZÉLIE’S DEATH

On 28 August 1877, Zélie died from breast cancer. Thérèse throws herself into the arms of her sister Pauline whom she chooses as a second mother.

6. LES BUISSONNETS

During the month of November 1877, Thérèse, her sisters and father move to the home Les Buissonnets in Lisieux, to be closer to their uncle and aunt, Isidore and Céline Guérin, who live in this city.

7. IN HEAVEN

One winter night, returning home with her father, upon passing through the public garden, Thérèse notices a group of stars which form a “T” (in the Orion constellation): she sees that her name is written in heaven.

8. THROWING FLOWERS

As a small girl, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Thérèse loves participating in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament and tossing flower petals in the path of the holy monstrance.

9. THE SMILE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

After Pauline, her second mother, enters the Carmel (October 1882), Thérèse falls terribly ill. She is healed on 13 May 1883 when she sees the smile of the blessed Virgin Mary.

10. FIRST COMMUNION

On 8 May 1884, Thérèse receives her First Communion in the abbey chapel of the Benedictine Sisters in Lisieux where she goes to school.

11. HIDDEN PRAYER

Thérèse loves to hide behind her bed curtain in order “to reflect”: later, she understands that she had already learnt to pray without knowing what she did!

12. THE “STAR GARDEN”

The Jardin de l’étoile, very close to Les Buissonnets, her family home, is a place where Thérèse loves to go: not to play, but to pick flowers.

13. PRANZINI’S CONVERSION

At 14 years of age, Thérèse wants to save souls through prayer, thus desiring to enter the Carmel. She heard about how Henri Pranzini received the death penalty for a triple-murder and she prays for his conversion. As he is about to mount the scaffold, he kisses the crucifix.

14. PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY

In November 1887, Louis Martin travels to Italy with his daughters Thérèse and Céline, on a beautiful pilgrimage including visits to many splendid places, like Venice. In Rome, during the papal audience given to their pilgrimage group, Thérèse meets Pope Leo XIII.

15. HER ENTRANCE INTO THE CARMEL

On 9 April 1888, her father and sisters accompany Thérèse, 15 years old, to the ­Carmel: she enters the convent forever.

16. TAKING HER HABIT

On 10 January 1889, Sister Thérèse, dressed as a bride, is to receive the habit of the Carmel. On that day, according to Thérese’s wish, it snows: the earth and Thérèse are both clothed in white!

17. THÉRÈSE AND JOAN OF ARC

Thérèse writes small theatre pieces for the feast days held amongst the sisters. Two of these are about Joan of Arc. Thérèse plays the main role; her sister Céline, who has also entered the Carmel, photographs the scene.

18. PRAYER IN THE CARMEL

Prayer holds a great place in the life of the Carmelites. Several times a day, the sisters gather in the choir for common prayer, or for personal silent prayer.

19. INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Summer 1897: Thérèse suffers from tuberculosis. She has been infected already for more than a year when, too spent, she is placed in the Carmel’s infirmary. When the weather is nice, she is brought out to the covered walkway.

20. THÉRÈSE’S DEATH

On 30 September 1897, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus dies. Her final words: “Oh! I love Him! My God, I love you…” One year after her death, her memoirs are published under the title, The Story of a Soul.

21. DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Thérèse is canonized saint on 17 May 1925. On 19 October 1997 in Rome, Pope John Paul II proclaims her the 33rd Doctor of the Church because of her “little way”, a spirituality of childlike simplicity.