{"id":42553,"date":"2025-01-22T20:35:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T20:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spiritours.com\/in-the-footsteps-of-saint-therese-of-lisieux\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T14:24:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T14:24:41","slug":"in-the-footsteps-of-saint-therese-of-lisieux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spiritours.com\/en\/in-the-footsteps-of-saint-therese-of-lisieux\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Footsteps of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of Lisieux"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In this article, Father R\u00e9jean Lessard, rector of the diocesan shrine of St. Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of the Child Jesus, shares with us the highlights of the life story of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of Lisieux.Dans cet article, l\u2019abb\u00e9 R\u00e9jean Lessard, recteur du sanctuaire dioc\u00e9sain de Ste-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se-de-l\u2019Enfant-J\u00e9sus, nous partage les points marquants de l\u2019histoire de sainte Th\u00e9r\u00e8se de Lisieux.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"Story of a Soul\" \u2013 The Spiritual Legacy of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of Lisieux<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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One year after the death of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of the Child Jesus, the prioress of the Carmel published a circular about her writings, which she entitled “Story of a Soul”. Many readers discovered in it a new way of living spirituality. <\/p>

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Th\u00e9r\u00e8se often quoted passages from the Word of God. The foundation of her writings was rooted in the Merciful Love of the Father. Many times, she referred to the parable of the Prodigal Son: the father welcoming back his child who had abruptly left the family home, and the father welcoming the elder son who grew angry at his father\u2019s joy in receiving his brother. <\/p>

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Here is an excerpt from her writings:
\u00abYes, I feel it; even if I had on my conscience all the sins one could possibly commit, I would, heart broken with sorrow, go and throw myself into the arms of Jesus, for I know how much He loves the prodigal child who returns to Him.<\/em>\u00bb MS C.<\/p>

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When this circular was read in the early 1900s, several thousand pilgrims went to the cemetery in Lisieux to pray there, asking for favors and healings.<\/p>

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Today, “Story of a Soul” has been translated into 50 languages, and thousands of pilgrims still travel to Lisieux for spiritual renewal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Family of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of Lisieux<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We might wonder: how did Th\u00e9r\u00e8se, in such a short life (1873\u20131897), come to fully grasp the Gospel message?<\/p>

First of all, she was born into a deeply Christian environment, sensitive to religious values. Her father, Louis Martin, and her mother, Z\u00e9lie Gu\u00e9rin, had both wanted to enter religious life, but the superiors of their communities encouraged them to remain in the secular world. <\/p>

They met, married in Alen\u00e7on, and had nine children, four of whom died at a young age. It was a painful marital and parental trial, but they entrusted their deceased children to God, believing they became angels watching over the family. <\/p>

The parents were devoted to daily Mass, praying the Rosary, visiting churches, attending Holy Hours, and making sacrifices during Lent. They were also professionally, socially, and communally engaged. Mr. Martin was a watchmaker, and Mrs. Gu\u00e9rin ran a lace-making business with 25 employees. <\/p>

A tragic event struck the family: the death of Mrs. Z\u00e9lie Gu\u00e9rin at age 46. Mr. Martin was left with five daughters. He moved to Lisieux to be near his brother-in-law and sister-in-law. <\/p>

Over time, two of Th\u00e9r\u00e8se\u2019s sisters, Marie and Pauline, entered the Carmel of Lisieux, while L\u00e9onie entered the Visitation convent in Caen.<\/p>

Louis Martin and Z\u00e9lie Gu\u00e9rin were beatified in Lisieux in 2008 and canonized in Rome in 2015. Their reliquary now rests in the Basilica of Lisieux. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Th\u00e9r\u00e8se\u2019s Entrance into the Carmel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At age 15, Th\u00e9r\u00e8se wanted to enter the Carmel. She asked her father on Pentecost Sunday, May 29, 1887, after returning home from Mass at Les Buissonnets. Special steps and permissions were required for her to be admitted. <\/p>

When Th\u00e9r\u00e8se met the prioress of the Carmel, she was asked to write down her reasons for entering. She gave two: <\/p>