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Therese Martin

Origin: Alençon, France
(January 2, 1873 - September 30, 1897)

Heroic Values: Caring, Faith, Humility, Integrity, Selflessness, Tolerance, Vision, Wisdom

Background

Thérèse Martin was born the ninth child, but was only one of five to reach adulthood due to tuberculosis in the family. She showed a strong interest in the church from a young age, particularly the Carmelite order of nuns. Entering the order was not allowed until the age of 15, so she was forced to wait.

Thérèse quickly became known for her "little way" in which she believed she could show her appreciation for God in small ways, without having to perform large deeds. She also claimed the child's way of perceiving things and praising God were the true way - saying children or those who were childlike would be the ones admitted to Heaven. Her teachings were written in her autobiography, "The Story of a Soul."

Thérèse died at age 24 due to tuberculosis. She was beatified 28 years after her death, instead of the usual minimum of 50 years. She was canonized two years later and is now St. Thérèse. People suffering often pray to St. Thérèse and she is associated with roses.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

The Story of a Soul
The transcript at Project Gutenburg

The Society of the Little Flower
A tribute to St. Thérèse

St. Therese.com
The official page