St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Virgin & Doctor of the Church

Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin was born in France to Ss. Louis and Zélie Martin in the year of Our Lord 1873. Before their marriage Louis and Zélie had unsuccessfully pursued vocations; several of their children entered religious life themselves. Marie was taught by Benedictines, but applied to the Carmelites at age fifteen after receiving a vision of the Child Jesus. She was denied due to her age, so she traveled to Rome with her father to seek the permission of Pope Leo XIII himself. The Pope deferred to the Carmelite superior, who finally relented. At seventeen Marie took her final vows, and the name “Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,” which reflected her Carmelite devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. Though her spirituality is known simply as the “Little Way”, Thérèse was deeply devoted to the strict mortifications of her order. She also battled both illness and profound spiritual darkness. Having chronicled her life and thoughts, as ordered by her superior, the “Little Flower of Jesus” succumbed to an extremely painful death from tuberculosis at the young age of twenty-four. She was declared a Doctor of the Church in the year of Our Lord 1997, and is also celebrated on October 1st.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for October 3rd

AT Rome, near the spot called Ursus Pileatus, St. Candidus, martyr.

The same day the holy martyrs Denis, Faustus, Cains, Peter, Paul, and four others, who suffered much under Decius; and under Valerian, being a long time subjected to torments by the governor AEmilian, merited the palm of martyrdom.

Among the ancient Saxons (in Westphalia), two holy martyrs of the name of Ewaldus, who being priests and preaching Christ in that country, were seized by the Pagans and put to death. During the night a great light appeared for a long time over their bodies, showing where they were, and how distinguished were their merits.

In Africa, St. Maximian, bishop of Bagay, who, after having frequently endured great cruelties from the Donatists, was finally cast headlong from a high tower, and left for dead. Illustrious by a glorious confession, he afterwards rested in the Lord.

In Palestine, St. Hesychius, confessor, disciple of St. Hilarion, and the companion of his travels.

In Belgium, in the diocese of Namur, St. Gerard, abbot.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.