St. Therese - Patroness of the Missions

St. Therese of Lisiuex (1873-1897) Although it was her  desire to travel to mission lands, she never realized the ambition because of her frail health... She lived her life within the walls of the Carmelite cloister, never holding major responsibilities, but performing her simple routine with extraordinary faithfulness, joy and love.  Very few people would have recognized the depth of her interior life, had she not written her spiritual autobiography, “The Story of a Soul”, at the request of her prioress.  In this she says, “I have a vocation to be an apostle. I would like to travel the whole world to preach…one mission alone is not sufficient for me. I would like to preach the Gospel on all five continents at one time.”  The publication of this work after her death made Therese world famous.  Her book stresses a spirituality of “The Little Way.” Therese is also known as “The Little Flower.” Her simple yet profound understanding of the Gospel message has inspired millions to offer the smallest of acts as a pleasing gift to God. Her joyful approach to life was not dulled even by the painful condition of tuberculosis which took her life at the early age of 24.  In 1927 Pius XI, declared  St Francis Xavier Patron and St. Therese “Patroness of the World Missions.”