Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Therese of Lisieux, is one of the most beloved and venerated saints by Catholics around the world.
A Short Life… But Immense in the Eyes of God
St. Therese was born in Alençon, France, on January 2, 1873, into a profoundly Christian family. From a young age, she demonstrated a sensitive heart and an ardent desire to please God in all things. At the age of 15, after insisting with audacity and faith, she entered the Carmel of Lisieux, where she lived until she died in 1897.
She died very young, at the age of 24, without ever leaving the convent. However, her spiritual teaching has reached the ends of the world. The “spiritual little way” that she taught —living with humility, trust, and abandonment in the love of God —became a simple yet profoundly effective way for all those who wish to be saints in the midst of the ordinary. Therefore, in 1997, she was declared Doctor of the Church by St. John Paul II.
The story of Saint Therese is not one of great external feats, but of a life devoted to God until her last breath, living with radical fidelity each small act of love, sacrifice, and prayer. Her example is proof that we can all aspire to holiness, even if our circumstances seem ordinary.
You can use the Catholic Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. It will surely help you! Download it now.
Saint Therese’s Love for the Eucharist and the Holy Mass
One of the great spiritual treasures of St. Therese was her love for the Eucharist. From a very young age, she prepared with fervor for her First Communion and then, already in the convent, the Holy Mass and daily Communion became the center of her day. She understood that in each Mass she could unite herself to the sacrifice of Jesus and offer everything she experienced: joys, weariness, prayers, sufferings.
Among her authentic quotes about the Eucharist we find this plea full of confidence:
“Communicate frequently, very often… There you have the only remedy if you want to be healed. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart in vain.”
For St. Therese, communion was indispensable: a source of strength and remedy for the soul.
St. Therese and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Although her convent did not have perpetual adoration, St. Therese of the Child Jesus used to visit the tabernacle whenever she could. She felt that Jesus in the Eucharist was her refuge, her strength, and her joy. In her autobiographical pages, she describes how she liked to remain in silence before the tabernacle, accompanying Jesus with love and simplicity.
Some quotes from her writings about her love for the Eucharist are:
“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone? He burns with the desire to enter your heart… do not listen to the devil; laugh at him and go without fear to receive Jesus, the one of peace and love.”
“The Guest of our soul knows our misery; He comes to find an empty tent in us, that is all He asks.”
These words reflect the intensity of her faith and the simplicity of her trust. For St. Therese, Jesus was not looking for greatness, but for an open soul willing to receive Him.
St. Therese’s Quotes on the Holy Mass and the Eucharist
Throughout her writings, St. Therese left beautiful reflections that continue to inspire thousands of people today to live the Mass with more depth and love. These are some of her quotes in her texts and writings:
“How I loved the feasts!… I especially liked the processions in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. What a joy for me to throw flowers at the feet of God!… I was never so happy as when I saw my roses touch the Sacred Custody.”
“It is not to remain in a golden ciborium that He comes down from heaven every day, but to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He is pleased.”
“You must open a little, or rather raise your corolla high, so that the Bread of Angels may come like divine dew to strengthen you, and to give you everything you lack.”
These phrases reveal the profoundly Eucharistic heart of St. Therese: a love that does not require grand gestures, but rather simplicity and trust.
- You may be interested in: 100 Saint Quotes about the Catholic Mass
Prayer to St. Therese of the Child Jesus
O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family,
I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God.
Holy Mother Church proclaims you “Prodigy of Miracles… the greatest saint of Modern Times.”
Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition
(mention in silence here)
and to carry out your promises of spending heaven doing good on earth… of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses.
Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence.St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea “to be made known everywhere” and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.
Amen.
Conclusion: St. Therese and our path to holiness
St. Therese of the Child Jesus shows us that holiness does not consist in doing great things, but in doing everything, even the smallest thing, with love. Her example is especially powerful for those who live an ordinary life, at home, at work, or in the midst of illnesses and limitations. She demonstrates that we can all be saints if we live each moment with faith and love.
If you want to get closer to Jesus as St. Therese did, start with the simplest thing: go to Mass with an open heart, receive Communion with faith, visit Jesus in the tabernacle, and offer Him your life with confidence.
And if you don’t know where there is Mass or Adoration near you, remember that you can use the Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with schedules for Mass, Confession, and Adoration in your city or anywhere in the world. St. Therese would be happy to help you get closer to Jesus! It will surely help you! Download it now.
Who was St Therese of the Child Jesus?
St. Therese was a French Carmelite who lived between 1873 and 1897. She is known for her “little way” of trust and love in the ordinary, and was declared a Doctor of the Church by St. John Paul II in 1997.
What did St Therese teach with her “little way”?
The “little way” consists of living each daily act with humility, trust, and love for God. For St. Therese, holiness is within everyone’s reach, even in the simplest things.
Why is St Therese a Doctor of the Church?
St. Therese was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church because her simple and profound spirituality illuminates the entire Church. Her writings, such as Story of a Soul, show a path of holiness valid for all times.
What Did St Therese Say about Holy Mass and the Eucharist?
Saint Therese expressed a great love for the Eucharist, stating that Jesus descends from heaven not to remain in a golden ciborium, but to dwell in the soul. For her, Communion was an indispensable remedy for the heart.
What Prayers Can be Offered to Saint Therese?
You can pray the traditional prayer to Saint Therese, asking for her intercession to grow in trust and love. Many faithful also pray with devotion to ask her for graces through her spiritual “roses.”
What Miracles are Attributed to the Intercession of Saint Therese?
Thousands of people around the world have reported graces received through the intercession of Saint Thérèse, especially signs in the form of roses. These favors made her well-known as the “saint of roses.”
How Did Saint Therese Experience Her Illness?
Suffering from tuberculosis, Saint Therese offered her sufferings with love and trust in God. She lived her pain as part of her union with Christ crucified.
What Was Saint Therese's Relationship with the Devotion to Roses?
She promised to make “roses rain down” from heaven, as a symbol of the graces she would grant after her death. Since then, roses have become a sign of her intercession.
What Does the “Little Way” of Saint Therese Mean?
It is a simple path to holiness based on abandonment and trust in God. St Therese called it her “little way” because she saw it as accessible to everyone, not just the great saints.
How Can I Ask for the Intercession of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in My Daily Life?
You can do this by praying with simplicity, asking her to help you live your day with love and trust in God. You can also turn to her traditional prayers or visit a shrine dedicated to her.
