- Feast Day: October 1st
- Patron Saint of: Headache sufferers, Missions & Aviators
- France, 1873 – 1897
Saint Therese is often called “The Little Flower,” but where did this name originate? From Therese herself, who loved nature and often used its imagery to explain how the Divine Presence is everywhere. She is traditionally surrounded by roses in images, but this isn’t because she thought of herself as a rose in the garden of life. No, Therese fancied herself a small wild flower, The Little Flower; simple and hidden and blooming for the Lord! At age 15 Therese’s soulful desires were answered when she was accepted into a cloistered Carmelite convent, and there she spent her short life practicing her Little Way. That is, doing all tasks, big or small, with the utmost love and care, understanding that every thing she did she was doing for God.
When we feel our patience dwindling or need help being obedient to particularly dreary tasks, this simple prayer will remind us of the joy that Saint Therese’s lifestyle showered upon her and those around her, and help us ask for her intercession as we try to live her Little Way.
