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St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Feast Day: October 3

Marie-Françoise Martin was born at Alençon (France) of parents most pious and endowed with a comfortable amount of the goods of this world.  At the age of fifteen she entered the Carmel of Liseux, living there in holiness and humility.  Her whole ambition was to love God perfectly and to conquer souls for Jesus.  She died in the odor of sanctity, promising to "spend her heaven in doing good upon earth" (1873-1897).  His Holiness Pope Pius XI declared her Blessed on the 29th of April 1923, and canonized her on the 17th of March 1925.

When Pope John Paul II proclaimed St. Theresa of Liseux Doctor of the Church on October 19, 1997, she became the 33rd person, and the third woman, to be honored with this title.

Updated Wednesday, March 12, 2003