Patron Saint Theresa of Lisieux

St. Theresa the Little Flower lived between 1873 and 1897. She was a Carmelite nun who lived a life of childlike holiness and prayer. St. Theresa wrote her memoires so all believers could find a path to Jesus, just as she had. She died at the age of twenty-four from tuberculosis and in her short life she had visions of the Blessed Virgin and the Baby Jesus.

St. Theresa of Lisieux is the patron saint of many causes. The following are just a few of the many patronages of St. Theresa.

* African missions
* Against bodily ills
* Against sickness
* AIDS patients
* Air crews
* Aircraft pilots
* Australia
* Aviators
* Black missions
* Florists
* Flower growers
* Loss of parents
* Missionaries
* Russia
* Tuberculosis

Many Catholics who have St. Theresa as a patron saint wear a St. Theresa medal or a St. Theresa necklace in remembrance of this young saint. Wearing a St. Theresa pendant reminds them to live a life of simplicity and love with Jesus Christ.

Poem by St. Theresa of Lisieux

My Song of Today
Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee -
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile
tenderly on me,

Today, dear Lord, today.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings -
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,

But only for today!

O sweetest Star of heaven!
O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! 'neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,

For this brief passing day!

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,

The eternal, glad today!