Saint Teresa, the patron saint from infectious diseases, said "We seek holiness through small daily actions"

Religious, mystic, playwright together with Catherine of Siena and Teresa of Avila, Saint Teresa, of Lisieux is considered the patroness of France together with Joan of Arc. She is also revered as the protector of those suffering from AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, as well as missions.

The young Teresa chose monastic seclusion and she died very young of tuberculosis, but his fame spread throughout the world. The Basilica of Lisieux, built in his memory, is the second most important pilgrimage site in France, after Lourdes. Pope Piusstar of his pontificate” and in 1997, John Paul II proclaimed it Doctor of the Church.

The world fame of Saint Therese is mainly due to hers memory collected in his diary and published by his sister Pauline, who became mother Agnese after his death. Her book “Story of a Soul” is not only a religious text, but also contains poems, plays, letters and prayers.

Entry into the Carmelite monastery of Lisieux with the name of Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, Saint Teresa realized that the monastic environment did not correspond to her expectations and that it was hostile, unspiritual and full of ugliness. She herself reformed that context in some way starting from herself.

Saint Teresa and the theology of the little way

The novelty of his spirituality, also called the theology of "little way“, consists in looking for the holiness not through great deeds, but through daily acts, even the most insignificant, performed for the love of God. After her death, the voice of this humble Carmelite spread throughout France and the rest of the world, fascinating intellectuals and arousing emotions and tenderness .

His request to the Pope to be able to enter convent at just 14 years old, during a pilgrimage to Rome in 1887, surprised the prelates present. Despite the cautious response of Pope Leo XIII, Teresa was admitted to the Carmel of Lisieux four months after, where two of his sisters had already entered. The Roman Martyrology describes her as a young woman who showed purity and simplicity of life, becoming a teacher of holiness in Christ and teaching the way of spiritual childhood to reach perfection Christian. Teresa died on September 30thage of 25 years.