In 2023, the anniversaries of five important figures in Catholicism were commemorated; among them was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, whose 150th birth anniversary was celebrated (January 2, 1873).
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux at the Turin Book Fair
Even the Turin Book Fair wanted to include Saint Thérèse among its featured figures: UELCI - the Union of Italian Catholic Publishers and Booksellers - organized several events together with the Archdiocese of Turin to introduce people to Saint Thérèse and other figures who have left an indelible mark on the Church.
The writer and journalist Carola Susani and the archbishop and theologian Roberto Repole will focus on Thérèse of Lisieux, the gentle “warrior” who defeated herself on May 18 in Sala Azzurra with the event: «To love means to surpass oneself. Thérèse of Lisieux. The gentle warrior who defeated herself».
Pope Francis's love for Thérèse of Lisieux
«When I travel, I take it with me. And what is inside? There’s a razor, a breviary, a diary, and a book to read - I brought one about Saint Thérèse, to whom I am devoted.» Referring to his black bag, Pope Francis said these words, which testify to his love for Thérèse of Lisieux. During an interview, a journalist from Paris Match magazine asked him: «Why do you, an Argentine, have such devotion to one of our most popular saints, Thérèse of Lisieux?»
Pope Francis replied: «She is one of the saints who speaks to us most profoundly about God's grace and how God takes care of us, takes us by the hand, and enables us to climb the mountain of life with ease if only we surrender ourselves completely to him and let ourselves be “carried” by him. I also like her words against the “spirit of curiosity” and gossip.»
I often ask her, who simply allowed herself to be supported and carried by the Lord’s hand, to take into her hands a problem I am facing, an issue whose outcome I do not know, or a journey I have to undertake. And I ask her, if she agrees to watch over it and take responsibility for it, to send me a rose as a sign. Many times, I then happen to receive one.”
The paradox: a life in the shadows and worldwide fame after death
Teresa of Lisieux’s short life unfolded in the shadows, far from the world’s clamor: as a Carmelite nun, she lived a spirituality also known as the theology of the “little way.”
What does it consist of? In seeking holiness not through great deeds but through those small everyday gestures and acts, even the most insignificant, provided they are performed out of love for God.
This phrase conveys the depth of her spirituality: “It is enough to pick up a pin from the ground with love to save a soul.”
After Teresa’s death, people began talking about her in France and then throughout the world: her testimony moved intellectuals and awakened the faith of ordinary people.
Why is Saint Teresa of Lisieux so well known?
The young nun left her memoirs, thoughts, reflections, and spiritual crises, collected in diaries that her sister Pauline, who became Mother Agnes, published after Teresa’s death. The first publication of Story of a Soul, which would become a worldwide best-seller and a classic of Christian spirituality, dates back to 1898. Story of a Soul is not merely a religious text; it also contains poems, plays, letters, and prayers that recount the spiritual journey of an extraordinary soul.
Saint Thérèse also composed eight theatrical works, which she personally staged in the Carmelite convent’s theater, taking care herself not only of the set design but also of the costumes, sometimes appearing as the lead character.
Teresa, a little great saint, who still teaches us today that the way to heaven is made up of simple steps... they just need to be “seasoned” with lots of love!
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