One hundred years of the Little Way

At 14, gripped by a burning desire to enter Carmel, Thérèse Martin did what few would dare: she sought special permission, bypassing local authorities, and approached Pope Leo XIII during a pilgrimage to Rome. Kneeling before him, despite a rule prohibiting direct speech, she implored, “Holy Father, in honour of your jubilee, allow me to enter Carmel at the age of fifteen!” When the Pope gently deferred to her superiors, the young Thérèse, with saintly audacity, pressed her hands onto his knees for one final plea. This extraordinary act of what she later called “confidence and love” exemplifies the spirit of the Little Way that has inspired believers for over a century.

Celebrating the Feast and Centenary

On October 1, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, widely known as the Little Flower. This year is especially significant as it marks the 100th anniversary of her canonization. On May 17, 1925, Pope Pius XI officially declared her a saint, recognizing the extraordinary holiness of her short but luminous life. St. Thérèse continues to inspire the faithful not only through her life but through a spirituality that makes holiness attainable in ordinary, everyday life.

Early Life and Calling

Born in Alençon, France, on January 2, 1873, Thérèse Martin was the youngest of nine children in a devout family, though only five survived to adulthood. Her parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, nurtured a strong foundation of faith and love. Tragedy touched her early; her mother died when Thérèse was only four. Despite this loss, she developed remarkable sensitivity, piety, and a profound awareness of God’s presence. She entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at age 15, displaying early maturity and spiritual depth. She lived a life of prayer, service, and humility, yet suffered from illness, ultimately dying from tuberculosis at 24. Though her life was brief, her spiritual legacy has been monumental.

The “Little Way”: Spiritual Childhood

Central to her teaching is the “Little Way” or spiritual childhood, a path that embraces small, loving acts as a means to holiness. This way of life emphasizes virtues such as humility, spiritual poverty, confidence, love of God and neighbour, renunciation, surrender to God’s will, simplicity, and merciful love. She explained the essence of this path: “The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.” She also affirmed: “Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.” Through this approach, even ordinary acts become opportunities for sanctity when offered with love and trust.

Spiritual Writings and Recognition

Her writings, especially her spiritual autobiography Story of a Soul, reflect this intimate relationship with God. Thérèse emphasized absolute confidence in Him, summed up in the French phrase La Confiance. She encouraged offering struggles, embracing trials, and practicing humility with joy and trust. In recognition of her profound spiritual insight, the Church named her Joint Patroness of the Missions in 1927 and later a Doctor of the Church in 1997, a rare honor for women saints, highlighting the universality and depth of her teaching.

Relevance in the Jubilee Year 2025

In the context of the Jubilee Year 2025, St. Thérèse’s message resonates even more deeply. Poep Francis’ bull of indiction, Spes non confudit, reminds the faithful that hope does not disappoint. St. Thérèse exemplifies this hope through unwavering trust in God, showing that sanctity and joy are possible even amid life’s trials. Her example speaks to modern Catholics, youth, families, and laity alike, inviting them to cultivate holiness not in grand gestures but in daily life: in patience, forgiveness, generosity, and quiet perseverance.

Living the Little Way

St. Thérèse’s “Little Way” urges Christians to approach every moment with love, humility, and confidence in God. Daily prayers, small acts of service, and loving gestures toward family, neighbours, and the marginalized become powerful expressions of faith. Her life reminds us that holiness is accessible through ordinary actions offered with extraordinary love, and that childlike trust can carry us through trials. On this feast of the Little Flower, let us be inspired to live simply, humbly, and faithfully, offering each day as a fragrant prayer to God.