The enduring appeal of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of France’s most beloved saints
Devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux spread widely in France during World War I, and she remains one of the country’s most beloved saints. Thérèse was canonized in 1925 and named a patron saint of France in 1944; Lisieux now draws more than 2 million pilgrims annually. A childhood moment she called her “conversion” helped shape her spiritual path, as she received the grace to respond calmly rather than give in to tears. Her “Little Way” teaches that small acts of trust and courage can lead to holiness and spiritual growth.
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s appeal rests on a spirituality that links trust in God with small acts of courage, kindness, prayer, and sacrifice. The article also traces her influence from wartime devotion in France to her continuing place as a model for families and missionaries.
Thérèse, a Carmelite nun who died at 24, was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and declared France’s second patron saint by Pope Pius XII in 1944. Devotion to her had already spread widely during the First World War, when French soldiers carried her medals and images.
She spent her religious life in Lisieux, now France’s second-most-visited pilgrimage destination after Lourdes, drawing more than two million pilgrims each year, according to the article. Thérèse’s parents, Louis and Zélie Martin, were also canonized; Pope Leo XIV highlighted their example of placing Jesus at the center of family life and helping children discover God’s love.
Thérèse lost her mother at four and experienced illness and emotional sensitivity as a child. At 14, she described a moment of spiritual transformation as her “conversion”: after her father’s remark about Christmas gifts prompted her usual distress, she felt able to set aside her tears and respond calmly.
Her “Little Way” offered a path to holiness for people who felt too ordinary or limited to become saints. Rather than seeing “littleness” as a lack of worth, Thérèse emphasized trusting in God as a child trusts a parent, and relying on Jesus rather than personal strength.
The article presents this approach as involving both grace and personal choice: small moments can prompt people to act with greater courage, whether by managing their temper, controlling their speech, or becoming more optimistic.
Although Thérèse never left her convent, she was named patron saint of missionaries because she supported missions through prayer and sacrifice. She regarded these as powerful ways to reach people, and the article connects her missionary spirit to everyday gestures such as a kind word or smile.
Scripture, especially the Gospels, was central to her prayer. Her life was marked by austerity and little public recognition: she died in 1897, and about 30 people attended her funeral. Her writings continue to offer guidance centered on making small sacrifices and doing ordinary good out of love.
Ordinary acts as a path to Catholic holiness
Ordinary acts can become a path to Catholic holiness when they are done in love, offered to God, and shaped by faith. Holiness is not reserved for people who withdraw from everyday responsibilities; every baptized person is called to seek it in the life they actually live.
That means caring patiently for family, working honestly and competently, refusing to gossip, listening when someone needs your attention, praying amid a tiring day, or stopping to help a person in need. These may seem small, but they train us in charity and turn us outward toward others.
The ordinary act is not holy simply because it is routine. Its Christian meaning comes from how it is done: with love of God and neighbour, fidelity to what is right, and openness to God’s grace. Daily responsibilities can then become occasions to join ourselves to God, serve others, and witness to Christ.
A simple practice is to begin the day by entrusting your work and relationships to God, then ask in the evening: Where did I act with love today? Where can I do so better tomorrow? Prayer and the sacraments sustain this growth; the path is not a solitary achievement but a life lived in communion with Christ and his Church.