St. Therese - Patron Saint of Alaska
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower, was
born Marie Frances Therese Martin at Alencon, France on January 2, 1873.
At age fifteen, Therese Martin entered the Carmelite Convent at Lisieux,
France. As St. Therese of the Child Jesus, she lived a hidden life.
She was just 24 when she died on September 30, 1897.
The world came to know here through her autobiography, "The Story of a Soul." She described her life as "a little way of spritual childhood." She lived each day with unshakable confidence in God's love. What matters in life is "not great deeds, but great love."
"My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses. Countless lives have been touched by her intercession, and thousands have imitated her "little way."
She has been acclaimed one of the great saints of modern time. Everywhere in the world roses continue to fall. Therese Martin was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 17, 1925. Two years later, she was declared Patroness of the Missions and in 1951 was named Patroness of the Diocese of Juneau.
Her feast is celebrated on October 1.
Way of Saint Therese Prayer
God our Father;
You have promised your kingdom to those who are willing to become like
little children. Help us to follow the way of St. Therese with confidence
so that by her prayers we may come to know your eternal glory. Grant
this through Christ our Lord. Amen.