“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” – St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Did you know that St. Thérèse would have been 153 years-old this coming January 2nd?

St. Thérèse was born at 11:30 at night on Thursday, January 2nd, 1873 in her parents’ house on rue Saint-Blaise in Alençon. This was the childhood home of her mother, Zélie.

Two weeks after birth, St. Thérèse developed an intestinal illness and Zélie began to see the same symptoms in St. Thérèse that had sickened and killed two sons and a daughter in the past. In March, Zélie could no longer nurse St. Thérèse. The doctor warned her to find a wet nurse if she wanted to save the child.

Zélie walked about four miles the next morning to beg Rose Taillé to come with her and nurse the child. By the time the two women walked back, St. Thérèse looked nearly dead, but Rose and Zélie managed to help her survive. Rose had children of her own and could not live within St. Thérèse’s home, so Rose brought her to live with her in the forests of the Bocage —her life was saved. When St. Thérèse was 15 months old, she came back home for good.

A Special Gift for You:

Send a gift today of $30 or more in honour of St. Thérèse’s upcoming
153rd birthday, and receive this beautiful St. Thérèse Shower of Roses
Rosary (while supplies last).