St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Marie Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon, France on 2 January, 1873. At the age of 15, she obtained permission to enter the Carmel of Lisieux. She attained a very high degree of holiness by carrying out her ordinary daily duties with perfect fidelity, having a childlike confidence in God's providence and merciful love and being ready to be at the service of others at all times. She also had a great love of the Church and a zeal for the conversion of souls. She died of consumption on 30 September, 1897, at the age of 24, and was canonized in 1925. She has never ceased to fulfill her promise: "I will pass my heaven in doing good on earth." Although just an obscure cloistered Carmelite nun, she has had universal appeal since her death. St. Thérèse is the patroness of all foreign missions and patroness of France. Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church in 1997.

St. Thérèse is represented in a Carmelite habit holding a bunch of roses in memory of her promise to “let fall a shower of roses” of miracles and other favours. 

Some quotes by St. Thérèse;

• I am a very little soul, who can offer only very little things to the Lord. 
• I will spend my Heaven doing good on earth. 
• After my death I will let fall a shower of roses. 
• While desiring to be a priest, I admire and envy the humility of St. Francis of Assisi and I feel the vocation of imitating him in refusing the sublime dignity of the priesthood.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus is also known as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Thérèse of the Holy Face.

O God, who open your Kingdom to those who are humble and to little ones, lead us to follow trustingly in the little way of Saint Therese, so that through her intercession we may see your eternal glory revealed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Tuesday, 1 October, 2013
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Reading 

Zechariah 8: 20 - 23
20	"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities;
21	the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, `Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I am going.'
22	Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the LORD.
23	Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, `Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

Psalm

Psalms 87: 1 - 7
1	On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2	the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3	Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. [Selah]
4	Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia -- "This one was born there," they say.
5	And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her.
6	The LORD records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." [Selah]
7	Singers and dancers alike say, "All my springs are in you."

Gospel

Luke 9: 51 - 56
51	When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52	And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him;
53	but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
54	And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?"
55	But he turned and rebuked them.
56	And they went on to another village.