The enduring appeal of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of France’s most beloved saints

Pope Leo XIV recently urged the faithful to center Jesus in their families and daily lives, citing the spiritual example of Louis and Zélie Martin. In a message marking the 10th anniversary of the canonization of the Martin couple, the Pope noted that their ability to teach children to love God served as the foundation for the profound devotion of their daughter, St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

St. Thérèse, the patron saint of missions and the youngest doctor of the Church, died at age 24 and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Pope Pius XII later named her the second patron saint of France in 1944. Devotion to her grew significantly in France during the First World War, as soldiers carried her images and medals for spiritual support.

The town of Lisieux, where Thérèse lived her religious life, remains the second most visited pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes, attracting more than 2 million pilgrims annually.