St. Therese of Lisieux Convent years

St. Therese of Lisieux ~ The Convent Years

	St. Therese entered the Carmel Convent on April 9, 1888, at the age of 15 and 3 months. Of that day she wrote: "At last my desires were realised, and I cannot describe the deep sweet peace which filled my soul. This peace has remained with me during the eight and a half years of my life here, and has never left me even amid the greatest trials." It was in this convent that Therese developed her "Little Way," practicing patience and kindness and other virtues while caring for the duties of daily life and the sisters.
	It is this "Little Way" that has particularly endeared her to the world. She showed us that we can rise to great spiritual heights not only by great spiritual deeds, but by accomplishing small and everyday deeds with great love. While she was in the convent she worked in the sacristy, and other jobs. After her sister was made Prioress, she appointed her mistress of the postulants. She also used her creativity to write and perform in little plays for the feast days as well as writing poems, and her "Story of a Soul," her autobiography.
	Final Years~ St. Therese developed tuberculosis which went unnoticed until it was far along. She spent the last 18 months of her life writing from her sickbed. She offered her sufferings in union with our Lord's for the conversion of sinners, and to grow closer to Jesus through her suffering. Her last words were: "My God--I love thee!"
For more see Her Spirituality Her childhood Books and dvds back to Therese's main page