It seems almost contradictory at first—how did a young woman who never left her convent in Lisieux become the patroness of missions, a title typically reserved for globe-trotting evangelists? The answer lies not in geography but in the depth of her love and prayer.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, better known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, felt an intense desire to bring souls to Christ. Yet her path did not lie in distant lands but in hidden sacrifice and prayer. She longed to be a missionary but realized that her vocation, lived out in the Carmelite cloister, was to support missionaries spiritually.
She once wrote, “I wanted to be a missionary, not for a few years but from the beginning of creation until the end of the world.”
Her correspondence with priests on mission fields revealed her deep solidarity with their work. She saw prayer and sacrifice as the fuel that sustained those who preached the Gospel. Her “Little Way” of offering small acts of love to God became a powerhouse of grace for missionaries around the world.
In 1927, Pope Pius XI officially declared her the patroness of missions alongside St. Francis Xavier, one of the Church’s greatest missionaries. Though their vocations were different, they shared the same burning love for souls. St. Thérèse’s life proves that missionary work is not only about travel—it’s about love in action, whether through preaching or prayer.
Learn more about the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her heart for missionary work in Bishop Guy Gaucher’s biography I Would Like to Travel the World. This beautiful book reflects on St. Thérèse’s legacy and the modern-day miracles she still performs around the world. Order your copy today from The Catholic Company!
