Many years ago when I was confirmed, I took the name of St. Thérèse of Lisieux as my adopted patron saint. I don’t know recall why I chose her, possibly because my sister had taken St. Bernadette and so I opted for perhaps the “second favourite” confirmation saint. Perhaps it was the close links between Normandy and my parish priest. It certainly wasn’t linked to any thoughts of becoming a missionary and so seeking her intercession.
Now well over 40 years later, I find myself turning to my Confirmation patron and asking her to intercede for me whilst in Uganda. For most Catholics if asked to think of a great missionary Saint, they will suggest St. Paul, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Damien of Molokai, or St. Francis Xavier. Whereas St. Therese spent her short life (she was just 24 years old when she died) in Normandy and nearly half of that (and her entire adult life) within an enclosed convent in Lisieux.
St. Thérèse died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis and her life might have been one of hidden sanctity but for the publication of her autobiography, The Story of A Soul. But what does all this have to do with missionaries? St. Thérèse had a missionary’s heart and dreamed of being a great missionary. However, as it became apparent that this would not be possible, she recognized God calling her to support the missions with her prayers and sacrifices, which she resolved to do unceasingly. She would spiritually adopt seminarians and future missionaries and specifically pray for them. She once wrote, “My weak love, my little sufferings, blessed by God, make God loved far and wide.”
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