Book review: “Saint Therese of Lisieux: Living on Love”

Therese Martin was born into a middle-class family on Jan. 2, 1873, in Alencon, France, and died on Sept. 30, 1897, in Lisieux, France. She entered the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux at the age of 15, on April 9, 1888. Three of her sisters entered the same Carmel. Another sister entered a Visitation convent. Their parents Louis and Zelie (Guerin) Martin were also recently canonized. Saint John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church in 1997, which made her the third of four women Doctors of the Church.

Father Didier-Marie Golay, O.C.D., published the book “Saint Therese of Lisieux: Living on Love” in France in 2018, and the book was later translated into English by Anne Englund Nash. The Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Therese's on Oct. 1. 

This book is a wonderful resource on this very popular saint, who is commonly known as “the Little Flower.” This book has many black and white and color illustrations and photographs. The illustrations depict houses and buildings connected to Saint Therese, her family and her Carmelite community. Contained in the book there are many historical photos of Saint Therese and those connected with her, many charts and sidebars and some interesting floor plans of the places where Saint Therese lived.

Some of the photographs display objects from her life like her baptismal gown, the church where she attended with her family, her hair which was trimmed, her artwork and many other items that are fascinating to see. Most people will not have the chance to visit France and see where Saint Therese lived, but the color photos of her family home's interiors provide a unique glimpse into the life of this Saint of the Church.
    
Those who know about Saint Therese most likely know her autobiography that made her known throughout the world and inspired millions, however, she was also a poet and some of the original copies of her poetry are on shown in this book. Some of the sidebars contain biographical information about people connected to Saint Therese, or related to her like Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Theophane Venard or other historical events or figures.
    
The book has a genealogy of Saint Therese's family, a chronological table, general index, list of sidebars, abbreviations and list of illustrations and credits. The text flows with the illustrations. The illustrations are what stand out most to the reader because they are so bright and inspiring. 

This book by Father Golay is highly recommended to devotees of Saint Therese and to those interested in this humble saint – it is a great introduction to everything a person might want to know to start their collection of information on this famous and humble saint.

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.