The Story of a Soul

Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873 - 1897)
Translated by Thomas N. Taylor (1873 - 1963)

Marie Francoise Therese Martin, affectionately known as 'The Little Flower', was born on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France to Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin. She was the youngest and one of five surviving sisters of the nine Martin children. When Therese was 3, her mother died. Louis Martin moved his family to Lisieux to be closer to his late wife's brother and his family. It was there that Therese's sister, Pauline, entered the Carmel at Lisieux on October 2, 1882. Therese at that time also heard the Divine Call to religious life. Therese entered the Carmel on April 9, 1888, after much oppostion to her entering at the age of 15. It was there that she wrote L'Histoire d'une Ame (The Story of a Soul) through obedience. Eventually, Therese's other sisters entered the religious life, one at the Carmel of Lisieux and the other became a Poor Clare at the Visitation Convent at Caen. Therese died on September 30, 1897, at the Carmel of Lisieux of tuberculosis. She was beatified on April 29, 1923 and canonized on May 17, 1925. (Summary written by Ann Boulais.)

Genre(s): *Non-fiction, Biography & Autobiography, Religion

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Dedication, Preface and Prologue Ann Boulais
00:21:57
Play 01 Chapter I - Earliest Memories Ann Boulais
00:24:08
Play 02 Chapter II - A Catholic Household Ann Boulais
00:26:55
Play 03 Chapter III - Pauline Enters the Carmel Ann Boulais
00:22:56
Play 04 Chapter IV - First Communion and Confirmation Ann Boulais
00:30:51
Play 05 Chapter V - Vocation of Therese Ann Boulais
00:30:44
Play 06 Chapter VI - A Pilgrimage to Rome Ann Boulais
00:34:09
Play 07 Chapter VII - The Little Flower Enters the Carmel Ann Boulais
00:23:16
Play 08 Chapter VIII - Profession of Soeur Therese Ann Boulais
00:31:43
Play 09 Chapter IX - The Night of the Soul Ann Boulais
00:40:24
Play 10 Chapter X - The New Commandment Ann Boulais
00:32:28
Play 11 Chapter XI - A Canticle of Love Ann Boulais
00:38:20
Play 12 Epilogue Ann Boulais
00:56:55