> [[tcj-soas-ics-16|← Previous]] | [[tcj-soas-ics-toc|TOC]] | [[tcj-soas-ics-18-index|Next →]] ![[banner-ocd-tcj.png]] # Chronology of the Life of St. Thèrése of Lisieux # Manuscript A ## The Writing Timeline (What Was Happening as She Wrote it) * **Date Written:** Early 1895 (The beginning of Manuscript A). * **Thérèse's Age:** 22 years old. * **The Context:** Thérèse is writing these memories out of strict obedience to the prioress, Mother Agnes of Jesus—who is none other than Pauline, the sister she chose as her "second mother" back in Chapter I. While she is writing about the loss of her earthly mother and the subsequent shrinking of her childhood personality, she herself is experiencing a period of intense spiritual expansion and grace in Carmel, which will culminate in her offering to Merciful Love later that summer.  **Date:** 20st November 1894. # **ALENÇON** ## 1873 (newborn) January 2: _Birth of Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, 36 Saint Blaise Street, Alençon._ January 4: Baptism in the church of Notre-Dame; godmother: her sister, Marie. March 15 or 16: sent out to be nursed to Rose Taillé, at Semallé (Orne). ## 1874 (age 1) April 2: Definitive return of Thérèse to the family. ## 1875 (age 2) At this age she thinks: "I will be a religious." March 29: Voyage to Le Mans. May 23: Léonie makes her First Communion. ## 1876 (age 3) "From the age of three, I began to refuse nothing of what God asked of me." July 16: First photo: Thérèse is pouting. > >  > > *Therese at three and a half years old (July 1876)* ## 1877 (age 4) April 4: Thérèse's first "letter." May: She explains to Céline what the word "Almighty" means. June 18–23: Pilgrimage of Madame Martin, Marie, Pauline, and Léonie to Lourdes. _August_ 28: _Madame Martin dies._ August 29: Madame Martin is buried. Thérèse chooses Pauline as second mother. # **LISIEUX—AT Les BUISSONNETS** ## 1877 (age 4) November 15: Arrival of Thérèse and her sisters at Lisieux, under care of Uncle Guérin. November 16: They settle in at Les Buissonnets. ## 1878 (age 5) April: Thérèse understands a sermon on the Passion. August 8: She sees the sea for the first time, at Trouville. ## 1879 (age 6) Summer (or 1880) Prophetic vision of her father's great trial. End of year (or beginning of 1880): First confession. ## 1880 (age 7) May 13: Céline's First Communion, "one of the most beautiful days of my life." ## 1881 (age 8)  *Thérèse at eight years old and her sister Céline* October 3: Enters Benedictine Abbey as a day-boarder. ## 1882 (age 9) October 2: Pauline enters Lisieux Carmel. Thérèse goes back to the Abbey. December: Continual headaches, insomnia, pimples. ## 1883 (age 10) March 25 (Easter): While Monsieur Martin, Marie, and Léonie are at Paris, Thérèse gets sick at the Guérins; nervous trembling, hallucinations. April 6: Pauline receives the habit (Sister Agnes of Jesus). Thérèse is well enough to embrace her sister in the visiting room. April 7: Relapse at Les Buissonnets. May 13 (_Pentecost_): _Smile of the Virgin, cure of Thérèse._ May: Beginning of her spiritual trials regarding her sickness and her vision of the Blessed Virgin. Second half of August: Vacation at Alençon, "first entrance into the world." August 22: First meeting with Father Pichon at Alençon. ## 1884 (age 11) February to May: Letters of Sister Agnes to prepare Thérèse for First Communion. May 5–8: Preparatory retreat. May 8: _First Communion of Thérèse at the Abbey._ Profession of Sister Agnes of Jesus at Carmel. Quieting of her interior trials for one year. May 22 (Ascension): Second Communion, great grace. June 14: _Confirmation by Bishop Hugonin, bishop of Bayeux._ August: Vacation of Saint-Ouen-le-Pin (Calvados) at her Aunt Guérin's mother's house. ## 1885 (age 12) May 3–10: Vacation at Deauville (Chalet des Roses); "The donkey and the little pet dog." May 17–21: Preparatory retreat for renewal. Commencement of the crisis of scruples, which will last "one year and a half." May 21: Second solemn Communion. July: Vacation at Saint-Ouen-le-Pin. August 22 to October: Voyage of Monsieur Martin to Constantinople. End of September: Vacation at Trouville with Céline (Villa Rose). October: Thérèse returns to the Abbey alone, without Céline. ## 1886 (age 13) ) *Thérèse at thirteen (February 1886)* February to March: Headaches; Thérèse leaves the Abbey. Lessons with Madame Papinau. Beginning of July: Three days at Trouville (Chalet des Lilas). Around October 5: Trip of several days to Alençon, with her father and sisters. October 7: Entrance of Léonie to the Poor Clares (at Alençon). October 15: Entrance of Marie to the Lisieux Carmel. End of October: Thérèse is freed from scruples. December 1: Return of Léonie to the family. December 25: _After Midnight Mass_, **GRACE OF "CONVERSION"** _at Les Buissonnets._ ## 1887 (age 14) March 19: Marie receives the habit (Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart). May 1: Monsieur Martin has an attack of paralysis. May: Reading of the Arminjon Conferences. May 29 (Pentecost): Thérèse receives permission from her father to enter Carmel at age fifteen. May 31: She is received as Child of Mary at the Abbey. June 20–26: Vacation at Trouville (Chalet des Lilas). Spring–summer: Spiritual conferences with Céline in the belvédère of Les Buissonnets. July: A picture of the Crucified reveals her apostolic vocation. July 13: Condemnation to death of the assassin Pranzini. Thérèse prays and makes sacrifices for his conversion. July 16: Entrance of Léonie to Visitation convent at Caen. September 1: Thérèse reads in _La Croix_ the account of Pranzini's execution and his conversion. October 22: Monsieur Guérin authorizes Thérèse to enter Carmel for Christmas. October 31: Visit to Bishop Hugonin at Bayeux to solicit the same authorization. November 4: Departure for Paris with her father and Céline; then for Rome by way of Milan, Venice, Loreto. November 20: Audience with Leo XIII. Thérèse presents her petition to the pope. December 2: Return to Lisieux (after visiting Naples, Pompeii, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles, Lyons). December 28: Favorable answer from Bishop Hugonin to the prioress to admit Thérèse. ## 1888 (age 15) January 1: Bishop Hugonin's answer is transmitted to Thérèse. January 2: Thérèse's 15th birthday. March: "One of the most beautiful months of my life."  *Thérèse at fifteen (April 1888)* **April 9: _Entrance of Thérèse to the Lisieux Carmel._** # **AT CARMEL** ## **_Postulancy: April 9, 1888–January 10, 1889_** **_Assignment: Linen room_** ## 1888 (age 15) May 22: Profession of Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart. May 28: General confession to Father Pichon, freed from trials. June 23: Monsieur Martin escapes to Le Havre; mental trouble. August 12: Monsieur Martin has new attack of paralysis at Les Buissonnets. End of October: Thérèse is approved by the conventual chapter to receive the habit. October 31: Serious relapse of Monsieur Martin at Le Havre. ## 1889 (age 16) January 5–10: Retreat for the reception of the habit. January 10: _Reception of the habit._ Snow. Monsieur Martin's last celebration. ## **_Novitiate: January 10, 1889–September 24, 1890_** **_Assignment: Refectory, sweeping of corridors_** February 12: Monsieur Martin is hospitalized at Bon Sauveur, Caen. July: Receives special grace from Blessed Virgin in hermitage of St. Mary Magdalene and under its influence for a whole week. December 25: End of lease on Les Buissonnets. ## 1890 (age 17) During the year she discovers texts on the "Suffering Servant" (Isaiah), and reads the works of St. John of the Cross. January: Her profession is delayed. August 28–September 8: Retreat for profession; aridity. September 2: Canonical examination, blessing of Leo XIII. September 8: Profession. September 24: She receives the veil, but her father is not present. ## 1891 (age 18) Around February 10: Named aid to sacristan. April–July: Prays for Father Hyacinthe Loyson. October 8–15: Retreat preached by Father Alexis Prou, Franciscan. December 5: Mother Geneviève dies; was foundress of the Lisieux Carmel. End of the month: Epidemic of influenza. ## 1892 (age 19) May 10: Monsieur Martin returns to Lisieux. May 12: Monsieur Martin's last visit to the Carmel. ## 1893 (age 20) February 2: Composition of her first poem. February 20: Election of Mother Agnes as prioress. Thérèse is associated in the spiritual formation of her companions in the novitiate. June: Paints a fresco in the oratory. June 24: Léonie enters the Visitation convent, Caen, a second time September: Thérèse remains in the novitiate; named second portress. ## 1894 (age 21) January 2: Attains majority. January 21: First "pious recreation": Joan of Arc; she has main role. In the spring, she begins to suffer from her throat; cauterizings. June 16: Entrance of Sister Marie of the Trinity; entrusted to Thérèse. July 29: Monsieur Martin dies at the château de La Musse (Eure). August: Thérèse changes her cell. September 14: Entrance of Céline to the Carmel; entrusted to Thérèse. End of December: Receives from Mother Agnes of Jesus the order to write her childhood memories. ## 1895 (age 22) _Year of writing of Manuscript A._ February 5: Céline receives the habit (Sister Geneviève). February 26: Thérèse composes spontaneously the poem titled _Vivre d'Amour_ ["Living on Love"]. June 9 (_Trinity Sunday_): _During Mass, she receives the inspiration to offer herself to Merciful Love._ June 11: She makes this offering to Love with Céline. A short time afterward, when beginning the Stations of the Cross, she has an intense experience of the Love of God ("wound of Love"). July 20: Léonie leaves the Visitation convent. August 15: Entrance of her cousin, Marie Guérin, to the Carmel. October 17: Thérèse is designated by Mother Agnes as spiritual sister to Father Bellière, seminarian and future missionary. ## 1896 (age 23) January 20: Thérèse brings Mother Agnes her copybook of memories (Manuscript A). February 24: Profession of Sister Geneviève. March 17: Sister Geneviève receives the veil; Marie Guérin (Sister Marie of the Eucharist) receives the habit. March 21: Difficult election of Mother Marie de Gonzague as prioress. Thérèse is confirmed in her role as auxiliary mistress in the novitiate. April 2–3 (_Holy Thursday night to Good Friday_): _First hemoptysis in her cell._ April 3, in the evening: Second hemoptysis. April 5 (_Easter Sunday_) _or shortly after: Sudden entrance into the Night of Faith, a trial that will last until her death._ May 10: Dream about Venerable Anne of Jesus. May 30: Mother Marie de Gonzague gives her a second spiritual brother: Father Roulland, of the foreign missions. July 3: First Mass of Father Roulland at the Carmel and his interview with Thérèse. September 7–18: Private retreat. September 8: _Writing of Manuscript B_ (_addressed to Jesus_)_._ September 13–16: Letter to Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart (Manuscript B, first part) to dedicate this text to her. November: Reading of the Life of Théophane Vénard; novena to this martyr to obtain favor of going to the missions; pulmonary relapse. ## 1897 (age 24) March 25: Profession of Sister Marie of the Eucharist. April (end of Lent): Falls gravely ill. April 6: _Beginning of the Last Conversations._ June 3: Mother Marie de Gonzague orders Thérèse to continue her autobiography. _Thérèse writes Manuscript C._ July 8: She is brought down to the infirmary. Has hemoptyses until August 5. July 30: She is anointed. August 19: Receives Communion for the last time. _Thursday, September 30, around 7:20 p.m., Thérèse dies after an agony of two days._ October 4: She is buried in the Lisieux cemetery. # **POSTHUMOUS CHRONOLOGY** ## 1898 March 7: Bishop Hugonin, bishop of Bayeux, gives permission for the printing of _Histoire d'une Ame._ May 2: Bishop Hugonin dies. September 30: 2,000 copies of _Histoire d'une Ame_ are printed by St. Paul Printing Co., Bar-le-Duc. ## 1899 Léonie enters definitively the Visitation convent at Caen. Easter: The first edition of _Histoire d'une Ame_ is out of print; second edition begun. October: Half the second edition (4,000) is sold. ## 1899–1902 First favors and cures. Pilgrims come to the grave of Sister Thérèse to pray. ## 1902 April 19: Mother Agnes is re-elected prioress; she will remain in office, except for the interruption of eighteen months (1908–1909), until her death, at the express command of Pius XI (1923). ## 1904 December 17: Mother Marie de Gonzague dies. ## 1905 April 14: Sister Marie of the Eucharist dies of tuberculosis. ## 1906 July 9: François Veuillet, in _l'Univers,_ reveals that the Carmel is busy with introducing the cause of Sister Thérèse at Rome. ## 1907 October 15: Bishop Lemonnier, new bishop of Bayeux, asks the Carmelites to write down their memories of Sister Thérèse. ## 1909 January: Father Rodrigue, O.C.D. (Rome) and Monsignor de Teil (Paris) are named postulator and vice-postulator of the cause respectively. ## 1910 March 5: Rescript from Rome for the _process on the writings._ July: In one year, the Carmel has received 9,741 letters from people in France and foreign countries. August 3: Setting up of the diocesan tribunal for the ordinary's process. August 12: At Carmel, the first session of the process. September 6: At the Lisieux cemetery, the exhumation of the remains of Sister Thérèse; transferred to new vault. ## 1912 This year Céline draws "Thérèse with the Roses" (charcoal sketch). ## 1914 July: The Carmel receives an average of 200 letters a day. December 10: At Rome, decree of approbation of the writings of Sister Thérèse. June 10: Pius X signs the Decree for the Introduction of the Cause. He had told a missionary bishop privately that Sister Thérèse was "the greatest saint of modern times." ## 1915 March 17: At Bayeux, opening of the apostolic process. ## 1917 August 9–10: Second exhumation and official acknowledgment of the remains of Sister Thérèse at the Lisieux cemetery. ## 1918 February 9: The Carmel received 512 letters that day. ## 1921 August 14: Benedict XV promulgates the Decree on the Heroicity of the Virtues of the Venerable Servant of God and delivers a homily on spiritual childhood. ## 1923 April 29th: _Beatification of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus by Pius XI._ The Pope makes her "the star of his pontificate." The Carmel receives 800 to 1,000 letters daily. ## 1925 _May_ 17: _Solemn Canonization at St. Peter's, Rome._ Homily of Pius XI before an audience of 60,000 people. In the evening, there were as many as 500,000 pilgrims in St. Peter's square. ## 1927 January: _Novissima Verba_ (Last Words) appears. July 13: The liturgical feast of St. Thérèse is extended to the whole Church. December 14: Pius XI proclaims St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus principal patroness, equal to St. Francis Xavier, of all missionaries, men and women, and of the missions in the whole world. ## 1929 September 30: Laying of the cornerstone of the basilica at Lisieux. ## 1937 July 11: Cardinal Pacelli (Papal Legate and future Pius XII) opens and blesses the basilica at Lisieux. Radio message by Pius XI. ## 1941 July 24: Foundation of the Mission de France. Its seminary is established at Lisieux. ## 1944 May 3: Pius XII names St. Thérèse secondary patroness of France, equal to St. Joan of Arc. June: Lisieux is partially destroyed by the allied bombings. The abbey (Thérèse's school) disappears. ## 1947 The fiftieth anniversary of her death, St. Thérèse's relics are brought into almost every diocese of France. ## 1948 September: First edition of her _Letters_. ## 1954 July 11: Solemn consecration of the basilica at Lisieux. ## 1956 Appearance of the facsimile edition of the _Autobiographical Manuscripts_ (restoration of the _Histoire d'une Ame_ according to the original writings), by Father François de Sainte-Marie. ## 1971 July: Appearance of the _Derniers Entretiens_ (first volume of the Centenary Edition). ## 1972 July: Appearance of the _General Correspondence_ (Centenary Edition). ## 1973 Celebration of the centenary of Thérèse Martin's birth ## 1979 Appearance of the Poesies (Centenary Edition) ## 1980 June 2: Pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to Lisieux. ## 1985 Appearance of _Recreations Pieuses_ (_Theatre au Carmel_) (Centenary Edition). ## 1988 Appearance of the _Prieres_ (Centenary Edition). ## 1992 Appearance of the "Nouvelle Edition du Centenaire" (New Centenary Edition) in 8 volumes (Cerf and Desclée de Brouwer). ## 1996–1997 Centenary celebration of Thérèse Martin's death. ## 1997 Thérèse named Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. ## 2008 October 19: Beatification of Louis and Zélie Martin, Thérèse's parents, by Pope Benedict XVI. ## 2015 January 24: Beatification process begins for Servant of God Françoise-Thérèse (Léonie) Martin, Thérèse's sister. October 18: Canonization of Louis and Zélie Martin, Thérèse's parents, by Pope Francis. [[tcj-soas-ics-20]] --- **Source:** [[scriptorium/books-personal/personal-bibliography#^biblio-tcj-soas-ics|Thérèse, *Story of a Soul*]] > [[tcj-soas-ics-16|← Previous]] | [[tcj-soas-ics-toc|TOC]] | [[tcj-soas-ics-18-index|Next →]]