When St. Therese entered the Carmelite convent, she took on the religious name of Therese of the Child Jesus.
But in popular devotion, she is known by another name: St. Therese the Little Flower.
Besides being easier to remember and to relate with, flowers were some of the images that St. Therese used in describing her simple spirituality.
One of her quotes about flowers is this
“The splendour of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
St. Therese saw that little and humble things have great value, from the beauty of a little flower to the simple little act of charity.
She offered every little act of love to God for the salvation of others, as she said this:
“I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbours’
defects–not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their
smallest virtues.”
Her role of being the Patroness of all Missionaries and Missions is certainly not ordinary or insignificant.
We learn from St Therese the Little Flower that we live out our faith and mission in life, we need to be humble and simple.
In doing simple and little things with great love, we proclaim the Good News of salvation and that God looks up the simple and humble with great love.