France / Thérèse of Lisieux, 1873–1897,
Feast Day: October 1

A French Carmelite nun who desperately wanted to be a missionary to the Far East, Thérèse was stricken with tuberculosis and never left her convent for the remainder of her short life. Her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, in which she details her lapse from and return to grace by utilizing “the little way,” became a sensational bestseller in France and the rest of the world. She vowed to dedicate herself to love, and today she is one of the most popular saints, especially among the young.

Other patronages: AIDS patients, tuberculosis patients; Russia, Vietnam; foreign missions; florists, pilots

Invoked: for a loving atmosphere

All of the above patron saints are excerpted from the book: “Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. All images are from the collection of Father Eugene Carrella.