May 13, 1883 - April 9, 1888
Thérèse in prayer in her room
Prayer in his room
Thérèse prays by her bed at Les Buissonnets
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Prayer in his room
Annotated draft
Prayer in his room
late watercolor
“One day one of my mistresses from the Abbey asked me what I did on my days off when I was alone. was easy for me to close with the curtain and that there “I was thinking.” But what are you thinking?" she said to me. "I'm thinking of the good Lord, of life... of eternity, well I'm thinking!... The good nun laughed a lot at me, later on she liked to recalling the time when I was thinking, wondering if I was still thinking... I now understand that I was praying without knowing it and that the Good Lord was already instructing me in secret."
Ms A 33 v°
The First Communion
View of the Benedictine chapel in Lisieux, with little girls renewing their baptismal promises. Thérèse made her first communion there on May 8, 1884.
Thérèse's first communion in the chapel of the Benedictines of Lisieux May 8, 1884
Table (grisaille in oil) by Blanchard retouched by Céline Martin.
Therese's First Communion
Painting of Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit, Carmelite of Lisieux - 73 x 54 cm - from the previous grisaille.
Therese's First Communion
Watercolor of Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit
Therese's First Communion
Wash not retained
Therese's First Communion
Unidentified author
"Ah! how sweet was Jesus' first kiss to my soul!... It was a kiss of love."
Ms A 35 r°
Talk with Pauline
Talking to Carmel with Pauline
Watercolor by Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit.
On May 8, 1884, Thérèse made her First Communion at the Abbey. That very morning, Pauline had made her profession at Carmel. The two sisters meet in the parlor.
There are two drafts, one where Thérèse is shot to the right and on the second, towards the left.
Souvenir images were also made from this watercolor: First image
Second picture
"Pauline and Thérèse became more and more united on May 8, since Jesus seemed to confuse them by flooding them with his graces..."
Ms A 34 v°
Consecration to the Virgin Mary
Consecration to the Virgin Mary
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
"In the afternoon it was I who pronounced the act of consecration to the Blessed Virgin; it was quite right that I speak in the name of my companions to my Heavenly Mother, I who had been deprived so young of my Mother of the earth... I put all my heart into talking to her, devoting myself to her, like a child who throws herself into her Mother's arms and asks her to watch over her. It seems to me that the Blessed Virgin must have looked at her little flower and smile at her, was it she who had healed her with a visible smile?... Had she not placed in the chalice of her little flower, her Jesus, the Fleur des Champs, the from the valley?..."
MS A 35v°
The confirmation
Confirmation of Therese
Watercolor of Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit
confirm with Monsignor Hugonin.
The hand behind Thérèse's shoulder is that of Léonie, her godmother - see the letters of the 24 janvier and 26th January 1938.
"Shortly after my First Communion, I again entered a retreat for my Confirmation. I had prepared myself with great care to receive the visit of the Holy Spirit, I did not understand why great attention to the reception of this Sacrament of Love. Ordinarily we only made one day of retreat for Confirmation, but Monsignor having been unable to come on the appointed day, I had the consolation of having two days of solitude To distract us, our mistress took us to Monte Cassin and there I picked large daisies with both hands for Corpus Christi. Ah, how joyful my soul was! Like the apostles, I awaited with happiness the visit of the Holy Spirit. Saint... I rejoiced at the thought of soon being a perfect Christian and above all at that of having eternally on my forehead the mysterious cross that the Bishop marks when imposing the sacrament... Finally the happy moment arrived, I did not feel a rushing wind at the time of the descent of the Holy Spirit , but rather that light breeze which the prophet Elijah heard the murmur at Mount Horeb..."
Ms A 36 v°
The Grace of Christmas
The Grace of Christmas 1886
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
"The Good Lord had to perform a small miracle to make me grow in a moment and this miracle he did on the unforgettable day of Christmas; on this luminous night which illuminates the delights of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, the sweet little Child of one hour, changed the night of my soul into torrents of light... On that night when He made himself weak and suffering for my love, He made me strong and courageous, He clothed me with his arms and since that blessed night, I was not defeated in any fight, but on the contrary I marched from victories to victories and began, so to speak, "a race of giants!..." [...]
MS A 44v°-45r°
It was on December 25, 1886, that I received the grace to emerge from childhood, in a word, the grace of my complete conversion."
Thérèse asks to enter the Carmel
Thérèse asks her father for permission to enter the Carmel (May 29, 1887, Pentecost Day)
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Thérèse asks her father for permission to enter the Carmel
Draft by Charles Jouvenot - not retained
Thérèse asks her father for permission to enter the Carmel
Painting by Blanchard retouched by Céline - 73 x 54 cm.
Thérèse asks her father for permission to enter the Carmel
late watercolor
"It was not until the afternoon when I returned from vespers that I found the opportunity to speak to my dear little Father; he had gone to sit at the edge of the cistern and there, with folded hands, he contemplated the marvels of nature, the sun whose fires had lost their ardor gilded the tops of the tall trees, where the little birds joyfully sang their evening prayers.Pa's handsome face had a celestial expression, I felt that peace flooded his heart; without saying a single word, I went to sit beside him, his eyes already wet with tears, he looked at me with tenderness and taking my head he leaned it on his heart, saying to me: "What's the matter with you, my little queen?... confide that to me..." Then rising as if to conceal his own emotion, he walked slowly, still holding my head on his heart. Through my tears I confided to him my desire to enter Carmel, then his tears came to mingle with mine, but he said not a word to distract me from my vocation, so much simply to point out to me that I was still very young to take such a serious decision. But I defended my cause so well, that with the simple and upright nature of Papa, he was soon convinced that my desire was that of God himself and in his deep faith he cried out that the Good Lord made him a great honor to ask him thus for his children; we continued our walk for a long time, my heart, relieved by the kindness with which my incomparable Father had welcomed his confidences, poured out gently into his".
Ms A 50 r°
Louis Martin agrees and picks a saxifrage
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Thérèse stuck this flower on a image of Our Lady of Victories on the back of which appears the last text written by his hand.
"What I remember well was the symbolic action that my dear King performed without knowing it. Approaching a low wall, he showed me small white flowers resembling miniature lilies and taking one of these flowers, he gave it to me, explaining to me with what care the Good Lord had given birth to it and had preserved it until this day; hearing him speak, I thought I was listening to my story so much there was a resemblance between what Jesus had done for the little flower and little Thérèse... I received this flower like a relic and I saw that when he wanted to pick it, Papa had removed all its roots without breaking them, it seemed destined to live again in another land more fertile than the tender moss where his first mornings had passed... It was indeed the same action that Papa had just done for me a few moments earlier, by allowing me to climb the mountain of Carmel and to leave the gentle valley that witnessed my first steps in the life.
MS A 50v°
I placed my little white flower in my Imitation, in the chapter entitled: "That we must love Jesus above all things", that's where it is still, only the stem broke very close to the root and the Good Lord seems to be telling me by this that he will soon break the bonds of his little flower and will not let it wither on the earth!"
Interviews at the Belvedere with Céline
Interviews at the Belvedere with Céline (summer 1887)
Charcoal by Céline Martin
Thérèse prays for Pranzini
Therese prays for Pranzini
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Thérèse prays for Pranzini
late watercolor
"I heard of a great criminal who had just been sentenced to death for horrible crimes, everything led to believe that he would die in impenitence. I wanted at all costs to prevent him from falling into hell, in order To achieve this I used all imaginable means; feeling that of myself I could do nothing, I offered to God all the infinite merits of Our Lord, the treasures of the Holy Church, finally I begged Céline to to have a mass said with my intentions, not daring to ask for it myself for fear of being obliged to confess that it was for Pranzini, the great criminal."
Ms A 45 v° and following.
Ask Isidore Guérin
Thérèse asks her uncle Isidore Guérin to enter the Carmel
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Thérèse asks for permission on October 8, 1887, he gives it on October 22.
After having obtained Papa's consent, I thought I could fly to Carmel without fear, but very painful trials were still to test my vocation. It was only with a tremor that I confided to my uncle the resolution I had taken. He lavished on me every mark of tenderness possible, however he did not give me permission to leave, on the contrary he forbade me to speak to him of my vocation before the age of 17. It was contrary to human prudence, he said, to bring a 15-year-old child into Carmel, this Carmelite life being in the eyes of the world a philosopher's life, it would be doing great harm to religion to leave a child without experience kissing him... Everyone would talk about it, etc... etc... He even says that to persuade him to let me go would require a miracle. I saw that all reasoning would be useless, so I withdrew, my heart plunged in the deepest bitterness; my only consolation was prayer, I begged Jesus to perform the miracle requested since at this price only I could respond to his call.
A fairly long time passed before I dared speak to my uncle again; it was extremely difficult for me to go to his house, for his part he seemed to no longer think of my vocation, but I learned later that my great sadness influenced him a great deal in my favour.
Manuscript A, 50v-51r
Visit to Bishop Hugonin in Bayeux
Visit to Monsignor Hugonin in Bayeux (October 31 1887)
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Visit to Monsignor Hugonin in Bayeux
late watercolor
Behind Louis Martin, we recognize theFather Reverony, Vicar General.
"I was hoping that Papa was going to speak but he told me to explain myself to Monsignor the purpose of our visit; I did so as eloquently as possible, His Grace, accustomed to eloquence, did not seem very touched by my reasons, instead of them a word from the Superior would have been of more use to me, unfortunately I had none and his opposition in no way pleaded in my favour...
Ms A 54 v°
Monsignor asked me if I had wanted to enter Carmel for a long time: “Oh yes! Monsignor, for a very long time..." "Look," continued Mr. Révérony, laughing, "you still can't say that you've had this desire for 15 years." "It's true," I went on, also smiling, "but there aren't many years to take away because I wanted to become a nun as soon as my reason awakened and I wanted Carmel as soon as I knew him well, because in this order I found that all the aspirations of my soul would be fulfilled. I don't know, Mother, if those are exactly my words, I think it was even worse, but anyway, that's the meaning.
Monsignor believing to be pleasant to Dad tried to make me stay a few more years with him, so he was not a little surprised and edified to see him take my side, interceding so that I obtain permission to fly away at 15 years old. . However, everything was useless [...]
Trip to Rome (November 4 - December 2, 1887)
Thérèse, Céline and Louis Martin at Notre-Dame des Victoires in Paris
Painting by Jeanne Charpy (here reproduced on a pious image)
Thérèse at Notre-Dame des Victoires in Paris
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
For me, I found only one that delighted me, this marvel was: "Notre-Dame des Victoires". Ah! what I felt at her feet, I could not say... The graces she granted me moved me so deeply that my tears alone expressed my happiness, as on the day of my first communion... The Blessed Virgin made me feel that it was really her who smiled at me and healed me. I understood that she was watching over me, that I was her child, so I could only give her the name of "Mom" because it seemed to me even more tender than that of Mother... With what fervor have I not begged her to keep me always and soon to realize my dream by hiding me in the shade of her virginal mantle!... Ah! this was one of my first wishes as a child... Growing up, I understood that it was in Carmel that it would be possible for me to truly find the mantle of the Blessed Virgin and it was towards this mountain fertile that all my desires tended...
Manuscript A, 56v-57r
Thérèse, Céline and their father in Venice
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
"In Venice, the scene changed completely; instead of the noise of the big cities one hears in the middle of the silence only the cries of the gondoliers and the murmur of the waves agitated by the oars. Venice is not without charms, but I find this city sad."
Ms A 59 r°
Lorette's house
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
"I was happy to take the road to Lorette. I am not surprised that the Blessed Virgin chose this place to transport her blessed house there, peace, joy, poverty reign supreme there; everything is simple and primitive, the women have preserved their graceful Italian costume and have not, like those of other towns, adopted the fashion of Paris; in short, Lorette has charmed me! What shall I say of the holy house?... Ah! my emotion has been profound in finding myself under the same roof as the Holy Family, in contemplating the walls on which Jesus had fixed his divine eyes, in treading the earth that St Joseph had watered with sweat, where Mary had carried Jesus in her arms, after the having carried in her virginal womb... I saw the little room where the angel descended to the Blessed Virgin... I placed my rosary in the little bowl of the Child Jesus... memories are delightful!..."
Ms A 59 v°
Thérèse and Céline at the Colosseum in Rome
Wash drawing by Charles Jouvenot
"My heart was beating very strongly when my lips approached the purple dust of the blood of the first Christians, I asked for the grace to be also a martyr for Jesus and I felt in the bottom of my heart that my prayer was answered!... "
Ms A 61 r°
Thérèse, Céline and Louis Martin arrive at the audience hall to meet Pope Leo XIII
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Therese and Leo XIII
Charcoal by Céline Martin
Therese and Leo XIII
Watercolor by Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit from Céline's charcoal
"Six days were spent visiting the principal marvels of Rome and it was the seventh that I saw the greatest of all: "Leo XIII"... This day, I desired it and feared it at the same time, it was him that my vocation depended, because the answer that I was to receive from Monsignor had not arrived and I had learned from a letter from you, my Mother, that he was no longer very well disposed for me, also my only lifeline was the permission of the Holy Father... but to obtain it, you had to ask for it, you had to dare to speak in front of everyone: "to the Pope"..."
Ms A 62 r° and following
Thérèse teaches catechism
Thérèse teaches catechism to two little girls
Unsigned wash
Thérèse teaches catechism to two little girls
Wash not retained. We have one draft copy.
"Before leaving the world, the Good Lord gave me the consolation of contemplating closely the souls of children; being the smallest of the family, I had never had this happiness, here are the sad circumstances that brought it to me: A poor woman, a relative of our maid, died in the prime of life leaving 3 very small children; during her illness we took in the house the two little girls, the eldest of whom was not 6 years old, I don't care. occupied the whole day and it was a great pleasure for me to see with what candor they believed everything I told them. Holy Baptism must deposit in souls a very deep seed of theological virtues since from childhood they are already showing themselves and that the hope of future good is enough to make them accept sacrifices. his sister, I was telling them about the eternal rewards are that little Jesus would give in Heaven to wise little children; the eldest, whose reason was beginning to develop, looked at me with eyes shining with joy, asked me a thousand charming questions about baby Jesus and his beautiful Heaven and promised me enthusiastically to always yield to his sister; she said that never in her life would she forget what "the big lady" had said to her, because that's what she called me... Seeing these innocent souls up close, I understood what misfortune it was not to form them well as soon as they woke up, when they look like a soft wax on which one can leave the imprint of virtues but also that of evil... I understood what Jesus said in the Gospel: "That it would be better to be thrown into the sea than to scandalize a single one of these little children."
Ms A 52 v°
The little lamb
A little lamb as a gift (February 1888)
Drawing by Charles Jouvenot
Celine made a oil painting of this little lamb.
My dear little Marie, on Ash Wednesday Papa gave me a present; I could have given it to you in a hundred and even in a thousand, I don't think you would guess it. Imagine, my dear Marie, in the bottom of Papa's big bag, a lovely little curly lamb. This good little Father told me while giving it to me that he wanted, before I entered Carmel, that I have the pleasure of having a little lamb. Everyone was happy, Céline was delighted that we had a little day-old lamb. What particularly touched me was Papa's kindness in giving it to me; and then a lamb is so symbolic, it made me think of Pauline...
Thérèse to Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, February 21, 1888 (LT 42)
So far so good, all lovely, but we have to wait for the end. Already we were making castles in Spain with the little lamb, we expected to see him jump around us after two or three days. But unfortunately ! the pretty little animal died in the afternoon, she had been too cold in the car where she was born; poor little one, barely born, she suffered, then she died.
The little lamb was so nice, he looked so innocent that Céline painted his portrait on a small canvas, then Dad dug a pit in which we put the little lamb who seemed to be sleeping; I didn't want the earth to cover him, we threw snow on him and then it was all over...
You don't know, my dear Godmother, how much the death of this little animal gave me food for thought, oh yes! on earth you shouldn't get attached to anything, not even the most innocent things because you miss them when you least think about them. Only what is eternal can satisfy us.
