On January 2, 1873, in the city of Alençon, France, a special baby was born. She was the last of nine children (four had already died young). Her parents, Louis and Zélie Martin, called her Marie-Françoise-Thérèse - but everyone would know her simply as Thérèse.

The Martin family was very Catholic. Deeply devout. Every day they prayed together. They went to Mass. They cared for the poor.

Thérèse grew up surrounded by love. Her parents adored her. Her four older sisters - Marie, Pauline, Léonie, and Céline - played with her and spoiled her.

Thérèse was cheerful, affectionate, but also very sensitive. She cried easily. She was afraid of many things. And she loved being the center of attention!

When Thérèse was only 4 years old, something terrible happened.

Her mother, Zélie, became ill. It was cancer. At that time, there was no cure.

Little Thérèse saw her mother getting weaker and weaker. Paler and paler.

In August 1877, Zélie Martin died. Thérèse was only 4 and a half years old.

It was devastating. Thérèse lost her beloved mother. Her world collapsed.

At the funeral, little Thérèse looked at the coffin and said: "Mamma! Mamma!" But her mother didn't answer. She would never answer again.

After Zélie's death, Louis Martin decided to move with his daughters to Lisieux, another French city. Relatives lived there who could help.

Thérèse, who had been cheerful and outgoing, changed completely.

She became extremely sensitive. Shy. She cried about everything.

If someone looked at her the wrong way, she cried. If someone corrected her, she cried. If she received a gift and it wasn't exactly what she expected, she cried!

Thérèse herself would later say: "I cried for having cried!"

It was difficult. But Thérèse had something special: a deep love for Jesus.

Thérèse chose Pauline, her sister, as her "second mother." Pauline took care of her, played with her, and especially, taught her about Jesus.

"Thérèse," Pauline would say, "Jesus loves you so much! You are His little flower!"

"A little flower?" Thérèse would ask with shining eyes.

"Yes! The big, beautiful flowers in the garden attract attention. But Jesus also loves the little flowers hidden in the grass - the simple daisies, the shy violets. You are Jesus's little flower!"

Thérèse loved this idea. She would be Jesus's "little flower"!

Together, Pauline and Thérèse prayed. They decorated the room with images of Jesus and Mary. They made small sacrifices to offer to God.

When Thérèse was 9 years old, something terrible happened again.

Pauline announced she was going to enter Carmel - a convent of contemplative nuns who live in enclosure, dedicating themselves totally to prayer.

For Thérèse, it was like losing her mother a second time!

"Pauline! No! Don't leave me!" Thérèse cried.

But Pauline had her vocation. She loved Thérèse, but she loved Jesus more. And Jesus was calling her to be His bride in Carmel.

When Pauline entered the convent, Thérèse was devastated. She cried every day.

And then she became ill. Very ill. Strange tremors. Hallucinations. The doctors didn't understand what it was.

Thérèse was so sick that her family thought she would die.

Louis Martin and her sisters prayed desperately. They asked for Our Lady's intercession.

In Thérèse's room there was a small statue of Our Lady. One day, while Thérèse was in bed, very ill, her sisters knelt before the statue.

"Mother of Heaven!" they cried. "Save our Thérèse! Please!"

And then... something extraordinary happened.

Thérèse looked at the statue. And the statue of Our Lady... SMILED at her! A beautiful, heavenly smile, full of love!

Instantly, Thérèse was cured! Completely! The tremors stopped. The illness was gone!

It was a miracle!

At age 11, Thérèse made her First Communion. It was one of the happiest days of her life!

She prepared intensely. She prayed a lot. She read spiritual books. She made sacrifices.

On the day of First Communion, Thérèse felt united with Jesus in a deep way.

"Jesus," she prayed, "I love You! I want to be all Yours!"

On that day, Jesus planted a seed in Thérèse's heart. A seed of vocation.

Thérèse began to feel: "I also want to be a Carmelite! I want to give myself totally to Jesus!"

But there was a problem: Thérèse was too young. And still too sensitive. She cried about everything!

When Thérèse was 13 years old, something incredible happened. She called it her "conversion."

It was Christmas Eve 1886. The family had the custom: children would leave their shoes by the fireplace, and father would put gifts in them.

Thérèse, at 13, still participated in this tradition for little children.

She went upstairs to take off her hat. And she heard her father saying downstairs: "Thank God this is the last year we'll have to do this!"

Her father was tired. Thérèse was too old for these children's games.

Normally, Thérèse would have cried. Would have felt hurt. Would have made a scene.

But something changed in her that night.

Thérèse came downstairs... smiling!

She opened the presents with joy. She thanked her father affectionately. She acted like a mature young woman, not like a spoiled child.

Later, she would write: "Jesus transformed my heart! On Christmas night, the Child Jesus gave me His strength!"

From that moment on, Thérèse changed. She stopped crying about everything. She became strong. Courageous. Mature.

She was 13 and a half years old. And she was absolutely certain: she wanted to be a Carmelite!

"Papa," Thérèse said to her father, "I want to enter Carmel. I want to be a contemplative nun like Pauline and Marie!" (Marie, another sister, had also entered.)

Louis Martin was shocked. His youngest daughter! His "little queen" as he called her! Only 13 years old!

But seeing the determination in Thérèse's eyes, he cried. And agreed.

"You are a little flower that God wants for Himself," he said. "I won't prevent Him from picking you!"

Thérèse went to the bishop to ask permission. He said no. "You're too young!"

Thérèse went to the superior of Carmel. He said no. "Wait a few years!"

But Thérèse didn't give up!

In November 1887, her father took her on a pilgrimage to Rome - including an audience with Pope Leo XIII!

This was Thérèse's chance! Hundreds of people passed quickly before the Pope. They were instructed not to speak to him.

But when it was Thérèse's turn, she knelt and said:

"Holy Father! In honor of your Jubilee, allow me to enter Carmel at 15 years old!"

The guards were shocked! "Silence! You must not speak!" and tried to move her away.

But Thérèse held firmly to the Pope's vestments. She looked him in the eyes with tears.

Pope Leo XIII, touched, said gently: "Go, go, daughter. If God wills it, you will enter!"

Thérèse returned home and waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally, in January 1888, permission came! But she should wait until after Easter.

On April 9, 1888, Thérèse Martin, only 15 years old, entered the Carmel of Lisieux.

She was radiant with happiness! Finally! Her dream was coming true!

"I'm so happy!" she said. "I came to Carmel to save souls and pray for priests!"

Thérèse didn't enter the convent to escape the world. She entered to fight for it - through prayer and sacrifice.

She would be a hidden warrior. A victim of love. A little flower offered to God.

Her journey was only just beginning...