Theresa Martin, future Saint Therese of Lisieux, was born on 2 January 1873 in Alecon, France. At the age of 15 she decided to become a cloistered Carmelite after wanting to follow in the footsteps of her sisters, but was rejected by the Carmelite superior due to her young age. After the bishop also denied her entry, Teresa even approached Pope Leo XIII while he was on a pilgrimage with her father and sister. After being forbidden to speak to the Pope, Teresa broke her obligatory silence and asked for his consent to be accepted into the Carmelite cloister. Pope Leo XIII was impressed with Teresa and she was soon accepted into the cloister and was finally able to join her two older sisters. Not even a year after acceptance, Therese became so ill with a fever that people thought she was on her deathbed. Then one day, as Teresa watched her sisters pray to the statue of the Virgin Mary in her room, she saw Mary smile at her and was immediately healed. From that moment on the "Little Flower", as she was commonly called, lived a re-enlightened and spiritual life which led her to become a doctor of the Church, author and patron saint. According to the Church, a doctor is someone who transmits the Gospel, teaching with word and example and today there are only thirty-three Doctors of the Church. Of the two Carmelite doctors, Saint Therese of Lisieux is one of them. Chosen as a Doctor of the Church for her radiant holiness, humility, goodness, integrity and radical dedication to the will of God, all these were an unmistakable seal of her holiness. Not only for her holiness, Teresa also had an original, faithful and profound theological teaching that left a strong and lasting impression. Pope John Paul II saw this and on October 19, 1997 declared Saint Therese of Lisieux “Doctor of the universal Church”. That day marked the culmination of a series of honors bestowed upon her as doctor ecclesiae. But the process of enumerating a Doctor of the Church is not a simple process. There are three requirements: eminent learning or doctrine, an exceptional or high degree of sanctity and a declaration from a supreme pontiff or general council. Saint Teresa fulfilled these three conditions along with careful examination of her writing. Becoming a Doctor of the Church is truly one of the highest, most...... middle......popularity among common people for her common works, she was beatified in 1923 and later canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925 . Saint Therese of Lisieux lived a simple life and did simple actions that people can do every day, yet her actions touched people's lives and made them feel important and worthy. His dedication to helping me impresses me and proves that small actions can go a long way. She also proved that the things she did made a difference and she was never discouraged. She believed in herself enough to approach the Pope and that in itself is a pretty brave move. After learning of Therese's accomplishments, she challenged me and reminded me to continue doing good works for other people around me, even if they don't feel useful or necessary. Believing in myself and the things I do and never getting discouraged was how Therese lived her life and that's how I must remember to live mine to be a faithful person willing to help all those in need and put the needs of others, my own. Saint Therese of Lisieux led a selfless life that I hope to one day experience for myself and the joy that comes from helping others.