Miracle of St. Therese DVD

This is an acclaimed dramatic feature film made in France in 1959 that tells the story of the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux from childhood through her death as a Carmelite nun at age 24. French actress France Descaut gives a very appealing and authentic performance as Therese, the most popular saint of modern times. The youngest daughter in an upper middle class, devout and loving family, Therese developed a deep spiritual life as a child while she struggled greatly with the early death of her mother, the departure of her beloved sisters to the convent, and a very serious, life threatening illness as she sought to giver her life to God with an earnest desire to enter Carmel as a teenager. After appealing directly to the Pope for this unusual early enterance into Carmel, she was accepted into Carmelites at 15, and lived an exemplar life of faith, prayer, sacrifice and love, dying at only 24 in 1897. She was canonized a saint in 1925.

This movie offers numerous glimpses into Therese's "little way" of spiritual childhood, (her unique spirituality that helped make her a doctor of the Church) including situations of conflict between Therese and her superior regarding her conviction of striving for perfection in the little things with great confidence and trust in the mercy and love of God. Beautifully filmed in black and white, with fine performances by the whole cast, this movie is an unsung cinematic gem that captures the spirit and life of the beloved St. Therese.