Celebrating the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1) as a Family

September 27, 2025

Who Was St. Thérèse of Lisieux?

On October 1, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, often called The Little Flower. Thérèse Martin was a young French Carmelite nun who entered the convent at just 15 years old and lived a life of simplicity, humility, and love until her death at 24. Though she never traveled far from her convent walls, her autobiography, Story of a Soul, became one of the most influential spiritual books of the modern era.

Her “Little Way” teaches us that holiness is found not in grand gestures, but in small acts of love offered faithfully to God. St. Thérèse is also the patron saint of missions, florists, and—fittingly—flowers, because she promised to let fall a shower of roses from heaven as a sign of her prayers.

This feast day is a wonderful opportunity to bring her “little way” into family life through food, prayer, beauty, and love.

A Hymn for the Day

Begin your celebration with a song of trust and love. A fitting choice is How Great Thou Art, a hymn praising God’s greatness in creation and life—something St. Thérèse herself often reflected upon in her simple, childlike faith.

Meals for the Feast

Breakfast: Rose Pancakes

Start the morning with pancakes shaped like roses or simply sprinkled with powdered sugar and topped with strawberry or raspberry preserves. Serve with a side of fresh berries and a drizzle of honey.

Recipe idea:

Prepare your favorite pancake batter.
Use a squeeze bottle to swirl the batter into a rose shape on the pan.
Garnish with berry jam “petals” and a few mint leaves.

Another idea is to make crepes and roll them into roses- that would be impressive! Make sure to drop your creation in the comments.

Lunch: Quiche with Garden Salad

A simple, French-inspired meal is a nod to Thérèse’s French roots.

Recipe idea:

Bake a quiche with spinach, cheese, and ham (or keep vegetarian).
Serve alongside a fresh garden salad with edible flowers (like nasturtiums or pansies) to honor St. Thérèse, the Little Flower.

Afternoon Snack / Appetizers

1. Crostini Roses

Toast slices of baguette and top with soft cheeses (brie, goat cheese, or ricotta).
Add toppings like fig jam, olives, or honey.
Roll thin slices of prosciutto into rose shapes to garnish each crostini platter

2. Rose Skewers

Use small skewers or toothpicks.
Roll salami into little rose shapes and pair each with a mozzarella ball (“mini mozzarella pearls”) and a basil leaf.

3. Heart-Shaped Focaccia

Bake (or buy) focaccia bread in a heart shape.
Decorate the top with thin slices of deli meats rolled into rose shapes, tucked into little divots in the bread.
Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary before serving.

Dinner: Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Green Beans

Keep dinner hearty but simple—something to gather the family together at the table.

Recipe idea:

Roast a whole chicken seasoned with herbs (thyme, rosemary, garlic).
Serve with roasted baby potatoes and steamed green beans with lemon butter.
Finish with a dessert of rose-shaped cupcakes or macarons.

Family Activities

1. Rose Petal Ice Bucket

A beautiful way to incorporate roses into the feast:

Place fresh, pesticide-free rose petals (or edible flower petals) into ice cube trays.
Fill with water and freeze.
Use the floral ice cubes in a clear bucket to chill bottles of rosé wine for adults and pink lemonade for children.

This makes the table both festive and symbolic of St. Thérèse’s “shower of roses.”

2. Flower Gathering & Bouquets

Encourage the children to go outside and gather flowers—wildflowers, garden blooms, or even autumn leaves. Together, arrange them into small bouquets for the dinner table or home altar. As they work, remind them that St. Thérèse saw herself as one of God’s little flowers, unique and beautiful in her own way.

3. Flower Crowns for the Girls

Girls in the family can celebrate St. Thérèse by wearing flower crowns for the day. These can be handmade with fresh blooms, greenery, or even store-bought artificial crowns. It’s a joyful way to honor the Little Flower while making the day feel extra special for daughters, nieces, and granddaughters.

4. Bouquets from the Boys

Encourage the boys in the family to practice St. Thérèse’s Little Way of love by choosing and gifting bouquets to the important women in their lives—mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or sisters. A quick trip to the store to pick out flowers becomes a meaningful gesture of appreciation and tenderness.

Closing Prayer for Families

End the day with this prayer inspired by the words of St. Thérèse:

“Loving Father, we thank You for the gift of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, who reminds us that love is shown in small, simple acts. May her Little Way inspire us to trust You completely and to offer every moment of our lives to You with joy. Send us her promised shower of roses as a sign of Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Final Thought

St. Thérèse teaches us that sanctity is not out of reach—it’s hidden in everyday acts of love. By celebrating her feast with beauty, food, flowers, and prayer, your family can bring her Little Way into your home and heart.