Fifty years ago, as September was giving place to October, Sister Thérèse Martin, a Carmelite of Lisieux, gave up her soul to God. Only twenty-seven years later she was raised to the altars of the Church as Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus. The speed with which she was canonized was indicative of some special mission given to her by God in the work of salvation of souls, a mission which has been increasingly revealed in this last half-century. For by God's grace this saint has carried out a great apostolate and has raised innumerable Catholics up to a level of true prayer and holiness.

In this latter work of a guide to the interior life she has been almost unique. Many modern saints have been pointed out to us by the process of canonization for our veneration and inspiration; but for the most part they represent a practical and active form of spiritual life, concerned mainly with the poor, the sick, the uneducated. It is clear that the present age is not an age of what we might call ‘mystical saints'.