30/09/2026
September 30, 1897: The Transitus (Passing) of St. Therese of the Child JesusπΉ
When the Angelus bell rang at 6 o'clock, Thérèse looked at the "Virgin of the Smile" for a long time. She was holding her crucifix firmly. As the community had been almost two hours in the infirmary, the prioress allowed the sisters to leave.
Thérèse sighed:
"Mother! Isn't this the agony? Am I not going to die?"
"Yes, my poor child, but God perhaps wills to prolong it for several hours," replied the prioress.
"Well, all right! Ah! I would not want to suffer a shorter length of time."
Her head fell back on the pillow and turned toward the right. The prioress had the infirmary bell rung, and the sisters quickly returned.
"Open all the doors," Mother Marie de Gonzague ordered.
Hardly had the community knelt at her bedside when Thérèse pronounced very distinctly, while gazing at her crucifix:
"Oh! I love Him!"
And a moment later:
"My God, I love You!"
Suddenly, her eyes came to life and were fixed on the spot just a little above the statue of the Blessed Virgin. Her face took on the appearance it had when Thérèse enjoyed good health. She seemed to be in ecstasy. This look lasted for the space of a "Credo." Then she closed her eyes and expired.
It was 7:20 in the evening. Her head was leaning to the right. A mysterious smile was on her lips. She appeared very beautiful, and this is evident in the photograph taken by CΓ©line after her sisterβs death. She was 24 years 9 months old.
According to the custom of the Carmel, Thérèse was laid out in the choir in front of the grille from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. She was buried in the Lisieux cemetery on October 4, 1897.
While in the infirmary, she had written these lines to Father Bellière on June 9:
"I am not dying; I am entering into life!"
π»πππ πππππππππ ππππ, πππππ π
ππππ, ππ ππππ πππππππ πͺππππππππ πππ πππ πππππ ππ πππππ.
π·πππ πππ ππ, π
πππ π»ππΜππΜππ!
