My Sister Saint Therese

by Céline Martin

This famous little classic by Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine Martin) is a wonderful treasury of little-know stories and sayings of St. Therese, almost equivalent to a second Story of a Soul. Celine was St. Therese's closest friend and her disciple in Carmel, haven been placed under St. Therese's direction in the novitiate. Here Celine recounts a wealth of precious memories of her sister - teachings, anecdotes, hidden virtues, conversations and even amusing remarks - by which St. Therese translated her beautiful doctrine of Little Way of Spiritual Childhood into the homely routines of daily life. Plus, Celine gives us privileged details of St. Therese's last months and beautiful death. Truly it seems an act of Divine Providence that this book was written, for Celine, blessed with a keen memory and loving heart, gathered up what she saw and heard carefully preserving it in this now-famous little work (above from back cover).

A little classic that is like a second Story of a Soul! Conversations, anecdotes of St. Therese, her teachings, hidden virtues, amusing remarks and beautiful death--recorded by be her sister Celine in the convent. Shows the "Little Way of Spiritual Childhood" in practice in daily life. A providential book! Impr. 280 pgs, PB

Genres: Catholic, Biography, Religion, Nonfiction, Female Authors, Spirituality, Theology

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Marie-Céline Martin was a Carmelite nun; one of the daughters of Zélie and Louis Martin, and sister of Thérèse de Lisieux.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s unfortunate you can’t see my copy of this book. That would speak volumes in itself. It’s falling apart and covered in sticky notes, tabs and highlights.

Heresy here, but I prefer this book to my patron saint’s Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Yet I adore that book and feel certain dear Thérèse not only wouldn’t mind; she would actually applaud her sister’s book being put before her own. That is just how Thérèse and Céline were; they each wanted the best for each other. It is just Thérèse’s fans and of course, Céline who wrote this GEM, who would protest!

I finished this several weeks ago but haven’t known how to adequately review it, not that this does it justice, but at least it is a recognition of its impact on my life. I read it for several reasons but mostly because my Carmelite community has been doing a three-year study on the Little Flower’s writings. Each month one of us has presented a particular writing to the group. It was my turn in June 2025 to present LT 165 from Thérèse to Céline, dated July 7, 1894. The letter was addressed to Céline at La Musse, where the Guérin (Thérèse’s uncle’s) family arrived on June 4 of that year, accompanied by M. Martin and Céline. In her letter, Thérèse offered consolation to her big sister for some unknown spiritual desolation. It’s not your average sister-to-sister correspondence but a letter from a saint full of spiritual wisdom and scriptural references.

Céline’s response, LC 159, dated July 17, 1894, expressed pleasure at receiving the letter but only while she was reading it. As soon as she returned to regular life at the time, the comfort was gone. To find out more about what Céline was experiencing, I turned to this book and Celine: Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face. Although it wasn’t this book which helped me figure out what was happening to Céline that June-July*, it nevertheless drew me in without protest, dividing my attention between research for my presentation and wanting to get back to all I could learn about how to live the ‘Little Way’.

Here our humble Céline, four years older than her famous saintly sister tells us story after story against herself, Thérèse usually the wise heroine. First from when she was still at home and then from her novitiate under St. Thérèse’s tutelage as mistress. For example:

. ‘In a discouraged mood I went one day to Thérèse for help and told her: “This time it is impossible. I simply cannot rise above this trial.” “This does not surprise me,” she replied, “for we are too small to rise above our difficulties. Therefore, let us try to pass under them.” To illustrate this point she recalled a childhood experience we shared together. We were visiting the Lehoux family in Alençon and wanted to play in the garden, but we could not get in because a horse blocked the entrance. “While the older girls were trying to find some way to pass the horse,” Thérèse said, “our little playmate, Thérèse Lehoux discovered that the easiest way to get by was to go under the horse. She slipped through first holding my hand. … That is the advantage of staying small. There are no obstacles for little ones; they can slip in unnoticed everywhere. Great souls can rise above their trials. They can surmount human obstacles, either by reasoning them out or through the practice of virtue. But in our case, because we are so little, we must never attempt to use such means. Let us, rather, always pass under our difficulties.”’

That is just one of the numerous conversations between the sisters and the book also overflows with situations Céline observed of Thérèse living out her ‘Little Way’, something the saint was scant in telling us herself. This is why I prefer this book to Story of a Soul because there are more practical examples of how to live the ‘Little Way’, something I didn’t find in Thérèse’s autobiography as much as I truly love my patron saint’s book. I need all the help I can get!

Unfortunately, this book is out of print and the scant copies still available to purchase are extremely expensive. However, it is available to be read on archive for free, just click on: A Memoir of my sister, St. Thérèse: Geneviève, of the Holy Face, Sister, 1869-1959: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive. Here you can at least read the book. In the meantime, we can express our desire to Tan Books to PLEASE reissue this amazing book!


*It was actually Celine: Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face which answered my question, but I only read a portion of that book, and I have still to finish it. However, what I discovered was that M. Martin was very close to death and would in fact die the end of that month. Also, Céline was trying to discern whether or not to accept an offer from a priest who was also a family friend to go to Canada to be a part of a new religious order. The order would have been part active, part contemplative, which at the time, Céline believed best suited her personality. She had also promised not to discuss this with her sisters while she was discerning her decision as – of course – the priest knew they would pressure her not to go.


NOTE: When I go back and reread this online, I hope to put some of my favorite quotes up, but for now I am not going to type them all up, much as I would like to share them. There are just too many!!!

[Stephanie Guillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be even more helpful than Story of a Soul for helping one to learn to live the "Little Way." Sr. Genevieve (Celine Martin) tells of numerous times that she was struggling with one fault or another and brought it to Therese. I could relate to her weaknesses & learn to go to Therese for help with my own difficulties. Therese always seemed to give patient direction to struggling souls. A must read for all those who love St. Therese.

[Maria Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible! It is full of short wisdoms from St. Therese, as remembered by her sister, Sister Genevieve (Celine Martin). The book is mostly organized by topic, although the last two chapters discuss the last few years of her life. Celine mentions such things as Therese's sorrow that she is excluded from becoming a priest, and her disregard for taking meals. I have determined that, if it is my calling to enter religious life, I will take St. Therese for my patron during the period of the novitiate because of her care for the novices with whom she was entrusted. Celine mentions running to Therese in her hour of distress, and I am assured that, if I do the same, I will be treated with the same love and affection Therese showed toward her sister.

[MadeleineRoseReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! A very touching, beautiful, and loving portrail of this little saint. As we are indebted to her sister Céline for quite a few photos and paintings of Saint Therese, we also are for the portrait of the saint's lifestyle of love, portayed lovingly by her sister who loved her so much. I relate to Céline/Sister Genevieve so much for struggling with being kind to those who are unkind, giving every discomfort to God. I feel like there was much of that missing in my life. Now I have found my start. As someone who struggles with letting things go and forgiving at times, I say this was a life-changing book. I feel like I am a novice of Therese, in her school of love and suffering. She will no doubt be a place of rest to talk to her about my troubles and sufferings. Whether you've read The Story of a Soul or not, do not hesitate to read this book. It gives a unique look on her saintly, and sometimes humorous, advice on how her sister (and ourselves) can improve in holiness. It also tells of little moments that her sister treasured that Therese may have never thought twice about. How lovingly Céline took in every moment and movement of this little saint! I'm confident that anyone and everyone who reads this will want to again, for I could barely put it down. Again my thanks go to Céline, who I await to meet in Heaven one day to tell her how much I love this book myself. I'm sure these sisters with an inseverable bond are praying for us every minute. One of her small poems states their bond in so beautiful a way I must share it:
"Therese is mine; she's mine forever
Naught shall ever come between!
Life nor death the bond could sever
That joins Therese to her Céline."

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for the translation, not the book. Yes, it was translated from French but I have read the original and the Spanish language edition several times before this. As a translator myself, I wonder why they chose to use such formal, almost stilted language when the original uses a more conversational tone. Some of the passages are rewritten, odd things are left out and some passages re-ordered for reasons best known to the editor. Why not give us Céline's book as she wrote it? Why did they feel the need to gloss over (for example) the fact that a novice was complaining that her companion hadn't filled the woodbox when she had the duty? Instead the translator chose to render the sentence as "she hadn't done her allotted task" or words to that effect. Did they think the woodbox was somehow out of place? Why?
I read about half of this rendition and went back to the French original. It really is a pity they felt they had to almost rewrite Celine's original work; a more faithful, unedited translation would have been so much more accesible to the reader.

[John Sester, LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little book. Any fans or spiritual siblings of our "dear little sister" will definitely want to give it a shot.

What struck me most were the little concrete details that Celine provides in her narrations. It brings the story of Therese to life from a new perspective. I was especially moved by the heatfelt confidences and anecdotes between Celine and Therese during the Saint's final year of life.

What a special soul we had in this simple Carmelite Sister...

[Stephanie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I put down, but came back to. Well worth you're time if you like St Therese; this book gives you so much more insight into her spirituality.