When St. Thérèse of Lisieux was just 10 years old, she fell gravely ill—bedridden, feverish, hallucinating, and consumed by grief after the death of her mother and the entrance of her sister Pauline into the convent. Her family was heartbroken, and her sister Marie turned in desperation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Story of a Soul, Thérèse recalls the miraculous moment that changed everything:

“All of a sudden the Blessed Virgin appeared beautiful to me, so beautiful that never had I seen anything so attractive; her face was suffused with an ineffable benevolence and tenderness, but what penetrated to the very depths of my soul was the ravishing smile of the Blessed Virgin.”

At that instant, little Thérèse was healed. Her pain and torment disappeared, replaced with tears of joy as she encountered the loving smile of Mary, Our Lady of the Smile.

This moment of healing became a pivotal part of Thérèse’s spiritual journey and a reminder for us today: Mary’s tender smile can bring peace and healing into our own lives.

Prayer to Our Lady of the Smile

O Mary, Mother of Jesus, and our gentle Mother too, with a radiant smile you consoled and cured your beloved child, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Smile on us now amid the troubles of our lives. May your gentle smile bring light and healing to the darkness of our body, mind, and spirit. Instill in us hope and deepen our faith, so that one day we may forever rejoice in your heavenly smile. Amen.

May Our Lady of the Smile bring you comfort this week, just as she did for little Thérèse.