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Primary sourcePhotographJanuary 1889

Thérèse as a Novice

Unknown author · January 1889

A photograph of Thérèse of Lisieux as a sixteen-year-old novice, taken in January 1889 and later reproduced in an edition of her autobiography.

A photograph of Thérèse herself as a young novice, later reproduced in her published autobiography.

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Black and white photograph of a young novice in a white veil and cape standing beside a tall stone crucifix with a carved Christ figure. The inscription on the base reads CRUX AVE CARMELI. A domed brick building with arches is behind them.
Unknown author, Saint Thérèse novice at 16 years old, photograph from January 1889. Reproduced in Histoire d'une âme, Lisieux/Bar-le-Duc, 1937/1940 edition.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows Thérèse of Lisieux as a novice at sixteen years old, taken in January 1889. It was later reproduced as an engraving in a 1937/1940 edition of her autobiography, Story of a Soul.

Why it matters

The image captures Thérèse during her early years in the Carmelite convent, standing beside a large stone crucifix. Photographs like this one, taken within the convent, were later used to illustrate her life story for readers around the world and helped shape her public image as a saint.

Look closer

  • What does her clothing and posture suggest about her life as a novice?
  • Why might this photograph have been chosen to illustrate her autobiography?
  • What does the inscription on the crucifix tell us about the setting?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Therese on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Front cover of a French book titled 'Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus' in ornate Art Nouveau style with floral borders, a star at top, an oval illustration of saints and an angel, a quotation, and Latin motto banners at the bottom.Book

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The Story of a Soul

Thérèse of Lisieux · 1898

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Act of Oblation to Merciful Love

Thérèse of Lisieux · 9 June 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a dark religious veil and white collar, with a calm, slight smile, looking toward the camera. Her face fills most of the frame.Photograph

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Portrait of Thérèse of Lisieux

15 April 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a pale armored-style bodice and dark fleur-de-lis-decorated skirt, holding a sword, standing beside a banner pole in front of a brick wall and ivy, with a shield bearing fleurs-de-lis and a wreath at her feet.Photograph

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Photograph of Thérèse as Joan of Arc

Céline Martin (Sister Geneviève) · 1895

Photograph of a book cover with a marbled brown and tan speckled paper binding and a beige cloth spine, with blue flecks. A small library credit in the lower right reads Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France. The cover appears worn at the edges.Book

Primary source

Histoire d'une âme, first edition (1898)

Thérèse of Lisieux, ed. Pauline Martin (Mother Agnes of Jesus) · 30 September 1898

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