Why did Pope St. John Paul II make this 24-year-old saint a Doctor of the Church?

Pope St. John Paul II canonized nearly 500 saints in his 26-year pontificate, but he only declared one of them a Doctor of the Church. That one saint was not an old scholar or theologian, not a Desert Father or a heroic martyr. It was a humble French nun named Thérèse, who never left her convent and didn't even live to see her twenty-fifth birthday. In her spiritual autobiography Story of a Soul, Thérèse walks readers through her devout family life, her ever-deepening personal conversion, and her years of trial and suffering. This edition is the best English translation and even has a foreword by Bishop Barron! Read this spiritual classic to learn why people like St. John Paul II regard her as a spiritual guide and a Doctor of the Church!  GET MY FREE COPY Here's how to secure your free copy of the book: Sign up for a 30-day free trial to the Word on Fire Institute, and you'll be sent a complimentary copy of Story of a Soul (we'll even cover the shipping)! Go to wof.org/storyofasoul to get your free copy today! GET MY FREE COPY Note: To ensure your book arrives in time for the book club, you must claim your copy by 11:59 p.m CT on September 9. Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, PO Box 97330, Washington, DC 20090-7330, United States Manage Your Email Preferences .