St. Thérèse of Lisieux born in 1873, Alençon, France (died 1897, Lisieux) was a Carmelite nun whose service to her Catholic order, although outwardly unremarkable, was later recognized for its exemplary spiritual accomplishments. She used to call herself the Little Flower. She was named a doctor of the church by Pope John Paul II in 1997. She is a patron saint of missions and of florists.