14-year-old Therese Martin (better known as St. Therese of Lisieux) personally met Pope Leo XIII in Rome, but received no clear direction from him when she boldly asked the Pontiff to be allowed to enter the Carmelite Sisters at such a young age. Several days later, however, the father of Therese (Louis Martin, who knew the Christian Brothers from Alencon, France), went to St. Joseph’s College, a Lasallian school in Rome, to see his friend Brother Simeon, the Frenchman who directed that ministry. Bro. Simeon played a behind-the-scenes role in the ultimate approval received by Therese to enter the convent. Bro. Simeon and Therese remained in contact through letters for the rest of her life, which for her ended at age 24.
Bro. Joe Grabenstein, oral interview with Bro. Joseph Schmidt, October 3, 2018. The latter is currently (Oct. 2018) researching and writing an article entitled “Brother Simeon and Therese, His `Little Carmelite..'”
