The story of why St. Thérèse was chosen as patroness of missions

I would like to tell you the story of the choice of little Thérèse as patroness of missions. It is very interesting.

It came about through the personal initiative of Pope Pius XI. In fact, the two Roman congregations to which the petition of 226 missionary bishops was presented, asking for this patronage, did not produce a favorable vote.

The majority of the members were put off, no doubt, by such an apparent contradiction: for a little Carmelite who never left her cloister to be put on a level with St. Francis Xavier!

But Cardinal Vico, completely won over in favor of granting this new privilege, then referred the matter to the Pope. Pius XI departed, for once, from the custom which leaves the solution of such cases to the Roman congregations, while the Holy Father usually contents himself with authoritatively ratifying the decisions which have been made by them. He took charge personally of the promulgation of the Decree of December 14, 1927, when St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus was made “principal patroness, equal with St. Francis Xavier, of all missionaries, men and women, and also of all existing missions in the entire world.”

The Holy Father, Vicar of Christ on earth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, had perceived the will of God.

It is evident that Heaven wished to give everyone a great lesson of the fruitfulness of hidden immolation, of contemplation, of the immense desire to save souls, through her who wanted to be the love in the heart of the Church, her Mother.

From I Believe In Love, p. 172-3.