October 1st is the memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux, a saint adored today by many of the faithful. One Marian image commonly associated with St. Therese is a statue under the “so-called” title Our Lady of the Smiles, which resided in the Martin house during her miraculous healing in 1883. The Our Lady of the Smiles statue looks very similar to a Miraculous Miracle statue except it lacks a crowning of stars around Our Lady’s head and the globe and serpent under her feet. What struck St. Therese about the statue was the impression it made upon her: it presented Mary’s face as infinitely tender, beautiful, and bearing an enchanting smile. October is traditionally the month dedicated to the Rosary in the Church. As we end this special month of Mary, let us commend ourselves to the Blessed Virgin under the title Our Lady of the Smiles.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us!